As Hana Pier crumbles, state watches helplessly

To understand how Hawaii’s government makes a decision, consider the plight of dilapidated, but much-loved Hana Harbor on Maui.

Originally built in the early 1920s to ship sugar out of Hana’s isolated bay, the concrete pier was taken over by the state and run by a series of state agencies. State reports indicate that as early as 1955, the structure was falling into disrepair.

By 2010, it had been officially declared unsafe and hazardous and was officially condemned, which just made it more lovable. We do love our rotting concrete waterside things — think Waikiki Natatorium.

Crumbling as it might be, the old pier has become part of Hana’s cultural fabric. A $500,000 study completed in 2009 marveled at how intertwined Hana’s 2,000 residents are with the structure.

“Hana Harbor is central to the social fabric of the community — fishermen fish for their income and sustenance; children learn to swim, fish, and to carry on traditions; families gather for activities; a canoe club utilizes the pier for training; kupuna and local residents enjoy walking along the pier,” said the 2009 report prepared by Group 70 International.

“During community meetings, the kupuna reminisced and described the historical context of the pier, how Navy boats used the pier and how, for generations, the children in Hana used the pier as a ‘rite of passage’ by learning to swim and by jumping off from ‘Little Rock,’ and then ultimately, ‘Big Rock.’”

The question is what to do. The answers: Fix it, tear it down or forget about it.

Still, Hana’s pier also is much beloved by Hawaii’s politicians. The 2009 study was actually the second big state report on what to do about the pier. There was also one done in 1999, which came to the same conclusions.

The 2009 report was called for as part of former Gov. Lingle Lingle’s $842 million “Harbors Modernization Plan … to stimulate the economy and create jobs.”

“This is the first step in identifying Hana’s vision for its harbor and ensuring that the needs of the remote Hana community are met well into the future,” said Lingle.

The plan was then dusted off by former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, and it was announced not just as a plan for modern harbors but as a part of “The Governor’s New Day Initiatives.” The plan even had $20 million in the state budget.

Working to push it forward was veteran Maui Sen. J. Kalani English, a Hana resident, who figured back in 2008 that if Hana’s tortuous, cliff-hugging highway was ever cut off by a landslide, Hana Pier would be a “lifeline.”

The problem is the community wants an oceanfront place to stroll, a spot to fish from and a safe place for the kids to play. It does not want a commercial harbor; it doesn’t want big ships coming in, or barges or more industry.

In something of an existential dilemma, the state Department of Transportation noted that it is charged with managing commercial harbors “for the loading, off-loading and handling of cargo, passengers and vessels.” The DOT does not maintain boardwalks, promenades or places to make “small kid time” memories.

Enter Gov. David Ige, who has never met an overly ambitious government project he couldn’t say no to.

So Hana’s pier must go, Ige said.

The lesson is that doing nothing is not free. Tearing down Hana Pier is estimated to cost $3.5 million.

The Hana community doesn’t want it torn down; the state appears unable to find a department that fixes piers for park use.

Want to bet that like the Natatorium, the condemned pier outlasts the Ige administration?

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.