MEDIA RELEASE

Hilo International Airport (ITO) with runway 8-26 running upper-left to lower-right in the photo. Image taken September 16, 2014. Hawaii 24/7 File Photo

HILO — The Hawaii Department of Transportation advises Hilo and Keaukaha residents of an expected increase in aircraft traffic over the area due to airfield maintenance work at the Hilo International Airport.

Runway 8-26 will be closed nightly for airfield maintenance on Monday, Sept. 14 through Friday, Sept. 18, from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Due to the nightly closure of Runway 8-26, arriving and departing aircrafts will be required to use Runway 3-21, resulting in increased air traffic over Hilo Town and the Keaukaha community. Work is weather permitting.

Contractor will work at both ends of the runway during the day to reduce the night work. Flight patterns will not be affected.

The HDOT appreciates residents’ patience and understanding as we work to improve the conditions of the Hilo International Airport runways.

Taxi onto and take-off from runway 8-26 (actually runway 8 since we’re going east) at Hilo International Airport (ITO) on August 22, 2016. Runway 8-26 will be undergoing maintenance September 14-18, 2015 which may lead to more noise of Hilo and Keaukaha due to the shift in air traffic to runway 3-21.