Letter for Monday, Jan. 23, 2017

• Airport needs more benches in the baggage claim areas

Benches needed near baggage carousel

Open letter to Mr. Ford Fuchigami, director, Hawaii Department of Transportation:

I am delighted to read about improvements that are planned for Lihue Airport. It will certainly be a relief to have more space in the ticketing and holding areas. That cannot happen too soon!

I hope that your department will also attend to a problem in the baggage claim sections that could be remedied quickly and at relatively little cost. That is, these areas really need more benches. At present there is only one small bench, capable of seating four people at most, in each baggage claim area. This is ridiculous!

People awaiting the arrival of passengers and/or luggage have no place to rest except on the edges of the luggage carousels, which is both uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Clearly, whomever designed the areas has never considered the needs of either arriving passengers, who may be tired after long flights, or of those who come to greet them, who may need to sit down if the flights they intend to meet are delayed.

There is plenty of space along the walls and fences where additional benches could be installed without interfering with circulation around the luggage belts. Why not do this now? Many of us who frequent the airport would be most grateful.

Thank you for your attention.

Heu’ionalani Wyeth, Anahola