State Breaks Ground on $16 Million Maalaea Harbor Improvements

The state broke ground today on a $16 million project at Maalaea Harbor on Maui.  The project includes the replacement of the existing “Sea Flight” terminal building and the repair of the South loading dock.  Additional work involves upgrades to electrical equipment, sewer and water utility upgrades, the reconstruction of roadways and parking areas.

Maalaea Groundbreaking. DLNR Courtesy.

Maalaea groundbreaking. Courtesy DLNR.

Crews will also work to replace the deteriorated concrete marginal wharf, electrical utilities and comfort station on the north side of the harbor; and provide multiple vessel sewer pump-out facilities.  The project is scheduled to begin in January of 2011.

Major improvements to the Maalaea Small Boat Harbor were jointly funded by the Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and State Legislature.   The project is the latest phase of an ongoing renaissance for the harbor and a multi-year effort by the Lingle-Aiona Administration to upgrade small boat harbor facilities across the state.

“The investment in the Ma‘alaea Small Boat Harbor highlights the commitment of my Administration and our federal partners to upgrade and modernize our aging infrastructure statewide,” said Governor Linda Lingle.

“The improvements to the Ma‘alaea small boat harbor facility and many others around the State, will help ensure our residents and visitors can enjoy safe and easy access to the ocean,” said Lingle.

“I am pleased that federal funding will provide critical and much needed infrastructure improvements to the Ma‘alaea Small Boat Harbor,” said U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye.  “Over $9 million for this project comes from the Federal Transit Administration as a result of a Congressional provision for ferry terminal improvements in Hawai‘i.  Once completed, the improvements will provide for a more reliable, efficient and safer commuter ferry system between Maui and Lana‘I,” said Inouye.

The project complements the ongoing $2.2 million marginal pier replacement and recently completed $1.1 comfort station at the Lahaina small boat harbor; $11.5 million ferry system improvements at the Manele small boat harbor, which was completed in May 2008.

The project is aimed at increasing overall ferry system capacity and encouraging greater patronage by providing a more direct access to government services, employment, and recreational opportunities to the major population centers in Central and South Maui from the island of Lana‘i.

“A few years ago we stood at a crossroads, lacking funding to repair docks and other facilities that were falling into the harbor waters,” said DLNR Chairperson Laura H. Thielen. “We committed to rebuilding and modernizing small boat harbors throughout the state, and we are pleased that we are making significant progress in their rejuvenation,” she said.

“Due to the magnitude of this project, we realize that impacts to the harbor users are unavoidable, however, we are hopeful that many of these impacts will be minimized as this project will be constructed in phases,” said Ed Underwood, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation administrator.

(Posted by Wendy Osher; supporting information courtesy State of Hawaii)