HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

87

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE department of transportation TO designate THE REEF RUNWAY as THE FRANK T. OKIMOTO REEF RUNWAY.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, to alleviate aircraft noise patterns over Honolulu and the surrounding areas, the Reef Runway was constructed on coral reef adjacent to the Honolulu International Airport in 1977; and

 

     WHEREAS, construction of the Reef Runway cost $89,000,000; and

 

WHEREAS, the Reef Runway is the world's first major runway built entirely offshore; and

 

     WHEREAS, the engineering achievements of the Reef Runway earned the project two awards:  one of the Ten Outstanding Engineering Achievements Awards in the United States in 1977 from the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the Aviation Environment Award from the Federal Aviation Administration, which had only been awarded once before; and

 

     WHEREAS, the runway was designed to serve as an alternative landing site for the Space Shuttle; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Project Engineer for the Reef Runway was the late Frank T. Okimoto, who served as an airports civil engineer from 1967 until his untimely passing in 1978; and

 

     WHEREAS, because Frank T. Okimoto fully supported environmental surveys regarding the design and construction of the Reef Runway, great care was taken during the design and construction of the Reef Runway to minimize the environmental impacts of the runway on surrounding areas, including any impacts on the indigenous bird population of the region, resulting in improved water quality; and

     WHEREAS, according to the "State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Report to the Governor, Fiscal Years 1978 and 1979", Frank T. Okimoto's "insight, questions and exacting standards motivated the highest goals from everyone connected with the project.  In respect and affection from co-workers, the Reef Runway has been called 'Frank's Runway'"; and

 

WHEREAS, designating the Reef Runway as the Frank T. Okimoto Reef Runaway will not adversely affect any state or federal funding for the runway or Daniel K. Inouye International Airport; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Department of Transportation is requested to designate the Reef Runway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport as the Frank T. Okimoto Reef Runway; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to erect and maintain appropriate signage for the Frank T. Okimoto Reef Runway; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Director of Transportation.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Frank T. Okimoto; Reef Runway; Daniel K. Inouye International Airport