#interisland shipping

The proposal would create automatic annual rate increases for the two state-regulated water carriers, Young Brothers and the Lāna‘i Expeditions ferry.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission has unanimously approved a 25.75% rate increase for Young Brothers LLC, effective Jan. 1, 2026. In its approval, the PUC cited YB’s escalating financial instability and the overriding public interest in avoiding an abrupt loss of the regulated intraisland shipping services YB provides.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission is holding evidentiary hearings from Sept. 29 through Oct. 3 on Young Brothers’ proposals to reset customer rates and establish a new mechanism for annual rate adjustments based on inflation. The proposal is aimed at achieving financial stability.

Maui residents who’ve been finding their wallets lighter after paying for groceries now have a report from LendingTree.com to help check out their pain, and the good news is that island residents don’t live in Utah. A new analysis by LendingTree shows that Hawaiʻi residents are among those paying the most for groceries nationwide. Locals […]

Young Brothers, LLC has filed a rate case with the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission, requesting approval of a $26.3 million increase in revenue – or an average 20% increase in rates for the majority of cargo – to cover significant increases in the cost of service, support critical investments to upgrade equipment and infrastructure, and sustain the vital interisland shipping service that connects the state’s island communities. 

Young Brothers christened the Kalohi and Nāulu barges last week, marking a milestone in a more than $45 million investment to enhance the reliability and resilience of interisland shipping services.

Temporary interisland shipping disruptions are expected for small container or palletized shipping as a result of COVID-19 related worker impacts at the Young Brothers shipyard on Maui, Mayor Michael Victorino confirmed.

On Friday night, Young Brothers filed a letter with the Public Utilities Commission to underscore the urgency of its pending request for an emergency rate increase by Aug. 17, 2020. Company representatives say the increase is needed so that the company may continue to provide its statewide interisland shipping services.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino called Young Brothers the “lifeline for the state of Hawai‘i.”  He continued saying, “The neighbor islands depend on Young Brothers tremendously.  Some of us do not have big harbors that could bring in larger ships to off load, and so we depend on Young Brothers to bring in almost 90% of all the produce, all of our food and other necessities that this county, this island, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi exist off of.”

Hawaiian Holdings Inc., parent of Hawaiian Airlines, plans to acquire three ATR 72 turboprop aircraft in an all-cargo configuration to expand its interisland shipping services. The new operation will launch in the first half of next year, starting with flights between Honolulu International Airport and Kona International Airport, Kahului Airport, Līhuʻe Airport and Hilo International Airport , with well-timed connections from Hawaiian Airlines’ Mainland and international network.