Work Begins on Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor Ferry Pier

left to right: Rev. Kealahou Alika; Bill Caldwell, President, Expeditions; Carty Chang, Chief Engineer; Gerry Majkut, President HDCC; Representative McKelvey; Paul Sensano, Maui District Manager; Senator Baker; HDCC equipment operator; Cedric Ota, Vice-president, HDCC; Curtis Powers, Maui Engineer. DLNR photo

By Maui Now Staff

A $2.8 million project to remove and replace a badly deteriorated pier adjacent to the Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor new ferry terminal building began on Tuesday.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation started the replacement project last week with a ground breaking and blessing event.

When completed, state officials say the new pier will provide a new place for the Lānaʻi ferry and other vessels to load and unload passengers.

Authorities with the state DLNR office say it will complement the recently completed $16 million ferry and harbor improvement project by Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company.

Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company brought in a brand new excavator with a special augur attachment to drill the holes for the 24″ diameter cast-in-place concrete piles that will support the new piers. DLNR photo.

The scope of work includes the removal of existing fiberglass grating and steel frame; concrete pier decking and beams. The existing piles will be repaired and reused.  The new pier will consist of reinforced concrete beams and decking; aluminum decking supported by an aluminum frame; and 4-by-10 reinforced plastic fendering to protect the new pier.

The new pier will be corrosion resistant, and state officials say, will require “minimal maintenance” over its 25-year life span.

At a ground breaking ceremony last week, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company brought in a brand new excavator with a special auger attachment to drill the holes for the 24-inch diameter cast-in-place concrete piles that will support the new piers.

The in-water work is scheduled to begin this month, and the project is slated for completion in April 2016.

A groundbreaking/blessing for the Maalaea SBH Ferry Pier Replacement project was held on July 7, 2015, 10 a.m. at the harbor office on Maui. DLNR photo.

The project is 80% funded by the US Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration through a Federal grant for ferry system improvements that is administered by the State DOT.

The balance of the funding was provided by the State Legislature.

DLNR officials say work on the ferry pier should not impact harbor users, since the ferry pier has been closed for several months.