Honolulu Harbor
funding earmarked

A maritime official says he's
disappointed with state allocations
for neighbor island piers

By Jerry Tune
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu Harbor will get a face-lift, starting next year, with a cruise ship terminal at Pier 19, an improved container yard at Sand Island, and deeper areas for barges.

State departments and harbor users are gearing up to spend the $22.1 million that the state Legislature approved this year in design and construction money for four projects at the Harbor. The money also includes $2 million for planning a new cruise ship terminal at Pier 2.

Clint Taylor, maritime committee chairman for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, said he was pleased with the appropriation for Pier 2 -- the chamber's top harbor priority -- but disappointed that other priority improvements at small boat harbors on the neighbor islands were not fully funded.

"Cruise ships go to both large and small harbors," he said. "Improvements at the Kailua-Kona pier was second (priority) due to safety concerns and its use by both domestic and foreign users. A dedicated tender boat pier in Lahaina was third to alleviate the traffic at this highly desirable anchorage port." (A tender boat is a small boat that services large ships.)

Taylor said $3 to $5 million was needed to repair and renovate facilities at Kailua-Kona but only $800,000 was approved by the Legislature. Lahaina didn't get any money.

The Legislature approved these Honolulu projects:

Improvements at the Sand Island container yard used by Matson Navigation Co. The $15 million for construction will be used next year to improve paving and lighting. This is the first renovation in nearly 20 years when the container yard opened, said Matson manager Ken Tagawa. Design work has been done.

Construction of a cruise ship and ferry terminal at Pier 19 will start early next year. The project involves $3.5 million for construction and $250,000 for design. The existing warehouse sheds at Pier 19 formerly were used to store bulk raw sugar and other products from the neighbor islands. The sheds will be renovated, and outfitted with restrooms, telephones, and baggage-handling facilities for ship passengers. The new terminal will be used for a trial ferry service to Leeward Oahu, which may start in September, and for the expanding number of cruise ships to Hawaii.

Dredging at berthing areas of Piers 38, 39 and 51A will make it easier for barges. The project calls for $150,000 in design next year and $1.3 million in construction in 2001.

The Pier 2 terminal requires relocation of the existing foreign trade zone. No construction money was approved. The planning firm of Leo A. Daly estimated new construction costs at $33 million. Taylor said the maritime industry wants the terminal done by 2002 in time for the arrival of two new large ships for American Hawaiian Cruises early in 2003.

Some of the state decisions, including Pier 19 improvements, were made to leverage federal funds approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Sen. Dan Inouye said this included $2 million for a ferry-boat terminal at Pier 19. The committee also approved $2.74 million for Hawaii water area projects, including improvement-planning money for Barbers Point Harbor and Honolulu Harbor and an investigation of Ala Wai Canal restoration. On the neighbor islands, federal funds were approved for Kahului Harbor improvement planning, Maalea Harbor construction, Iao stream flood control, Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor construction, and investigation of improvement at Kawaihae Harbors.

These allocations, part of the Fiscal Year 2000 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, now will go to the full Senate for consideration.