Construction begins on new Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Kahului Airport
KAHULUI, Hawai‘i – The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) announces the commencement of the $46 million Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Checkpoint project at Kahului Airport (OGG).
HDOT, TSA, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, along with other federal, state and county officials and HDOT partners participated in a groundbreaking and blessing of the project today.
The new two-story security screening checkpoint building at the south end of the ticket lobby will house up to six screening lanes. The existing main checkpoint will remain operational and as part of the multimillion-dollar project, will be upgraded by enclosing it and adding air conditioning.
The new south checkpoint is supported by a $30.6 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“This new checkpoint will reduce wait times and improve people’s experience at Kahului Airport,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. “These improvements will benefit visitors and residents alike, which is why we worked hard to secure federal funding for this project.”
The additional screening lanes will increase capacity for TSA operations, adding to the overall efficiency of passenger screening and security operations at OGG.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents a significant investment in the future of TSA at OGG. We are pleased with the planning and work that is being done to make the south security checkpoint a reality,” said TSA Federal Security Director for the Pacific Nanea Vasta. “This project will help TSA meet the increasing demand for passenger screening. We look forward to welcoming travelers to the new checkpoint upon its completion.”
The new south checkpoint waiting lobby, screening lanes and TSA support spaces will be located on the second floor. Other airport support spaces and tenant retail opportunities will be on the ground floor.
A pedestrian bridge will connect the new south checkpoint to the newly expanded passenger waiting area that was dedicated earlier this year, along with a new garden deck. Also, the “Maui Releasing the Sun” statue currently in the airport courtyard will be relocated to a more visible spot at the front of the new two-story checkpoint building.
“Kahului Airport sees roughly 4.4 million passengers annually,” said Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. “Building a new checkpoint will make traveling through Kahului less stressful. The south checkpoint will have capacity for up to six screening lanes and we’ll be making the existing main screening area more comfortable by enclosing it and adding air conditioning. We know air travel is a necessity for many Hawai‘i residents and we want it to be as positive and comfortable as possible.”
The project is expected to be completed in December 2026. The general contractor is Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co.
For photos of today’s blessing and rendering of the new checkpoint building, see:
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TSAOGG-mailecrop.jpg
Caption: From left, Laksmi Abraham, Office of the Mayor, Maui County; State Sen. Lynn DeCoite; Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director, Ed Sniffen; Maui County Council Vice Chairwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura; Nanea Vasta, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Security Director, Pacific Airports; and Patrick Palmer, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Building Division, vice president.
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TSAOGGshovelsk.jpg
Caption: From left: Patrick Palmer, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Building Division vice president; Maui County Council Vice Chairwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura; Laksmi Abraham, Office of the Mayor, Maui County; Nanea Vasta, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Security Director, Pacific Airports; State Sen. Lynn DeCoite, Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen and Kahu Kalani Wong.
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TSAOGGSchatzsk.jpg
Caption: U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz speaks as Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen looks on. Seated from left are: Kahu Kalani Wong; Patrick Palmer, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co., Building Division, vice president; Laksmi Abraham, Office of the Mayor, Maui County; State Sen. Lynn DeCoite and Nanea Vasta, TSA, Federal Security Director, Pacific Airports.
For video of today’s event, see: https://youtu.be/8RO9P4-ERSA
Please credit Hawai‘i Department of Transportation.
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