North Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor Renovations Set to Start Next Week

Renovations at the North Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor (SBH) will begin on Oct. 18.

Site Engineering, Inc. has been contracted by the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean (DOBOR) to upgrade the harbor’s infrastructure. The $1,255,572 project is estimated to be completed by Jan. 28, 2022.

After demolition work, construction crews will resurface asphalt on the access road, lay pavement over the existing gravel parking lot, make improvements to drainage and utility systems, build a new outdoor shower, and install new solar-powered streetlights.

The boat launch ramp will remain open throughout most of the construction, a DLNR press release issued Thursday, Oct. 14, states. However, access to the ramp will be closed for approximately one week while the portion of the access road at the top of the boat ramp is resurfaced. Access to the existing marginal wharf slips will be limited, but not obstructed.

The existing gravel parking lot will be closed starting Oct. 25 and reopen Dec. 21. The newly paved parking lot will close again from Jan. 12-18, 2022, for pavement striping.

Throughout the project, boaters may use the South Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor boat launch ramp or Puakō Boat Ramp for ocean access and trailer parking.