HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 093 Draft 01 2014-2016COUNTY OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO.
STATE OF HAWAII
93 15
A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO WORK
COLLECTIVELY TO RE-ESTABLISH KONA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AS AN
ENTRY -WAY FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS.
WHEREAS, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is one of the
Department of Homeland Security's largest and most complex components, with a priority
mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. It also has a responsibility for
securing and facilitating trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including
immigration and drug laws; and
WHEREAS, a security structure at Kona International Airport (KOA) failed to meet
CBP airport technical design standards for passenger processing facilities, which ultimately led
to the termination of international commercial flights to KOA in October of 2010; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Legislature has measures before both chambers
appropriating funds for a federal inspection station at KOA; and
WHEREAS, on February 18, 2015, the Hawaii County Council adopted Resolution No.
86-15 urging the Hawaii State Legislature to approve such measures; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii is an island state comprised of four counties separated by water
and the lack of a CBP federal inspection station at KOA leaves Hawaii in a vulnerable position
should Honolulu International Airport (HNL) suddenly become unavailable; and
WHEREAS, having two international entries will help reduce the congestion at CBP
screening queues at HNL, which would improve the process of getting our international travelers
to their desired destinations; and
WHEREAS, Hawaiian Airlines, the largest airline in the State of Hawaii, has applied
for a nonstop route between KOA and Tokyo International Airport, clearly indicating the
demand for international flights to Kona; and
WHEREAS, on February 4, 2015, the Council adopted Resolution No. 46-15 urging the
U.S. Department of Transportation to approve the application of Hawaiian Airlines; now,
therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it
urges the Hawaii Congressional Delegation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to
work collectively to re-establish Kona International Airport as an entry -way for international
flights.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Congressional Delegation pursue and
lobby the United States Customs and Border Protection in support of a five-year exemption for
the Kona International Airport.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward copies of this
resolution to the Honorable United States Secretary Jeh C. Johnson, U.S. Department of
Homeland Security, the Honorable Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, the Honorable United States Senator Brian Schatz, the Honorable United States
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Honorable United States Representative Tulsi Gabbard, the
Honorable United States Representative Mark Takai, the Honorable Governor David Y. Ige, the
State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ford Fuchigami, and the Honorable
Mayor William P. Kenoi.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i, this 4th day of March , 2C15.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
1 hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on arch 4� 2015
ATTEST:
t
Diew
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COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
ROLL CALL VOTE
Reference: C-147/Waived GREDC
RESOLUTION NO. 93 1
AYES NOES ABS EX
CHUNG
X
DAVID
X
EOFF
X
ILAGAN
X
KANUHA
ONISHI
PALEKA
POINDEXTER
X
WILLE
9 0 0 0
Reference: C-147/Waived GREDC
RESOLUTION NO. 93 1