Boaters frequenting Nāwiliwili Small Boat Harbor will need to steer their business elsewhere for a brief spell. Renovations at the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation office have led to the displacement of services until early November. A notice posted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources emphasizes that the closure, which started today, is only temporary. The refurbishments aim to improve the harbor office with a reopen date slated for 7:45 a.m. on Friday, November 8.
During the interim, harbor goers must visit the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor located at 4337 Waialo Road, ‘Ele‘ele for their maritime needs. The transferred amenities include mooring and commercial permits, as well as a vessel registration and titling. In an ease for accessibility, boat owners are also given the option to renew registrations online, where a convenience fee applies for the service, as reported by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Contact for the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation staff during the renovation period is unchanged, with the regular number, 808-335-8400, still in operation for inquiries and assistance. According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the staff is eager to maintain communication lines and service continuation despite the physical barrier imposed by the construction efforts.
The Nāwiliwili office closure and temporary relocation to Port Allen is a reminder of the physical transformations the seafaring infrastructure periodically undergoes. Such changes are part of an effort to ensure the longevity and safety of marine operations within Kauai. All eyes are now on the November 7, when the renovations are expected to be completed and the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation office ready to sail back into its role as a central hub for the island's boating community.
