#maui ferry

The Public Utilities Commission granted Expeditions the right to increase its passenger fares in all rate categories earlier this month. In a filed order, the Commission recognized several impacts to operations in granting Expeditions’ request for the rate increase including: the Maui wildfires, Expeditions’ losses and change in operations to Māʻalaea Harbor, a reduction in tourism, a loss of alternative forms of income, issues with the financial viability of the ferry services, and the lingering impacts of the COVID pandemic. It also noted that Expeditions has not increased its fares in over 16 years, despite dramatically increased costs of operation.

The County of Maui is seeking resident feedback in person and online about a potential ferry service to connect Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi with Maui.

A series of powerful storms in 2023 and the first part of 2024 contributed to a higher than usual number of boat groundings in Maui, according to state officials. Today, DOBOR awarded a $841,820 contract to Sea Engineering, Inc., to salvage the former Navy torpedo boat, Chaparral. It currently rests in sand, next to a seawall in North Kīhei.

Expeditions, known for its ferry service between Maui and Lānaʻi, launched service aboard its newest vessel today, the Expedition Six.

Sea Link of Hawaiʻi, the ferry between Maui and Molokaʻi, offers fares of $62.04 for a one way ticket. The company faces competitive air fares as low as $36.

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. 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.

The funding will be used to support ferries from Kaunakakai, Mānele, and Māʻalaea small boat harbors.

Construction on the $5 million is set to start at the end of May 2012, and is expected to take one year to complete. The meeting, hosted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, at the Mitchell Pau‘ole Center, and will also include information on impacts to harbor operations.