HDOT Schedules Līhuʻe Airport Meetings March 3–5 for Public Input
HDOT is holding four public meetings March 3–5 to gather community input on the Līhuʻe Airport Optimization Plan; meeting locations and times are listed below.
Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is asking Kaua‘i residents to weigh in as it presents the Līhuʻe Airport Optimization Plan (LAOP) at public meetings across the island March 3–5, 2026. The agency says the plan targets safety, operational efficiency, environmental sustainability and passenger experience at Līhu‘e Airport, the only commercial service airport on Kauaʻi that supports residents, visitors, cargo and emergency services.
HDOT began the week with a session Tuesday evening at Kīlauea Elementary School Cafeteria, 2440 Kolo Rd., Kīlauea, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Two meetings are scheduled Wednesday, March 4: a midday presentation from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the County Planning Commission Hearing Room, 4444 Rice St., Līhu‘e, and an evening session from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Mahelona Hospital Auditorium, 4800 Kawaihau Rd., Kapa‘a. The final meeting will be Thursday, March 5, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kōloa Neighborhood Center, 3461B Weliweli Rd., Kōloa. The project website notes that “The same information will be presented at each meeting.”
The LAOP was launched “based on feedback received during the 2022 Master Plan Update,” with HDOT describing the effort as a “more focused and direct approach to addressing current airport challenges.” Project materials state the purpose of LAOP is to “optimize existing airport facilities to improve safety, enhance operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, as well as to improve passenger experience, while remaining responsive to community values and concerns.”
For those who cannot attend in person, HDOT says meeting materials and a recording will be posted on the project website and that “There will also be an online comment collector so that those who cannot attend in person will still be able to share their manaʻo!” The project site also invites the public to subscribe for updates using the form at the bottom of the page to receive notifications and updated event dates.
Requests for project information should be sent to Ms. Traci Lum, HDOT Airports Project Manager, at 400 Rodgers Blvd., Suite 700, Honolulu, HI 96819-1880 or by phone at 808-838-8817; the email address on the project materials appears in an obfuscated form as (/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection). The LAOP page carries the State of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation branding and notes that materials, terms of use, accessibility and privacy information are available through the project site.
“In an effort to be transparent, we are inviting the public to participate in the planning process,” the project materials state; HDOT is asking attendees at the Kīlauea, Līhu‘e, Kapa‘a and Kōloa meetings to review the proposed topics, raise concerns and share local perspectives that affect travel, cargo movement and emergency response on Kaua‘i.
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