It has been 30 years since the completion of the Reef Runway or Runway 8R/26L was constructed. It is the fourth runway for Honolulu International Airport and according to the airport officials in 1973, it was built to handle the new line of jumbo jets being proposed to land in Hawaii to accomodate demand from both locals and those visiting Hawaii vacation rentals. In fact, the runway was built large enough for even the shuttle to land.
According to Charles Koehl of Hawaiian Beach Rentals, "This was an absolute must for the continued growth of Hawaii and it not only furthered enhanced the economy of the Islands, it was a significant illustration that progress and nature can coincide." It was not an easy construction project for a number of reasons, two of which were: it was built from dredged coral and it impacted the home of the endangered Ae'o bird. The first huddle was overcome and it is currently the largest manmade coral reef runway in the world at 12,000 feet long and will handle the air traffic capacity for years to come.
The other huddle that was overcome is the illustration of how government and nature can truly work together for an outcome that improved the situation and allowed bird watchers staying in Oahu vacation home rentals an opportunity to watch a new sanctuary develop.
The endangered Ae'o bird's habitat in the Keehi Lagoon was in the mud flats near the airport and more specifically where the new runway was going to be constructed. Being an endangered species meant that another solution had to be found before proceeding with the runway construction. The combined efforts of the Department of Transportation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allowed a creative and expansive solution to be created.
The U.S. Navy offered two areas in Pearl Harbor for the creation of wetlands for the birds to create a new habitat, one that would be of interest also to bird watchers who, during their Hawaii trips, can now watch a habitat from its creation. The Federal Aviation Administration set a precedent for environmental mitigation in the United States by helping with the cost of the improvement. The new habitats not only saved the Ae'o and gave them and the other water birds a new home, since 1973 there has been an increase in the number of endangered Ae'o in Hawaii. For those coming to Hawaii villa rentals with binoculars in hand, the two new habitats have been a fascination to watch. For those skeptical of the ability of man and nature to coincide, it has set a precedent hopefully followed throughout the world.