Airports

For the last 29 years, Ross Smith has dedicated himself to public service working for the State of Hawai‘i.

Starting in August 1991 Ross joined DOT’s Public Affairs Office.

From there, he flew over to the Airports Division in 1998 and eventually landed on his way to becoming the Supervisor for the Property & Business Development Staff.

your years of service On weekends Ross Stadium public address announcer. He was overseeing the Concessions Section, Property Management Section 1 (Oahu District Airports), Property Management Section 2 (Neighbor Island District Airports), Land Acquisition Section and the Contracts and Clerical Section for the last 16 years.

In the 1970’s he was a radio deejay personality

Throughout his years at DOT, Ross has been a tireless worker dedicated to meeting the needs Ross Smith).”

of the public and the demands of working with ever changing policies, laws and regulations.

will miss his snippets of trivia and word play. Thank you for with DOT! Little known facts: could be heard at UH and High School Football games as an Aloha

Prior to his career with DOT, Ross was a Realtor/ Broker specializing in leasing commercial properties and sales of commercial/residential properties.

for KCCN (Hawaiian Radio).

Ross is also known as an excellent wordsmith (not to be confused with his full name: Ward We wish Ross well in his retirement years and

Which movie did you hear this from and who says it? Correct answer gets a KOA commemorative anniversary button.

Email Rae Nguyen at tuyenrae.t.nguyen@hawaii.gov with your answer. Good luck!

With Hawaii open for travel, people are already making plans to see friends and family or simply want a new change of scenery.

But the process of bypassing the 14-day quarantine can be a bit jarring.

Luckily for anyone traveling to Hawaii, there’s comprehensive info on the State website.

Travelers can go to HawaiiCovid19.com or call 800-GoHawaii for more info.

Tips to remember when traveling to Hawai’i.

• Check with your airline carriers. Cancellations can occur when an airline carrier does not meet its passenger load factor.

• Check out the visiting island’s county website as each island quarantine/ COVID process varies from island to island.

• Mask up and bring sanitizer. Airline carriers require their passengers to cover their mouth and nose at all times.

• Try to be flexible - it’s a fluid situation where everything can change drastically. If the island you’re heading to requires post-testing, bring snacks, books and games for the kids. It might take a little longer to get out of the airport.

Enjoy your stay. You’re in Hawai’i.

Paws Across the Pacific flew more than 600 shelter dogs and cats on a chartered Hercules C-130 plane making stops on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii islands Oct. 28.

Over 2,500 furry paws arrived at Seattle’s Boeing Field the next morning, where pet shelters and rescue groups received them while 120 of the shelter pets continued their journey to Walla Walla and Coeur d’Alene.

HDOT Airports Operations across the state and FAA Honolulu ADO/ATO teams

By: Douglas Carroll

advance work in support of Paws Across the Pacific made the airport and flight operations components “easy” for the PawsXPacific team to quote Ric Browde, CEO Wings of Rescue.

This in turn allowed them to focus on the animals.

This monumental logistical undertaking was a huge success and covered by media across the state and the nation.

Kudos to all involved in helping these animals find new, loving homes!

Bang! Bang!

Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport experienced some earlymorning excitement as airport staff, tenants, security, national guardsmen, and first responders participated in an active shooter drill.

Onlookers heard shots from somewhere, followed by a woman rushing through the airline ticket lobby yelling, “gun! Gun! He’s got a gun!”

A “gunman” gave chase through the terminal checkpoint, and several wounded bystanders laid in wake.

The KOA security team closed in right away.

A final standoff occurred inside the terminal.

In all, there were four “casualties” in the exercise, including the gunman.

The KOA ARFF team then got to work administering care to the wounded.

It was all over in a matter of minutes.

Fortunately, this was just an exercise. the yearly exercise, as recommended by Dept. of Homeland Security and required by TSA.

Thanks to all who participated, helping to make the airport a well-trained, prepared-for-anything environment.

The Hawai’i Department of Transportation is recognizing November 9 through 13, 2020 as World Kindness Week throughout the department, although World Kindness Day is actually on November 13.

The definition of “kindness” is the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate; behavior marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant disposition and a sincere concern for others.

Kindness starts with each of us. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself, and kindness plays a big part of one of the things that our Hawaiian culture is all about -- Hospitality!

1) Better Relationships. One reason kindness is valued in various relationships ranging from a significant other to a family member or friend; is that kind people are more empathetic.

2) Fewer Negative Emotions

3) Increased Health

4) Increases Self-Esteem

5) Makes The World a Better Place

To show kindness is one of the most important 1) Recognize and thank a person when they things that you can do for someone. Kindness unexpectedly do something nice for you! lets light in! 2) Surprise others by performing Planned or achieved with simple acts. You can show 3) Share the above experiences with a co kindness to both strangers and all those who worker. and it costs you nothing. You can be kind in 4) OPTIONAL….send your Kindness Experiences small and big ways. to charles.tw.lee@hawaii.gov. He will share There’s no debate that kindness is a strength. (Please let him know if you wish to to remain And it really is concerning to know that so anonymous).

CHALLENGE TO OUR HDOT ‘OHANA:

Random Acts of Kindness. these experiences in the next HDOT newsletter.