Airports

Working Together: Airports & Highways Help Move Two Trailers fr om Kona to Hilo By: Steven Santi ago

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 restroom trailers, ITO mechanics gave their thumbs up and Operation Lua was ready to go.

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 fl at tire.

Airport maintenance noticed that the tire would

Airports

WORKING TOGETHER continued from page 7 not fi t and drove back to Gil Kahele park to install the newly acquired tire.

By that time, Kona North and South State Highways returned from dropping off the second trailer at Hilo Airport and hooked up the fi rst trailer and towed it to Hilo.

A big shout-out and mahalo to the crew from DOT-HWYs North and South Kona Base Yard, ITO mechanics and KOA Operations for taking their time out from their busy work schedule to assist in transporting two mobile restroom trailers all the way from Kona. There was minimal disruption in the movement of the fi rst trailer and we are grateful for all Highways and Airports’ help on making this happen.

Kudos to Maui Fire Departm ent’s Recruit Class 36 on their Graduati on!