After months of heavy machinery churning away, the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo is ready for smooth sailing once again. The dredging, which began mid-year, wrapped up on November 27. Come December 7, the sight of the contractor's barge will be just a memory as it's set to leave the harbor for good, marking the end to the project's presence which has been a constant since July, a bulletin from the Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed.
Though budgeting hiccups saw costs escalate from $3.1 million to a steeper $4.8 million, it seems there's still wind in the sails for the project's finances. The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, has managed to weather the financial storm, covering the increase through the Boating Special Fund—a pot filled by the fees from harbor users and boating facilities across the state, as reported by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
In a statement obtained by the Department of Land and Natural Resources News Release, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation administrator Meghan Statts expressed gratitude for local support, saying, “We appreciate the public’s patience, understanding, and advocacy as DOBOR navigated the permitting and funding hurdles to get this project completed before the end of the year.” The completion is notably timely when considering the logistical and financial obstacles that had to be surmounted.
The Legislature also received a nod for its role in the project’s completion, “We also appreciate the legislature for recognizing the importance of this project and providing funding,” Statts added, as per the Department of Land and Natural Resources. With all said and done, Hawai‘i Island boaters are set to end the year on a positive note as they return to a harbor unencumbered by the machinery of progress.
