Plans for reconstruction being discussed

Kahului Harbor will be the port for the new super-ferry.  The proposal for the re-configuration and reconstruction of the harbor is now under review.  You have a few days to make your comments.

You can write comments to the address
 Edward K. Noda & Associates, Inc.
615 Pi'ikoi Street, Suite 300
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96814
Contact: Brian Ishii (591-8553)
 
Dear Friends,

This is my urgent request that you consider commenting on the following proposal by DOT before next Tuesday the 7th.
 
Do you think that 287 visits to Kahului Harbor by cruise ships (compared to 89 visits currently) will have an impact on our community and environment?  Of course this project promises major impacts for Kahului and our island.  The project is of itself "growth inducing".
 
Do you think that there will be adequate inspections of passengers and cargo to prevent the entry of dangerous new pests and diseases?   The answer to this is simply NO.  We know this because the DOT's OWN Risk Assessment for Kahului Airport showed that a total of 19 full-time inspectors and 4 dogs would be needed just to handle current traffic at the airport.  Currently, there are only 4 full-time workers and one dog at the airport.  DOT continues to stonewall on the hiring of these new inspectors.  8 years late, the DOA instituted an interisland Coqui Frog inspection program to prevent the frog from traveling interisland.  Will the Frog Inspection extend to the new ferry traffic?  Answer:  There are no plans for this at this time.
 
Do you think that the new interisland Super Ferry will increase the risk of introduction of new pests?  And more importantly, have you considered that this new ferry proposal will act as a very efficient means of distribution for undesirable species?  (Campers, hunters, etc. will now be able to go everywhere say, on the Big Island, and then in a matter of hours be able to drive those same vehicles on every backroad on Maui.  It has already been proven that Coqui frog eggs can travel in mud splashed up underneath vehicles.  Each Miconia ("the Green Cancer") flower produces 1 million seeds - the Big Island  has 20,000 acres infested with Miconia.
 
Do you think that the interisland ferry will encourage the transport of detrimental drugs like Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE).  How about illegal aliens?  Will the ferry make life easier for people involved in the dangerous illegal pet trade?  Answer: Of course it will! 
 
But please also consider this:  the consultant for this project study is E.K. Noda and Associates.  Last year, E.K. Noda was found guilty of illegal campaign donations and fined the largest fine in the history of Hawaii.  One of the politicians that they made the illegal contributions to was Gov. Ben Cayetano.  E.K. Noda prepared the flawed and dishonest EIS for the Kahului Airport Expansion (which prompted an unprecedented and successful 20-year challenge to the airport expansion).  The period of the campaign spending violations was right around the time the Airport EIS was being "accepted".  The EIS was "accepted" by Gov. Cayetano.  It is a disgrace that the DOT continues to hire these criminals AND particularly offensive that the same person in charge of the Airport studies, Brian Ishii,  has been put in charge of this new Harbor expansion EIS!
 
If you care about the future of Maui, please submit written comments.  Ask to be a "Consulting Party" - this is important, because you then will receive official notifications from the consultants. And should you later choose to participate in this process in a more serious way, you will already have "standing".
 
Thanks and Aloha,
Jeffrey Parker
President
Tropical Orchid Farm, Inc.
Haiku, HI
 

Kahului Commercial Harbor

In the Kahului Commercial Harbors 2025 Master Plan ("Plan") prepared by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2000, studies were performed that forecast the cargo volumes and ship berthing space requirements for Kahului Harbor.

The draft environmental assessment for implementing commercial harbor improvements contained in the Plan notes that as of January 1, 2004, cruise ship bookings for Kahului Harbor consist of 89 visits by various ships ranging in size from 592 to 963 feet in length.

The 2025 forecast for Kahului projects an increase to 287 visits. Based on the projected cargo volumes and existing size of the cargo yards, DOT projects that the container yard at Pier 1 will reach capacity by 2005 and that at Pier 2 should have reached capacity by 2003. DOT is thus proposing the improvements to implement the provisions of the Plan.

More details:

Kahului Commercial Harbor Improvements

District: Wailuku   TMK: 3-7-01: 21, 22; 3-7-10: 2, 3, 6, 13, 15, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34; 3-7-08: 2, 3, 4, 6

Applicant: Department of Transportation Harbor Division   
79 South Nimitz Highway  Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813    
Contact: Iris Ishida (587-1885)

Approving Agency/Accepting Authority: Same as above.

Consultant: Edward K. Noda & Associates, Inc.    
615 Pi'ikoi Street, Suite 300   Honolulu, Hawai'i 96814  
Contact: Brian Ishii (591-8553)

Public Comment Deadline: September 7, 2004

Status: DEA First Notice pending public comment.

Address comments to the applicant with copies to the consultant and OEQC.

Permits Clean Water Act 401, 404;

Required: NPDES

The Department of Transportation-Harbors Division is pursuing the implementation of the short-term projects recommended by the Kahului Commercial Harbor 2025 Master Plan.

The recommendations in the 2025 Master Plan are to ensure the efficient, safe, accessible and economical operations of Kahului Commercial Harbor for existing and future demands. The short term projects include the following:
The construction of a 500 foot extension to Pier 1 (Pier 1D) with catwalks and mooring dolphins. The renovation and replacement of the Pier 1 comfort station, water line and sewer line.

The new sewer line will replace the existing cesspools at Pier 1.  The expansion of Pier 3 and a new Pier 4, which is located between Piers 3 and 1.
A new Pier 2C that will include a passenger terminal, roadway and bridge.

The improvement of the “Pu'unene Yard” with pavement strengthening, a new access bridge from Pier 2 and new utilities.