The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) recently broke ground on a new, six lane security screening checkpoint at Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). The $46 million south security checkpoint, funded in part by a $30.6 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, is expected to open in December 2026. The airport will build the two-story checkpoint on the second floor of OGG’s ticketing lobby; add a pedestrian bridge to connect the south checkpoint to a passenger waiting area; create a new garden deck; relocate the airport’s “Maui Releasing the Sun” statue to the front of the new facility as well as enclose and add air conditioning to its current checkpoint.
“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.”
“Kahului Airport sees roughly 4.4 million passengers annually,” said HDOT 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.”
“This new checkpoint will reduce wait times and improve people’s experience at Kahului Airport,” added 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.”
