Whatever
Happened...
U.S. ARMY ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER PHOTO
This model built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers simulates the wave action of South Maui's Maalaea Harbor.
Question: What ever happened to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plan in 1999 to help expand the state-owned Maalaea Harbor in South Maui to 220 from 87 slips? Maui harbor expansion
delayed for further studyBy Gary T. Kubota
Answer: After criticism from the Surfrider Foundation as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the corps decided to develop the proposal in more detail.
The corps completed building a miniature model of its proposal for an expanded harbor at its testing area in Vicksburg, Miss., and has run tests to simulate the action of waves.
State boating planning officer David Parsons said the state plans to present a draft environmental impact statement about the harbor expansion in the next few months, after incorporating the work done by the corps and measures to lessen the effect of the development.
Environmentalists worry about the impact of the expansion on feeding grounds for green sea turtles and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
The Surfrider Foundation wants to protect various surfing sites at Maalaea, including the Maalaea Pipeline, located about 50 to 100 yards southwest of the harbor entrance.
During summer months the waves at the Maalaea Pipeline break from north to south. They have been described in surfing publications as among the fastest rides in the world.
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