{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/press-releases/hirono-reestablishment-of-kona-federal-inspection-facility-benefits-hawaii-economy", "Hirono: Reestablishment of Kona Federal Inspection Facility Benefits Hawaii Economy", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hirono: Reestablishment of Kona Federal Inspection Facility Benefits Hawaii Economy\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDirect International Flights to and from Kona to Resume on December 20\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 1, 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSenator Mazie K. Hirono applauded today\u2019s announcement that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will reestablish a Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility at Kona International Airport.\u00a0 The FIS checkpoint allows for international visitors to fly directly to and from Kona.\u00a0\r\n\u201cAfter six years of working closely with federal and state officials, and community partners to reestablish direct international flights to Kona International Airport, today\u2019s announcement is good news for Hawaii\u2019s tourism industry and the Hawaii Island economy,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cIn particular, I want to acknowledge the efforts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to work with the state on the Federal Inspection Service facility that made this a reality.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe resumption of international flights to Kona will have a wide-range of positive impacts on Hawaii Island and the state as a whole by boosting tourism spending, creating jobs and generating millions of dollars for our economy,\u201d said Gov. David Y. Ige. \u201cI especially thank our partners at U.S. Customs and Border Protection for working with us to achieve this goal. This was a top priority for my administration and I am pleased that we were able to make the Federal Inspection Service facility in Kona a reality.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe advocacy of Sen. Hirono and the entire Hawaii Congressional delegation was instrumental in making our Haneda-Kona route a reality,\u201d said Peter Ingram, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Hawaiian Airlines. \u201cWe are excited to bring back international flights to the Big Island by offering our Japanese guests convenient access to the beautiful Kona coast.\u201d\r\nHawaiian Airlines will begin three-times weekly direct service from Kona to Haneda Airport in Tokyo on December 20, 2016. Senator Hirono wrote to Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to urge him to approve Hawaiian Airlines\u2019 application for the direct route. The U.S. Department of Transportation approved Hawaiian Airlines\u2019 application on May 13, 2016.\r\nAfter the temporary Kona FIS facility was shut down in 2010, Senator Hirono brought together top state and federal officials, and community leaders to work on establishing a permanent facility. Senator Hirono also supported legislation and advocated directly to CBP to grant the State of Hawaii the ability to reimburse the federal government for expanded service to process international travelers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/press-releases/hirono-reestablishment-of-kona-federal-inspection-facility-benefits-hawaii-economy"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.007651910185814, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}