Oh, my! Here we go again.
As reported by Hawaii News Now a couple of days ago:
The largest security checkpoint at Honolulu International Airport’s main overseas terminal is closed because of a leaky ceiling.
The closure could mean longer wait times for passengers now diverted for Transportation Security Administration screenings at other checkpoint areas. And some passengers have reported missing their flights because of the security delays.
According to HNN, closing this particular security checkpoint means the loss of nearly half of all the passenger screening lines in the main terminal, causing delays at the remaining checkpoints.
The worst thing is that I’m not at all surprised.
Honolulu Airport seems to suffer from chronic disrepair, lack of maintenance, and a lack of any ongoing apparent plan for routine repair and maintenance. Long term planning for big new projects? That seems to get done. But routine maintenance that would bring the airport into the same class as those of other major cities? Our State Department of Transportation has consistently earned failing grades going back decades.
You would think that no one in the department flies anywhere, so they just aren’t introduced to the social comparisons that visiting other airports would provide.
And you have to wonder what system is used to track required maintenance and repairs, and to stay ahead of them. Do they still do this with 3 x 5 cards and handwritten notes or something?
Perhaps a review of the administration of airport maintenance by an outside and independent organization would be helpful in identifying the problems?
Discover more from i L i n d
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The airport terminal is like almost every other state run facility, be it at UH, the public schools, state parks, etc. Woefully inadequate money earmarked towards upkeep and maintenance of older facilities. Past governors and other high officials seem more interested in spending lavishly on NEW facilities that they can cut the ribbon on and take credit for. Looks good on the resume to say that X, Y, and Z were created while they were in charge, rather than saying that they found the money to patch up and repair A,B, and C that were opened up by their predecessors 40 or 50 years ago. Yeah, political types (including UH presidents and chancellors) don’t seem to view maintenance of existing facilities as being important…. until the problems accumulate and get so bad that it merits a full scale overhaul that can be described to the press as a “renovation and refurbishment” project, whereby the completion will provide an opportunity for ribbon-cutting and resume padding. Do you see the pattern here?
Hawaii doesn’t “do” maintenance.
A big improvement would be what almost every other airport including third world ones provide for customers waiting for flights. free wifi. Free charging stations. Adequate lighting. Clean bathrooms. Ability to recycle. At KOA they need tv screens that work to show flights. At least remove the twenty year old broken ones.
Other airports leverage the huge rent and concession fees to help pay for airport costs. They conduct public bids for their duty free, food, beverage, gift shop, service and other concessions every 3-5 years to make sure they maximize their revenue. They set up their contracts to maximize competition for the lucrative rights. Here, we have the same companies for 50 years, no exaggeration, at rates below comparable levels. Basically a monopoly. Perhaps some new thinking would lead to higher revenues (without raising taxes and fees) and help improve the physical plant at HNL as well as introducing opportunities for small local businesses and local products.
Our airport is an outdated dump.
For a state that has made itself so dependent on tourism, and where virtually everyone who travels must pass through the airport, there is simply no excuse. None.
Too often, we strive only for mediocrity and still fail to reach it.
What are you people complaining about? We’re getting a beautiful new palace for the rental car industry — who cares about air travel and other miscellany?
And don’t forget the wonderful new rail system. Ha, ha, ha. I’m going to crawl into my cocoon in Kailua and let the rest of the world go by We are living in a state the equivalent of third world country. Auwe.
“Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.”
Kurt Vonnegut
We’re really losing ground here. Years ago, there was a rent-by-the-hour mini-hotel where you could get a shower and grab a nap if you had a long layover. No more. Other countries have free showers in their restrooms (not just toilets and lavs, and not just in private airline clubs). The once-lovely gardens, where you can have a refreshing stroll or quiet read away from the crowds, are poorly maintained. Once there were planters that showcased native species — what a joke that turned out to be. You’re lucky these days to see a bougainvillea.
Maintenance? What’s that.
If you have ever met the DOT administrators and visited their offices you will know why everything they touch is so backwards.
Shirley, please don’t insult third world countries, most have better airports than Honolulu. I am reminded of an old saying “We don’t care how you do it outside, we refuse to raise our standards for anyone”.