HI HR87

Request the Department of Transportation to designate the Reef Runway at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport as the Frank T. Okimoto Reef Runway in honor of the late Project Engineer.

Reef Runway was constructed in 1977 on coral reef adjacent to Honolulu International Airport at a cost of $89,000,000 to reduce aircraft noise over Honolulu and surrounding areas.

Reef Runway is the world's first major runway built entirely offshore and won two engineering awards: one of the Ten Outstanding Engineering Achievements Awards from the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1977 and the Aviation Environment Award from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Frank T. Okimoto served as the airports civil engineer from 1967 until his death in 1978 and ensured environmental surveys and care were taken during design and construction to minimize environmental impacts on the region.

Request the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signage for the Frank T. Okimoto Reef Runway and transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Director of Transportation.