Travelers flying into Honolulu might have to tweak their bedtime schedules as the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport starts nightly closures of Runway 4R. According to a statement released by the Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT), these closures will happen from 8 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., kicking off tomorrow and lasting through Saturday, Dec. 20. The reason? To knock out the remaining to-dos of the HNL Runway and Taxiway Shoulder Rehabilitation project.
Easing the pain of these changes—the work is slated for off-peak hours to keep the ruckus away from the majority of flight plans. Late arrivals have been rerouted to use Runway 8L or the Reef Runway, diverting the noise to potentially serenade the 'Ewa Plain with the sounds of jet engines instead of lullabies. With the shuffle, residents might notice the increased aircraft noise, all part of the necessary evil to finalize the upgrades at HNL.
This upgrade is not just about a facelift; it's essential maintenance. The HNL Runway and Taxiway Shoulder Rehabilitation signifies another chapter in HDOT’s ongoing narrative to keep Hawaiʻi’s airports fit for flight. Starting back in February 2024, the project was supposed to wrap by this past October. But, the weather being the unpredictable force that it is, threw some spanners in the works and caused delays.
HDOT sympathizes with those inconvenienced by the closures and noise. "HDOT appreciates the community’s patience and understanding while the needed work is conducted to ensure safe operations at HNL," the department echoed in its release.
