State DLNR notified about safety concerns with new Lahaina Harbor ferry pier

State officials were sent video of a young surfer paddling out to the surf break near Lahaina Harbor, with the current pulling toward the new ferry pier.

LAHAINA — West Maui lawmakers have asked the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) to immediately address safety issues concerning the new ferry pier under construction at Lahaina Harbor.

West Side resident Van Fischer alerted state and county officials about this "very dangerous situation at the Lahaina Harbor" the week after a massive south swell hit the islands on July 16-18.

In a July 21 e-mail, Fischer explained: "This new pier has created a rip tide that is sucking water under the pier and has now sucked three small kids under while surfing at the Harbor surf spot that is very popular with the groms (short for grommets, or keiki surfers).

"First, a nine year old was pulled under it while it was in early construction, and he got tangled up in the pilings and had to be pulled out by a bystander. Last Saturday (July 16), a small girl… was sucked under the pier, and luckily a surfer grabbed her hand, which was the only thing left above the surface, but she couldn't pull her out because the current was so strong, so a man jumped off the rock wall and pulled her out.

"Then yesterday, a small boy… was sucked under the end of the pier as he finished riding a wave and turned to paddle back out. The rip current knocked him off his board, and he couldn't swim away and got sucked under. Three men jumped in the water and saved him. With all the groms that surf that area, it is inevitable that one is going to get sucked under when no one is watching. We almost didn't see the boy go under yesterday.

Fischer and other residents urged the state to take action.

"An immediate fix would be for the State to move the steel steps the kids use 100 feet to the north, so the kids don't have to paddle along the pier. But that is not going to solve the problem. Once they open that pier, the kids will absolutely use that to get in and out of surfing, as it puts them closest to the break. Once that starts happening, someone is going to die under that pier. The only way I can see to fix it at this point is for the State to install a steel wire mesh from the pier to the ocean floor on the north, east and west sides. That way, you couldn't get swept under it," he wrote.

"This problem existed prior to the huge surf last weekend and is now worse because of the amount of sand that the current has pulled into this area by that swell."

DOBOR Administrator Edward R. Underwood responded by writing: "This has been a long standing issue in the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor. There are signs installed in the harbor indicating no swimming since it is a very active harbor.

"We will be installing additional signage as well as removing the stairs that were installed without permission. We are also working with the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement to schedule times for us to get together to issue citations to people violating the rules. We look forward to working with everyone to get the word out that swimming and paddling through the harbor is prohibited due to public health and safety concerns."

Tenth District Rep. Angus McKelvey believes the state Board of Land & Natural Resources approved the surfer stairs in 2007.

"At that time, despite signs, kids were entering the water from the loading dock and pier and would get in the way of the boats. The stairs were built by boaters and other interested parties to address the problem," he noted in an e-mail.

"Furthermore, these stairs have been used for years regularly by local surfers and during permitted surf contests. If these stairs were illegal, as you state, they would’ve been torn down years ago," he continued.

"If you remove the stairs, surfers will go back to entering the water using the pier and loading dock again. The stairs should NOT be removed. For the safety of our community, instead of removing the stairs, a protective barrier around the pier should be installed. Something similar to the barrier used during construction. Anything that would prevent people from getting sucked under the pier.

"Again, removing the stairs will not change the safety issues for the better, but rather exasperate the situation."

Underwood replied: "The stairs most likely were not removed because that side of the harbor was not being actively used. Now that the new ferry pier is in place, people need to avoid the area since it is an active harbor. We will not be installing a protective barrier around the new pier at this time because it could become a hazard to navigation. Staff has contacted the County of Maui to see if another access area could be established. We can't have people swimming, paddling, and jumping off the piers in the harbor due to public health and safety concerns. We will keep you informed as things progress."

Fischer provided more alternatives for the state's consideration.

"The stairs should be relocated to the north end of the rock wall as soon as possible. Getting rid of them completely will result in the kids climbing down the rock wall onto the new concrete pad that supports the channel light post, which some kids are already doing as they are scared of the rip. In strong current, they were still getting pulled toward the pier. Small kids are just not going to paddle all the way from the small rock beach area on the northeast corner of the park. They need the stairs," he wrote.

"With all due respect, I don't see how a vertical barricade under the rub rails on the new pier would cause any problems for boats coming in."

McKelvey and Sixth District Sen. Roz Baker also expressed their concerns to DLNR.

"The real issue here is the design of the new pier is what is unsafe for ocean users. The fact that you don't think the rip is dangerous enough to consider installing a protective barrier is concerning," McKelvey wrote.

"Rep. McKelvey is correct! It is imperative that DLNR/DOBAR address these issues are immediately. Please keep us informed," Baker concluded.