Wai'anae piers failing
By James Gonser
Advertiser Leeward Bureau
WAI'ANAE — Crumbling piers and catwalks at the Wai'anae Boat Harbor have been putting a squeeze on mooring space and launching ramps at the busy harbor. Now the deteriorating conditions could threaten the upcoming Ahi Fever fishing tournament and, more significantly, the livelihood of many O'ahu fishermen.
The concrete on three of four launch ramp piers is cracked, with rusted steel rebar showing through. That has forced harbormaster William Aila to shut down the piers and five of the seven launch lanes between the piers because their use could result in injuries or damage to boats.
Inside the boat harbor, 15 finger piers with slips for 30 boats have been closed, reducing the capacity of the harbor from 146 boats to just 116. The problem is worsening rapidly, and more slips may have to be closed soon, Aila said.
"We have 102 boats now and are very close to the point where we will have no vacancies," Aila said. "In the past we have been able to accommodate about 60 boats in the water for the Ahi Fever tournament. I don't know if we will be able to accommodate anyone this year."
Dave Parsons of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Boating Division, said the concrete piers were installed about 20 years ago and were poorly designed. Their failure is premature, he said.
Parsons said state engineers have examined the piers and plan a temporary fix for the launch ramp area. He said work on one pier could be completed in about two weeks and the other piers should be usable in about six weeks.
"We understand the plight of the ahi fishermen," Parsons said. "This is a temporary repair to make them safe for the ahi season. We are doing everything we can to ensure the loading docks at the launch ramps will be all ready for use by the time the ahi season gets here. That is our primary goal right now."
The Ahi Fever fishing tournament is held the weekend of June 16ö17. The popular event offers $116,000 in prizes and accepts the first 260 teams that apply, according to event organizer Ed Nelson.
Neslon said even a temporary repair would be a great relief to fishermen.
Aila said ahi season usually starts about Memorial Day and runs through September.
At its height, Wai'anae is the busiest harbor in the state in terms of trailer boat use, he said.
"In the past I've seen where it has taken about four hours to get everybody out in all seven lanes," Aila said. "The launch ramp situation does not only affect Wai'anae fishermen; it affects fishermen throughout the entire island of O'ahu."
Parsons said the state has applied for a federal grant through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to repair the launch ramp piers after ahi season, but the boat mooring piers are another matter.
Gov. Ben Cayetano asked for $100,000 to plan and design new mooring piers and $750,000 for construction in his two-year budget submitted to the Legislature in December, but the House cut the financing. Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Barbers Point, Makaha), is trying to put it back in.
"I didn't know who asked for it to be cut, but I'm trying to get at least the planning money put back in," Hanabusa said.
Hanabusa said even if financing is approved, it will still be years before the work is done.
"The actual physical repair would not take place until 2002-2003," Hanabusa said. "The issue now becomes if we can find any kind of emergency funding."
