Whether it's hunting for a parking space or packing for a trip, taking a little more time could save you a lot of time traveling through Honolulu International Airport in the holiday season, officials said yesterday.

With tens of thousands of people expected to pass through the airport this holiday weekend, some delays are bound to occur. But several new procedures put in place in recent weeks could help cut delays if passengers cooperate, airport officials said.

"The best thing I can say is taking a little extra time may pay off in the long run," said Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa. "With so many people going between islands, you're probably better off driving to the overseas terminal and walking a little farther than circling around and around the interisland parking structure."

State officials last month changed parking procedures at the airport to free up more space in the interisland structure, which has 1,787 spaces, by banning employee parking there. Even so, turnover on holiday weekends is greater in the overseas terminal, which has 2,086 spaces, Ishikawa said. The airport also has two other parking areas that most passengers don't consider: an outdoor lot between the two structures, which has 235 stalls, and a lot fronting the commuter terminal, which has 434 stalls, Ishikawa said.

"We've only had one time that anyone can remember — Labor Day weekend 2004 — when all the parking spaces were filled up, so even though it's crowded you can usually find a space if you give yourself a little extra time," Ishikawa said.

Taxis, airport shuttles, a park-and-ride facility and your nephew Danny are also popular ways of getting to the airport without having to fight through the parking lot.

Meanwhile, federal airport security officials this week put in place new policies that loosen restrictions on what passengers can bring on planes.

Under the new rules, passengers will no longer forfeit nail scissors and other small tools, as long as they're not too big or deemed particularly dangerous. The rules allow passengers through security checkpoints with scissors with blades less than 4 inches long and screwdrivers and other tools that are no more than 7 inches long. However, some passengers may be subject to some additional random secondary searches.

"So far, everything is going smoothly. There hasn't been any slowdowns that we've noticed," said Sidney Hayakawa, federal security director for Honolulu International Airport. "I think most of the people in Hawai'i are accustomed to a lot of traveling back and forth so the process has become like a habit to them."

TSA officials this week also reminded passengers to leave Christmas presents unwrapped.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.