State waives wharfage on necessities to aid Maui wildfire relief

Effective Aug. 11, 2023, through Sept. 10, 2023, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation will waive wharfage charges for cargo inbound to Kahului Harbor to support humanitarian relief to Maui.

“We have to offer any help we can at this time for the people of Maui. This will lessen the burden on shipping necessities to many who now have nothing,” said Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. “And we will continue to look at ways we can help the people of Lāhainā and west Maui as we move forward.”

Wharfage will be waived for the following cargo types:

• Automobiles, in containers
• Automobile, other
• Island agricultural products
• Vehicles
• Shipping device loaded, 45 feet
• Shipping device loaded, 40 feet
• Shipping device loaded, 24 feet
• Shipping device loaded, 20 feet
• Shipping device loaded, Other
• Island agricultural products, shipping device loaded, 40 feet
• Island agricultural products, shipping device loaded, 20 feet
• Island agricultural products, shipping device loaded, Other
• Diesel
• Fuel
• Gasoline

This waiver shall be granted upon receipt of a wharfage report accompanied by documentation confirming that wharfage fees were not charged by a shipping company to a customer for the specified cargo. Further instructions on this waiver will be posted to the Harbors website at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/harbors/

Additionally, throughout the duration of Governor Green’s Third Emergency Proclamation, when berth space is available, HDOT will waive port entry and dockage for vessels displaced from small boat harbors on Maui. Other rules and fees will apply and arrangements for port entry should be made through the respective Harbors District Office through an agent.

HDOT has determined that such necessary measures, including waivers, are consistent with the provision of humanitarian relief to disaster-stricken areas of the state.