Hana Airport is a regional public use airport of the State of Hawaii on the east shore of the island of Maui, northwest of the unincorporated town of Hana. The airport was officially opened on November 11, 1950. It is primarily a commuter facility used by unscheduled air taxis and general aviation. As air traffic increases, the Hawaii State Legislature will consider future improvements including the construction of a taxiway paralleling the runway, widening of access roads and expansion of passenger terminals and parking facilities. Scheduled commercial airline service provided Pacific Wings was subsidized by the Essential Air Service program until April 1, 2007, when Pacific Wings began providing subsidy-free service; however, with fares as high as $200 each way, most travelers opted to drive rather than fly. According to U.S. Department of Transportation data, Pacific Wings transported only 375 passengers in the first 10 months of 2012, while Mokulele Airlines claims to have transported 1706 passengers since October 2012, according to their EAS bid for Kamuela service on May 23, 2013. As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 1,462 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 682 enplanements in 2009, and 132 in 2010. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a basic general aviation facility.
Facilities and aircraft
Hana Airport covers an area of 119 acres at an elevation of 78 feet above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 8/26 with an asphalt surface measuring 3,606 by 100 feet. For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2009, the airport had 4,482 aircraft operations, an average of 12 per day: 45% general aviation, 29% air taxi, 26% scheduled commercial, and <1% military.
Airline and destination
The following airline provides scheduled passenger service:
Historical airline service
was serving Hana in 1969 with Convair 640 turboprop flights from Kahului and Honolulu. According to the Official Airline Guide, two commuter air carriers were serving the airport in 1976, Island Pacific Air and Royal Hawaiian Airways, with both airlines operating small Cessna 402 twin prop aircraft on direct flights from Honolulu, Kahului, Kaunakaki and Lanai City with Royal Hawaiian also providing direct service from Hilo, Kaanapali, Kamuela, Kona and Upolu Point. Island Pacific Air then changed its name to Air Hawaii and was continuing to serve the airport in 1979. Princeville Airways was serving Hana in 1986 with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops with flights to Honolulu, Kahului and other destinations in Hawaii. By 1994, Aloha IslandAir was operating code share service on behalf of Aloha Airlines with DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops on direct flights from Honolulu, Kahului, Lanai City and Molokai/Hoolehua according to the OAG.
Authority
Hana Airport is part of a centralized state structure governing all of the airports and seaports of Hawaii. The official authority of Hana Airport is the Governor of Hawaii. He or she appoints the Director of the Hawai'i State Department of Transportation who has jurisdiction over the Hawaii Airports Administrator. The Hawaii Airports Administrator oversees six governing bodies: Airports Operations Office, Airports Planning Office, Engineering Branch, Information Technology Office, Staff Services Office, Visitor Information Program Office. Collectively, the six bodies have authority over the four airport districts in Hawaii: Hawai'i District, Kauai District, Maui District and the principal Oahu District. Hana Airport is a subordinate of the Maui District officials.
Media appearances
Hana Airport is the destination in the "Hawaiian Checkout" mission supplied with Microsoft Flight Simulator X.
