# Kalaupapa Airport

Kalaupapa Airport (IATA: LUP, ICAO: PHLU, FAA LID: LUP) is a regional public use airport of the state of Hawaii, located on the northern peninsula of the island of Molokaʻi, two nautical miles (2.3 mi; 3.7 km) north of Kalaupapa Settlement, in Kalawao County. Most flights to Kalaupapa originate from Molokai Airport or from airports on the other Hawaiian islands by unscheduled air taxis and general aviation. It is also used as a cargo facility carrying goods for Kalaupapa, which has no road access from the rest of Molokai.
The airport offered scheduled passenger service from Makani Kai Air, which began providing scheduled passenger service in January 2012, using two nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravans. This service was subsidized by the Essential Air Service (EAS) program until May 2018. Previously, Pacific Wings had provided scheduled passenger service at Kalaupapa; this was subsidized by the EAS program from 2000 until April 2007, when Pacific Wings began providing subsidy-free service. Pacific Wings ceased operations in Hawaii in 2013.
The scheduled service from Kalaupapa to Molokai Airport was among the shortest flights in the world.
It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025, in which it is categorized as a non-primary commercial service facility.

## Facilities and aircraft

Kalaupapa Airport covers an area of 55 acres (22 ha) at an elevation of 24 feet (7 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 5/23 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,700 by 75 feet (823 x 23 m).
Facilities include a small passenger terminal and airport support areas. The airport does not have a control tower. To comply with the wishes of the community and to minimize disturbance to the surrounding national park, no significant improvements are planned.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2016, the airport had 3,294 aircraft operations, an average of 9 per day: 73% air taxi, 18% general aviation and 9% military. In April 2022, there were no aircraft based at this airport.

## Airlines and destinations

The following airline offers scheduled passenger service:
| Airlines | Destinations |
| Mokulele Airlines | Honolulu, Molokai |

## Statistics

Top domestic destinations (February 2021 - January 2022) :
| Rank | Airport | Passengers |
| 1 | Ho'olehua-Molokai Airport (MKK) | 1,420 |
| 2 | Honolulu International (HNL) | 1,150 |

## Authority

Kalaupapa Airport is part of a centralized state structure governing all of the airports and seaports of Hawaii. The official authority of Kalaupapa Airport is the Governor of Hawaii. The governor appoints the Director of the Hawaii State Department of Transportation who has jurisdiction over the Hawaii Airports Administrator.
The Hawaii Airports Administrator oversees six governing bodies: Airports Operations Office, Airports Planning Office, Engineering Branch, Information Technology Office, Staff Services Office, Visitor Information Program Office. Collectively, the six bodies have authority over the four airport districts in Hawaii: Hawaiʻi District, Kauaʻi District, Maui District and the principal Oʻahu District. Kalaupapa Airport is a subordinate of the Maui District officials.

## Incidents

On December 11, 2013, a Makani Kai Air Cessna Grand Caravan bound for Honolulu crashed into the ocean shortly after taking off from Kalauapapa. One passenger, Hawaii State Health Department head Loretta Fuddy, died as a result; the other seven passengers and the pilot survived.