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Maui's Kahului Airport, with the code OGG, is named after Captain Jimmy Hogg, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot, Kaua'i native, and aviation pioneer. Hogg was responsible for setting up and checking Hawaii's new radio navigation system, and when the Maui VOR was commissioned in 1947, he submitted the paperwork, and the airport has been associated with his name ever since.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Kahului Airport |
| Airport Code | OGG |
| Airport District | Maui District |
| Location | Maui, Hawaii |
| History | Originally a Naval Air Station during World War II, it was converted to a civil airport in 1945. |
| Runway Length | 8,530 ft (2,600 m) |
| Number of Gates | 16 |
| Public Transport | Maui Bus operates two routes: Route 35 Haiku Islander and Route 40 Upcountry Islander |
| Named After | Captain Jimmy Hogg, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot, Kaua'i native, and aviation pioneer |
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What You'll Learn
- The airport code OGG is named after Captain Jimmy Hogg, an aviation pioneer and Hawaiian Airlines pilot
- In the early days of aviation, airports were named after the city or county they served
- Maui Airport was originally a naval air station during World War II
- The airport's name was chosen to honour Pan Am Captain Richard Ogg
- Maui Airport's terminal has a display dedicated to Captain Hogg
The airport code OGG is named after Captain Jimmy Hogg, an aviation pioneer and Hawaiian Airlines pilot
OGG was also chosen as a tribute to Pan Am Captain Richard Ogg, who successfully ditched a Boeing Stratocruiser between Honolulu and San Francisco in an incident involving engine failure and a runaway propeller.
Some sources, however, dispute the claim that Maui's airport code OGG was a direct tribute to Captain Hogg. They suggest that in the early days of aviation, airports and navigation aids were typically named after the city or county they served, and any additional facilities in the same area were given names by locals to distinguish them from others. In those days, messages were sent by telegraph, and radio navigation aids broadcast their identifiers in Morse code, so brevity was important, and facility names were abbreviated to three unique letters for easy transmission and understanding.
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In the early days of aviation, airports were named after the city or county they served
Maui's Kahului Airport, with the code OGG, is named after Captain Jimmy Hogg, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot, Kaua'i native, and aviation pioneer. Hogg became the Chief Pilot for the airline in 1946 and flew many of the test flights when the Maui VOR was installed. As such, it was decided to name the Maui Navigation Facility after him. Hogg chose the code OGG, rather than HOG.
In 1947, when the Maui VOR was commissioned, the world was still honouring its heroes from World War II, which had ended just two years prior. At that time, Hawaii was not a state, and there was less regulation and oversight from the American Civil Aviation Authority, allowing for a break from the conventions used to identify aviation facilities. As such, the three-letter identifier for the Maui VOR was chosen to honour a Pan Am Captain, Richard Ogg, who had successfully landed a Boeing Stratocruiser after an engine failure and a runaway propeller.
Interestingly, the code for the West Maui airport, JHM, is also a person's initials. They are the initials of John Henry Magoon, who was the president of Hawaiian Airlines when the airport was built.
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Maui Airport was originally a naval air station during World War II
Maui Airport, officially known as Kahului Airport, was originally a naval air station during World War II. In response to the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. entered World War II, and the Navy acquired approximately 1,341 acres of sugarcane fields near Kahului in 1942 to build an air station. Following the war's end in 1945, the Territory of Hawaii negotiated with the Navy to convert the Naval Air Station Kahului into a civil airport, marking the beginning of a transition to civilian control.
During World War II, the demands of the war required a proper air station on Maui. The construction of the naval air station in Kahului was a strategic move to strengthen the U.S. military presence in the Pacific region. The base played a crucial role in supporting military operations and ensuring the security of the Hawaiian Islands during the war.
After the war ended in 1945, the Territory of Hawaii recognized the need for a modern and efficient airport to replace the inadequate airport near Puunene. Negotiations with the Navy commenced, and by December 1947, jurisdiction over the naval air station was transferred to the Territory. The Hawaii Aeronautics Commission assumed custodial oversight, marking the beginning of the base's transformation into a civilian airport.
The transition process involved significant modifications to the former naval air station. A passenger terminal was constructed from surplus military materials, and an old shop was remodeled into a refrigerated air freight building. Additionally, navigational and runway lighting systems were installed to meet the standards of a civilian airport. These changes reflected the shift from military to civilian aviation and the evolving needs of air travel in the region.
The Maui Airport's code, OGG, also has an interesting history. It was chosen to honor Captain Richard Ogg, a Pan Am Captain who successfully ditched a Boeing Stratocruiser halfway between Honolulu and San Francisco due to an engine failure and a runaway propeller. Interestingly, there is a common misconception that the airport code OGG is derived from Captain Bertram "Jimmy" Hogg, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot and aviation pioneer. However, this claim has been refuted.
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The airport's name was chosen to honour Pan Am Captain Richard Ogg
Maui's Kahului Airport is named OGG, honouring Pan Am Captain Richard Ogg, who successfully ditched a Boeing Stratocruiser in the middle of the night halfway between Honolulu and San Francisco. Pan Am Flight 6 had experienced an engine failure and a runaway propeller, making it unable to continue its journey to San Francisco or return to Hawaii.
Captain Bertram "Jimmy" Hogg, an aviation pioneer and Hawaiian Airlines pilot, was responsible for submitting the paperwork for the Maui VOR. Hogg himself was a chief test pilot and had flown so many test flights that it was decided to name the Maui Navigation Facility after him. Hogg chose OGG, which stood for his name, over HOG.
There is some confusion over the origin of the airport code, with some sources claiming it was named after Captain Hogg, and others stating it was named for Captain Richard Ogg. This discrepancy may be due to the fact that, in the early days of aviation, airports and navigation aids were named after the city or county they served, with additional facilities in the same area given names by locals to distinguish them from one another. To facilitate brevity in telegraph messages, names were abbreviated to three unique letters that could be easily transmitted and understood as an identifier.
Today, the airport features an 8-foot-tall, 42-foot-wide information-packed wall that tells the story behind the three-letter code, honouring the aviation pioneers who played a role in its history.
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Maui Airport's terminal has a display dedicated to Captain Hogg
Maui Airport, officially known as Kahului Airport, is located in Hawaii and is the only airport on Maui with non-stop flights to and from the mainland United States or any other country. The airport's code is OGG, which, for a long time, remained a mystery to travellers. However, the airport now boasts an 8-foot-tall, 42-foot-wide information-packed wall that tells the story behind the three-letter code. The wall, located at Gate 19, was presented by Hawaiian Airlines, the State Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The airport is named after Captain Jimmy Hogg, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot, Kaua'i native, and aviation pioneer. Born and raised in Līhu'e, Kaua'i, on a sugar plantation, Hogg decided at the age of 12 that he wanted to become a pilot. He began his aviation career on 1 January 1930, as a mechanic's helper at Inter-island Airways, which later became Hawaiian Airlines in 1941. Hogg became a co-pilot in 1936 and a captain the following year. He achieved several notable feats, including making the first commercial flight after the attack on Pearl Harbor and flying Hawaiian Airlines' first trans-Pacific flight in 1958. Hogg also played a crucial role in setting up and checking Hawaii's new radio navigation system.
While the airport code OGG is believed by some to honour Captain Hogg, this claim is disputed. In the early days of aviation, airports and navigation aids were typically named after the city or county they served. Additional facilities in the same area were given names by locals to distinguish them from each other. To facilitate communication, these names were abbreviated to three unique letters that could be easily transmitted and understood in Morse code. The choice of the letters "OGG" for Maui's airport code may have been a coincidence or an intentional decision to honour Pan Am Captain Richard Ogg, who successfully ditched a Boeing Stratocruiser between Honolulu and San Francisco in 1946 due to engine failure and a runaway propeller.
Regardless of the origin of the airport code, Captain Hogg remains an important figure in Hawaii's aviation history. His contributions to the industry and his pioneering spirit are commemorated through the display dedicated to him at the Maui Airport terminal, providing travellers with insight into the history of aviation in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
Maui's airport code is OGG because it is named after Captain Jimmy Hogg, an aviation pioneer and Hawaiian Airlines pilot. Hogg was responsible for setting up and checking Hawaii's new radio navigation system, and when the Maui VOR was commissioned in 1947, he submitted the paperwork with his name on it.
Captain Jimmy Hogg was an aviation pioneer and Hawaiian Airlines pilot. He was one of the few instrument-rated pilots in Hawaii and played an important role in the history of Hawaiian Airlines.
Maui's airport is named after Captain Hogg to honor his contributions to aviation in Hawaii. Hogg was responsible for setting up and checking the radio navigation system in Hawaii, and he was also a Hawaiian Airlines pilot and aviation pioneer.
Maui's airport, also known as Kahului Airport, was built on land acquired by the Navy during World War II. Following the war, the Territory of Hawaii negotiated to convert the naval air station into a civil airport, and by December 1947, the base was under civilian control. A passenger terminal was built, and the navigational and runway lighting systems were installed.
