Chun, Westside groups to host meeting on future of Kikiaola Harbor

Future plans for the Kikiaola Harbor is the topic of a meeting to be hosted by state Sen. Jonathan Chun, the West Kaua’i Business and Professional Association and the West Kaua’i Community Development Corporation.

The public is invited to attend the informational meeting set to be held in the Grove Conference Room of the Waimea Plantation Cottages on Monday, August 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Concerns have been raised from some community members about the cost of the upgrading of Kikiaola facilities as well as the effects this project may have on other South Shore and Westside harbors, especially Port Allen.

“There seems to be some misinformation about the changes coming to Kikiaola Harbor,” Chun said in a prepared statement. “We’d like to inform the boating community about the cost, where the money is coming from and what the harbor will look like after the changes.”

“Both Representative Kawakami and I are strong supporters of this project,” said Chun. “We are very aware that because the project involves many millions of dollars in improvements and because the dredging efforts will create some temporary inconvenience for boaters, it’s important that the community knows exactly what to expect and in what general time frame.”

“Kikiaola Harbor has deteriorated so badly,” he said, “that the harbor is now dangerous for boaters. Safety of the boating public is part of my responsibility as an elected official.”

Further concerns have been expressed about the plans to provide access for tenders from large cruise ships which would like to anchor outside Kikiaola. Comparisons to the overcrowding at Lahaina from similar operations have raised fears of undesired heavy impacts on Kekaha.

Chun and representatives of the community will describe what the project will look like and address questions from the community.