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CITY COUNCIL 2 CITYANDCOUNTYOFHONOLULU No HONOLULU!HAWAII t RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH INTERESTED PARTIES TO ENSURE THE CONTINUANCE OF GENERAL AVIATION AT KAWAIHAPAI(DILLINGHAM)AIRFIELD.

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii (“State”) Department of Transportation, Airports Division (“DOT-A”),has operated Dillingham Airfield under a lease from the U.S. Army (“Army”)since 1962 for the purpose of supporting general aviation in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Section 261-27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, states that the official name of the airfield located at Kawaihapai, formerly known as Dillingham Airfield, is Kawaihapai Airfield;and

WHEREAS, the DOT-Ahas a lease from the Army to continue general aviation at Kawaihapai Airfield until July 5, 2024 but intends to terminate the lease by June 30, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the terms of the existing lease stipulate that “[i]tis the intent of both parties in the future to negotiate and enter into a new longer-term lease”; and

WHEREAS, due to conditions attached to airport improvement funding granted to the DOT-Aby the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”)in 2003 and 2005, the DOT-A has an obligation to keep the airport open for civilian use through 2025; and

WHEREAS, the DOT-A’sdecision to terminate the lease was made without adequate opportunity for public comment and community engagement from the tenants, the Army, the FAA, State and City elected officials, airfield stakeholders, and the surrounding North Shore community; and

WHEREAS, Kawaihapai Airfield is one of the most popular skydiving centers in the world based on the number of daily jumps as well as a world-class location for glider rides due to the natural liftprovided by nearby cliffs, and there are no suitable alternative locations for these activities on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, Kawaihapai Airfield supports 11 businesses and more than 130 employees, provides an ideal location for student pilots to train for high-paying pilot jobs, and generates approximately $12 millionper year in visitor spending; and

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WHEREAS, one of the North Shore Sustainable Communities Plans guidelines for transportation systems is to “[m]aintain small aircraft, general aviation and other recreational, commercial, or other military uses at Dillingham Airfield in cooperation with the U.S. Army,” and “[a]s necessary, upgrade and maintain facilities to support airfield use”; and

WHEREAS, the North Shore Neighborhood Board No. 27, the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, the General Aviation Council of Hawaii, the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association, the U.S. Parachute Association, the Soaring Society of America, the National Aviation Association, and the Experimental Aircraft Association have all passed resolutions in strong support of continuing general aviation at Kawaihapai Airfield;and

WHEREAS, the DOT-A has identified the lack of a long-term lease, lack of authority over the airport, and area water system issues as justifications for closing the airfield, but area legislators are confident that these concerns can be favorably resolved; and

WHEREAS, three established private airport management companies have expressed interest in operating Kawaihapai Airfield under a long-term contract, which would relieve the DOT-A of responsibility for day-to-day operations; and

WHEREAS, Kawaihapai Airfieldis too valuable to the region as an employer and business hub, to the visitor industry, and to the future of general aviation in Hawaii to allow its closure without a comprehensive review of viable alternatives; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City and County of Honolulu that it requests the State Department of Transportation to work with interested parties, including area legislators, interested business partners, the U.S. Army, and the Federal Aviation Administration, to ensure the continuance of general aviation at Kawaihapai (Dillingham) Airfield;and

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CITY COUNCIL CITYAND COUNTY OF HONOLULU No HONOLULU, HAWAII RESOLUTION

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council also requests the State Department of Transportation to include the lineal descendants of Native Hawaiian families who previously resided on or owned land that is now occupied by the Kawaihapai (Dillingham) Airfield in all discussions related to the future use of the airfield; and

BE IT FINALLYRESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mayor, the Managing Director, the State Director of Transportation, the President of the Hawaii State Senate, the Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives, and the Hawaii Congressional Delegation.

INTRODUCED BY: íWuJ14ti

DATE OF INTRODUCTION:

JAN - 5 2021

Honolulu, Hawaii Councilmembers

OCS2O2O-1306/12/18/2020 12:04 PM 3 CITY COUNCIL CITYAND COUNTY OF HONOLULU HONOLULU, HAWAII CERTIFICATE RESOLUTION 21-7

TRANSPORTATION, Introduced: 01/05/21 By: HEIDI TSUNEYOSHI Committee: SUSTAINABILITYAND HEALTH

Title: RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK WITH INTERESTED PARTIES TO ENSURE THE CONTINUANCE OF GENERAL AVIATIONAT KAWAIHAPAI(DILLINGHAM)AIRFIELD, Voting Legend: * = Aye w/Reservations 01/12/21 TRANSPORTATION, REPORTED OUT FOR ADOPTION. SUSTAINABILITYAND CR-i HEALTH 4 AYES: CORDERO, ELEFANTE, KIAAINA, TULSA. 01/27/21 COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORT AND RESOLUTION WERE ADOPTED. 9 AYES: CORDERO, ELEFANTE, FUKUNAGA, KIAAINA, SAY, TSUNEYOSHI, TULSA, TUPOLA, WATERS.

hereby certifythat the above is a true record of action by the Councilof the Cityand County of Honoluluon this RESOLUTIONS

HI,CITYCLERK TOMMYWATERS!CHA4WANDPRESIDINGOFFICER