Airports Working Together: Airports & Highways Help Move Two Trailers from Kona to Hilo By: Steven Santiago
restroom trailers, ITO mechanics gave their thumbs up and Operation Lua was ready to go.
How do you transport two mobile trailers from one end of the island to another for a restroom renovation project? That’s the question AIR-HL’s Airport District Manager Steve Santiago had to answer in order to get his restroom renovation project going. Hilo International Airport (ITO) was overseeing the restroom renovation project and needed two mobile restroom trailers for contractors to start repairs on the west restroom renovation of the airport. The problem was that the trailers were located at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, almost 80 miles west of the island. Santiago contacted HWY-H’s Engineer Harry Takiue for assistance and coordinated with HWY-H’s Francis “Kepa” Kekaualua, Construction and Maintenance Support specialist and AIR-H’s Dexter Espinueva, Airports Operations Control Supervisor. With all things in order, including a thorough inspection of tires and wheel bearings of the
State Highways North and South Kona base yard picked up one of the trailers and started towing it to Hilo Dec. 4. During the trailer movement, it was noted that one of the tires was starting to fall apart and they had to stop and park the trailer at the Gil Kahele State Park. State Highways contacted Hilo Airport maintenance about the damaged tire. After picking up a tire and rim at the State Highways baseyard, Hilo Airport mechanics headed to the park to replace the tire. North and South Kona State Highways unhooked the trailer and drove back to Kona Airport to get the other trailer while Hilo Airport maintenance work on the trailer with the flat tire. Airport maintenance noticed that the tire would WORKING TOGETHER continued on page 8
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