Honolulu Resident Criticizes $7 Billion Airport Overhaul

Letter writer says money should be spent on highways, homeless, housing, and public services instead.

Mar. 4, 2026 at 10:05am

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A Honolulu resident has written a letter to the editor criticizing the planned $7 billion overhaul of the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. The letter writer, Ken Zitz, argues that the money would be better spent improving highways, addressing homelessness, building affordable housing, and increasing pay for school teachers, police, and firefighters, rather than on upgrading the airport facilities.

Why it matters

The letter highlights ongoing debates over infrastructure spending priorities in Honolulu, with some residents arguing that basic public services and community needs should take precedence over large-scale airport renovations. The airport overhaul project has been controversial, with concerns raised about the high costs and whether the benefits will outweigh the investments.

The details

In the letter, Zitz states that the airports are "fine as long as airplanes can take off and land safely" and that the $7 billion price tag for the overhaul is a "waste of taxpayer money." He argues that the funds would be better allocated to improving highways, addressing homelessness, building affordable housing, and increasing pay for public sector workers like teachers, police, and firefighters.

  • The letter was published on March 4, 2026.
  • The $7 billion airport overhaul project was announced in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on March 1, 2026.

The players

Ken Zitz

A resident of Waialua, Honolulu who wrote the letter to the editor criticizing the airport overhaul project.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport

The main airport serving Honolulu and the state of Hawaii, which is undergoing a $7 billion renovation and expansion project.

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What they’re saying

“Give me a break, what a waste of taxpayer money ('$7 billion overhaul of airports advances,' Star-Advertiser, March 1). The airports are fine as long as airplanes can take off and land safely. The money should be spent to improve our highways, take care of the homeless people, build affordable housing and pay school teachers, police and fire fighters more money. Those are the priorities, not an airport lobby.”

— Ken Zitz

The takeaway

This letter reflects ongoing debates in Honolulu over infrastructure spending priorities, with some residents arguing that basic community needs like housing, homelessness, and public services should take precedence over large-scale airport renovations. The $7 billion price tag for the airport overhaul has drawn scrutiny, highlighting the tradeoffs involved in allocating limited public funds.