Dredging operations will begin at Kaunakakai Harbor in October, aiming to tackle five decades’ worth of accumulated mud. To maintain essential water depths, harbors across the state undergo periodic dredging. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closely monitors and maintains 28 harbors across the state as sediment and sand gradually accumulate, impeding the entry of boats and barges.
The Kaunakakai Harbor dredging process will last for a month. The island heavily relies on biweekly barge deliveries for vital supplies like food and gas. With dredging, these deliveries will be possible.
Stay Updated on the Month-Long Dredging Operation
Remarkably, the harbor on Molokaʻi has not been dredged in half a century. Nani Shimabuku, the operations, and maintenance program manager of the Corps of Engineers Honolulu District, informed that approximately 30,000 cubic yards of sediment, sand, and mud have accumulated since the last dredging in 1973. Shimabuku emphasized the importance of maintenance dredging to ensure the safety of vessels utilizing the harbor. The accumulated sediment has to be removed, restoring the harbor to its authorized original depth of minus 23 feet. This will enable vessels to enter, exit, and maneuver within the harbor area without risk.
Fortunately, normal harbor operations can continue uninterrupted during the dredging process. Over a month, contractors will employ specialized equipment. These include a clamshell bucket crane barge and a dump scow to collect and transport the dredged material.
Shimabuku explained that the sediment will be extracted from the water using the clamshell bucket, which will deposit into the dump scow. Once the scow is filled, a tugboat will navigate it to an EPA ocean dredge material disposal site 30 miles north of Kahului. Proper disposal of the dredged material requires approval and close monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Each county in Hawaii has its sediment disposal site situated at least 10 miles away from the shore. The Corps of Engineers has actively engaged with the Molokaʻi community over the past year. This has helped plan the upcoming dredging work. Additionally, similar maintenance is scheduled for Maui’s Kahului Harbor, tentatively planned for late summer.