The flight tower at Kalaeloa Airport on Oahu’s Leeward Coast was spared a shutdown.

The Federal Aviation Adminstratin released a list of 149 towers it is closing around the tower because of the sequestration budget cuts and the former Naval Air Station Barbers Point tower wasn’t on the list.

The Hawaii airport was on a list of 189 towers it was considering closing.

No information was released on why the airport tower was not being closed.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, who wrote the FAA urging the tower be kept open released a statement applauding the decision.

“This is great news for Hawaii. Earlier this month, I made the case to the FAA that closing the tower at Kalaeloa would hurt the Coast Guard’s ability to conduct vital air rescue missions and eliminate crucial support to Honolulu International Airport in case of emergency. I’m glad that the FAA came to the same conclusion. Closing the tower would have also cost Hawaii air traffic controllers jobs and hurt local general aviation companies. This was the right move.”

In a press release, the FAA said the towers were being left open because closing them “would have a negative impact on the national interest.”

The national interest considerations included: (1) significant threats to national security as determined by the FAA in consultation with the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security; (2) significant, adverse economic impact that is beyond the impact on a local community; (3) significant impact on multi-state transportation, communication or banking/financial networks; and (4) the extent to which an airport currently served by a contract tower is a critical diversionary airport to a large hub.

Here’s a list of the closures.

— Kery Murakami