Public input sought for Kawaihae Harbor improvements project on Big Island

Kawaihae Harbor on the northwest coast of the Big Island is currently experiencing significant roadway congestion, cargo yard capacity constraints and aging infrastructure, all of which hinder safe and efficient cargo operations, according to the recently published Draft Environmental Assessment of an improvement project.

The assessment was published April 23 by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation in the Environmental Notice within the State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development — and is available for public comment.

The project aims to address a variety of areas at the harbor, one of only three shipping terminals on the Big Island. It also features a fuel depot and and is a military landing site.

The work would include the widening of Kawaihae Road (Hawaiʻi Route 270), improving operating conditions and efficiencies within the cargo terminal, and reducing existing traffic congestion along Kawaihae Road associated with harbor operations.

While the harbor is surrounded by historically significant areas like the Coral Flats, Puʻukoholā National Historical Site and Pelekāne Bay, the proposed project would not introduce any new permanent indirect visual, auditory or atmospheric impacts and would not adversely affect the surrounding environment, the State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development said in the Draft Environmental Assessment.

The State Historic Preservation Office concurred with that assessment.

The document said it anticipates no significant findings of impact to the area.

The draft said the current conditions “directly affect the reliability of the harbor, a critical node in Hawaiʻi’s freight system where ocean cargo transport is the primary mechanism for supplying essential commodities statewide. Disruption or inefficiency at commercial harbors may result in higher consumer costs, reduced availability of goods, and reduced operational safety for both harbor users and nearby communities.”

Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda said improvements at the harbor have been in discussion for more than five years, with 90% of Hawai‘i Island’s food and fuel coming into Kawaihae and Hilo harbors.

The area is used by commercial operations and by residents who visit the harbor recreationally to swim, fish, dive or paddle.

“Getting in and out, the roads are narrow and there’s traffic congestion,” Alameda said. “There’s a lot of wear and tear on the roads.”

Planning, design, and construction of the project are anticipated to cost a total of $50.3 million, with funding from state and federal sources. Construction is anticipated to start in mid-2027, contingent upon receipt of necessary permits and approvals.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration awarded a $23.46 million Port Infrastructure Development Program grant to the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation for improvements.

Located along the northwest coast of Hawai‘i Island, Kawaihae Harbor has served as an important maritime facility since the 19th century. In 1959, a deep draft harbor and a 2,650-foot-long breakwater were first constructed, which allowed larger barges to utilize the harbor.

The U.S. military regularly ships troops and vehicles between O’ahu and the harbor, from where they are then taken or driven to nearby Pōhakuloa Training Area. Shipping companies Matson and Young Brothers also regularly use the harbor, that has two piers.

Pier 1 is used for cement and cattle transport, while Pier 2 is used primarily for cargo transport. Barges typically call at Pier 2A and 2B twice per week, according to 2023 data from the transportation department.

Cargo traffic at Kawaihae Harbor has increased in recent years. Since 2021, cargo from Matson has been discharged only at Kawaihae instead of both Hilo and Kawaihae harbors in order to reduce fuel consumption.

As a result, on-site storage at Kawaihae of empty Matson containers stacks up while waiting to be shipped back to Honolulu.

“At times, empty containers are stacked higher than the existing 40-foot light poles,” the Draft Environmental Assessment states, noting the Pier 2 Terminal has exceeded its current capacity of 111,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units per year.

A Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, or TEU, is the volume of a 20-foot-long shipping container. A 40-foot container is equivalent to two TEU.

Overall, the assessment reports a rise in volume of container traffic at Kawaihae Harbor over five years. An overall and continued increase in container traffic is expected over time.

“The state’s plan would go a long way toward improving safety of operations at Kawaihae, and also efficiency, which helps hold down costs,” said Len Isotoff, senior vice president for Matson’s Pacific operations.

Young Brothers officials also welcomed the proposed improvements, saying in a statement they would “help reduce congestion and improve cargo handling, allowing our team to continue moving essential goods for the businesses and communities that rely on the timely delivery of those goods every day.”

The statement added that Kawaihae Harbor is a key part of how Young Brothers serves Hawai‘i Island, and “we will continue coordinating with the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Harbors Division, the county and other partners as plans move forward.”

Cargo yard improvements include:

• Reconstructing portions of the yard by replacing existing asphalt and paving unpaved areas with reinforced concrete.
• Upgrading security lighting by replacing selected existing 40-foot light poles and fixtures with 80-foot-tall poles and fully shielded, energy-efficient LED lighting.
• Installing lighting and a fire suppression system in the Annex and Expanded yards.
• Relocating the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation’s Harbor District office and maintenance shed by renovating an existing warehouse for office use, with associated site improvements.
• Installing conduits and raised transformer pads for future upgrades.

With recent news about the Daniel K. Inouye Highway extension project starting again after the project was shelved in 2018 due to a lack funding, Alameda said he thinks there is momentum to get work done on the Big Island.

His concern is ensuring these renovations and projects are being mindful of the island’s natural resources like coral reefs and native plants and mitigating those potential impacts.

A Final Environmental Assessment for another project was last completed in 2013, which resulted in some repairs to the harbor, including Pier 2 terminal upgrades, cargo capacity expansion and infrastructure security.

Click here to review the draft document. Comments on the document are due by May 26. Comments can be sent to kawaihae@hdrinc.com.