State Department of Land and Natural Resources chair Dawn Chang and other DLNR officials met virtually with nearly 100 commercial tour boat operators on Thursday to share information about the status of the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, Mala Wharf, Maalaea Small Boat Harbor and Kaanapali launch area in the wake of last month’s Maui wildfires.

What You Need To Know

  • Some tour boat operators lost not only their vessels but also their homes 

  • A contractor retained by the U.S. Coast Guard is expected to begin staging equipment at the Lahaina harbor, where more than 100 vessels were damaged or destroyed in the Aug. 8 fire

  • Once vessel salvage, debris clearing and possible harbor dredging are completed, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, which operates harbor facilities, will begin rebuilding its harbor office, piers and slips, which is expected to take at least two years

  • DLNR director Dawn Chang encouraged operators who currently have slips at Maalaea to consider sharing them with those who have been displaced for loading and unloading passengers

As the department acknowledged, some owners lost not only their vessels but also their homes.

Attendees were told that a contractor retained by the U.S. Coast Guard is expected to begin staging equipment at the Lahaina harbor, where more than 100 vessels were damaged or destroyed in the Aug. 8 fire. Cultural and historical specialists will be on hand to oversee the salvage work.

Once vessel salvage, debris clearing and possible harbor dredging are completed, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, which operates harbor facilities, will begin rebuilding its harbor office, piers and slips. That work is expected to take at least two years.

Chang said certain parts of the harbor could become accessible during construction if they do not pose a hazard.

Commercial operators who lost boats or slips in the fire voiced concern about the economic impact on their businesses and the Maui community.

Chang said slips for displaced vessels from Lahaina and Mala are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Maalaea Small Boat Harbor. She also encouraged operators who currently have slips at Maalaea to consider sharing them with those who have been displaced for loading and unloading passengers. There is no additional parking capacity at the harbor.

Access to Mala Wharf, on the edge of the disaster zone but not directly impacted by the fire, is currently restricted by Maui County. However, DOBOR officials said that once access is restored, it should not take long to get the harbor back into operation.

DLNR officials noted that conflicts between commercial operators and recreational boaters at the ramp have escalated recently. Chang asked all stakeholders and the community to use this time to work together and determine a path forward to co-existence. 

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.