Lihu‘e Airport parking changes Feb. 1

LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) announced on Thursday changes in parking rates for the Lihu‘e Airport, Kahului Airport on Maui, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, and Hilo International Airport.

The new rates will take effect on Feb. 1.

Parking rates for up to 30 minutes will reflect no changes — the first 15 minutes being free, and the 16 to 30 minute rate being $2.

The 15-minute grace period remains the same to support use of parking for community members dropping off or picking up passengers. There are free airport cellphone parking areas available for those picking up passengers.

The maximum daily rate will rise to $24 from its current $15 rate, and all time slots beyond 30 minutes will reflect changes that include the 31 to 60 minutes slot going from $3 to $5 to the maximum daily rate.

According to the HDOT announcement, funding for the operation, maintenance and improvement of Hawai‘i’s airport system is provided through revenues earned through concessions, such as parking and fees charged to businesses operating at the airports.

The projected revenue from the parking rate increases at the different airports will be used for future improvements, such as design and construction of additional parking at the neighbor island airports, including Lihu‘e Airport.

The parking lot expansion cost for Lihu‘e is estimated at $5 million. More details on the parking expansions will be provided as the design progresses.

The parking concessionaire for the Lihu‘e Airport parking has committed to a minimum investment of $700,000 to add stall counters and the ancillary equipment and software needed to display available stalls online.

According to the announcement, the parking rates for neighbor island airports were previously adjusted in 2015.