Kaumalapau Harbor resumes limited operations following Hurricane Lowell damage repairs

LANAI (HawaiiNewsNow) – Limited operations restarted Sunday at Kaumalapau Harbor on Lanai following repairs after Hurricane Lowell, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) said.

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Young Brothers sailed a special interisland fuel barge into Lanai. HDOT said underwater hazards in the waterway was removed ahead of its arrival.

HDOT said landside repairs will continue for the coming weeks for a full reopening of the port.

However, the storm damage has raised concerns among local officials about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure with more severe weather on the horizon.

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Maui County Council member Gabe Johnson called the partial reopening welcome news, but stressed the harbor’s long-term vulnerabilities.

“Our infrastructure needs a lot of help. The harbor itself is a very old harbor. We don’t want to have crumbling infrastructure when we’re having these climate disasters one right after the other,” he said.

Johnson added he expects the next fuel shipment to arrive Wednesday.

Transportation officials said that as repairs to damage from Hurricane Lowell continue, the harbor will be closed to all but essential harbor personnel. The Maui Police Department will assist with access control.

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