Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release June 21, 2013

SECOND PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING SET
FOR MALA BOAT LAUNCHING RAMP PROJECT

LAHAINA — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a follow-up public information meeting from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, in the Kamehameha III Elementary School cafeteria (611 Front St. in Lahaina) to provide updated information on plans to improve the Mala boat launch ramp.

DLNR boating division officials and the contractor will attend, along with Sen. Rosalyn Baker and Rep. Angus McKelvey.

Plans involve replacing two existing concrete loading docks and a portion of the launch ramp and approach to the launch ramp, as well as parking lot and related improvements.

DLNR boating and engineering staff met on June 4 with boaters and ramp users to determine a mutually agreeable two-month closure period for the boat ramp loading dock construction and how to mitigate impacts to the recreational and commercial boaters that regularly use the ramp.

It was agreed upon that the best time to close the ramp is in October and November 2013, which are the slowest months for visitor whale-watching activities. Although parasailing and thrillcraft operators will be affected by the closure because it takes away two more months out of the seven months a year that they can legally operate, they agreed to the timing in the interest of an earlier completion date.

Mala’s boat launch ramp is heavily used by the public and visitors, and is the only boat launch ramp facility in West Maui. The two concrete loading docks are old and badly deteriorated and need to be replaced before they become a safety hazard.

The project contractor is Goodfellow Bros. Inc., and the construction project cost is $892,000 ($223,000 state appropriated funds and $669,000 federal funds). Federal funding comes from a Sport Fish Restoration Act boat access grant administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320