The Latest: State to build Kona immigration facility by fall

HONOLULU – The Latest on a meeting of Hawaii tourism industry representatives (all times local):

3 p.m.

The state of Hawaii aims to finish building a new immigration facility at Kailua-Kona’s airport one month before Hawaiian Airlines launches direct flights there from Tokyo.

Department of Transportation Deputy Director Ross Higashi said Thursday the state is “feverishly moving” to get the facility ready by November. Hawaiian plans to start flying to Kona from Tokyo on Dec. 20.

The immigration facility will be temporary, Higashi told industry leaders at a meeting of the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s Hawaii chapter. The department plans to build a permanent Kona international arrivals building to comply with federal standards.

Hawaiian’s new route will bring a regularly scheduled direct flight from Japan to the Big Island for the first time since 2010. That’s the year Japan Airlines stopped flying its Tokyo-Kona route.

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12 a.m.

Local travel industry leaders are gathering in Honolulu to discuss industry trends.

The Hawaii chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association plans to meet at a Waikiki hotel on Thursday.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is expected to discuss the outlook for flights to the islands. The state Department of Transportation will discuss airport improvements.

Also on the agenda are updates from Hawaiian Airlines about the company’s upcoming business plans and in-flight service innovations.

The association is a not-for-profit group that includes airlines, tourism agencies, cruise lines and others.