Frequently Asked Questions

Why AirportScandal.com?

Answer: Necessity. Air transportation is federally regulated, and there are specific requirements and standards that state officials (or airport sponsors in as they are formally known) must meet in order to comply with provisions of the Airline Deregulation Act and related federal mandates. In Hawaii the airport sponsor has been unable (or unwilling) to engage in meaningful dialogue concerning matters of public interest; to rationalize or justify behavior that appears to be in conflict with federal laws; or, to explain or be accountable for a series of controversial and highly publicized decisions which appear to be having an anticompetitive effect on Hawaii's intrastate air transportation markets. These behaviors are inhibiting and frustrating delivery of air transportation to small and medium-sized Hawaii communities, and obstructing the operations of air carriers who serve them. Under federal law, these practices are prohibited.

Who appointed AirportScandal.com to be the airport watchdog?

Answer: The federal government cannot be in all places at once. Our system makes it possible (and indeed creates certain incentives) for taxpayers to police the fields whenever and wherever elected or appointed public officials cannot or will not. AirportScandal.com will work with appropriate federal agencies to facilitate disclosure, investigation and resolution of airport sponsor compliance issues, and to promote fraud investigation and recoveries.

Words like 'fraud' and 'misconduct' seem sensational. What is the likelihood that an agency of the state government is actually being mismanaged to such an extent?

Answer: Criminal fraud indictments, multimillion dollar revenue diversions and admonishments by federal transportation officials are only a few recent examples of serious problems with the Hawaii Department of Transportation. These issues appear so persistent and endemic to the management culture of the agency as to transcend elected administrations or regime changes.

Even if there is misconduct or corruption going on, the Hawaii Department of Transportation does not answer to AirportScandal.com. Can't state officials simply ignore the questions and issues raised here?

Answer: Legally, no. But that doesn't keep some government officials from trying. Hawaii has one of the most progressive public records laws in the country, and it guarantees citizens the right to know and see exactly what elected and appointed officials are doing. The Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) and its federal counterpart, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) require patience and persistence to use effectively, however, they do provide viable options for dealing with government officials who refuse to comply with the law.

Aren't television commercials and web sites an extreme and unnecessarily confrontational approach to problem solving? Wouldn't it be better for everyone involved for the parties to work directly together to solve these kinds of problems?

Answer: Problem solving requires open and candid communication. To date, Hawaii transportation officials have declined to engage in any substantive dialogue that would require the airport sponsor to explain, rationalize or justify its actions and decisions.