Department of Transportation

KONA – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) celebrated the completion of the Kawaihae Harbor Pier 2 Terminal Improvements Project in a dedication ceremony earlier today.

The new improvements resurfaced 3.1 acres of cargo yard area at Pier 2, relocated the Harbors Division Office/Maintenance Facility and comfort station structures and made infrastructure improvements to lighting, fire-protection and drainage at an approximate construction cost of $7 million in state funds. Energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures were added to the cargo yard area, along with photovoltaic panels on the new structures to help reduce energy usage.

“The new container yard provides additional space for cargo containers and increases operational acreage here by twelve percent,” said HDOT Director Ford Fuchigami. “This additional capacity will help to keep up with the demands of our growing communities and improve the Big Island’s resiliency during natural disasters.”

Approximately 80-percent of all goods are imported into the state, and of that total, 98-percent arrives through our commercial harbors.