2nd Informational Meeting Planned for Māla

Māla. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The state will hold a follow-up meeting to provide updated information on plans to conduct an $892,000 repair project Māla Boat launch ramp in West Maui.

State officials say the two concrete loading docks are old and badly deteriorated and need to be replaced before they become a safety hazard.

During a meeting earlier this month, the state met with boaters and ramp users to determine a mutually agreeable two-month closure period to conduct the repairs.

Māla. File photo by Wendy Osher.

State officials from the Department of Land and Natural Resources now say the closure is expected to take place in October and November, which they described as the slowest months for visitor whale watching activities.

Parasailing and thrillcraft operators, however, will be affected by the closure because it takes away two more months out of the seven months a year that they can legally operate, DLNR authorities said.   According to state officials the timing was agreed upon in the interest of an earlier completion date.

The follow up meeting will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, at the Kamehameha III Elementary School cafeteria.

Among those in attendance will be DLNR boating division officials, contractors from Goodfellow Bros. Inc., as well as state lawmakers, Sen. Rosalyn Baker and Rep. Angus McKelvey.