Local Knowledge Flashcards
Kawaihae Description
Kawaihae, 3.5 miles N of Puako, is a commercial deepwater harbor in the N part of Kawaihae Bay. The harbor is protected by stone revetment and fill on the S and by a breakwater on the W; the entrance is from NW.
Prominent Features
Kawaihae Light (20°02’29”N., 155°49’58”W.), 59 feet above the water, is shown from a 34-foot white pyramidal concrete tower on the NW side of Kawaihae. Deep and heavily wooded Honokoa Gulch is NW of the harbor, and Puukohola Heiau is a square of dark rocks on a 50-foot knoll SE of the breakwater. Puu Kamalii, 1 mile NE of Kawaihae, is 690 feet high and fairly conspicuous.
COLREGS Line
The lines established for Kawaihae Harbor are described in 80.1470, chapter 2.
Channels
In 2003, the controlling depth was 38 feet in the entrance channel (except for shoaling to 26 feet in the left outside quarter in about 20°02’19”N., 155°49’57”W.), thence depths of 34 to 35 feet were available in the basin. A lighted 120° entrance range and lighted and unlighted buoys mark the channel. The N end of the breakwater is marked by a light. A small-boat basin, just N of the main basin, had a controlling depth of 4 feet in 2003. The breakwater on the W side of the small-boat basin is marked by a light at the S end. A dock and surfaced ramp are in the basin.
Anchorages
Good anchorage, except in kona weather, may be found in 4 to 8 fathoms between Honokoa Gulch and the outer end of the entrance channel.
Dangers
Reefs that bare in places extend as much as 0.5 mile from the outer side of the breakwater and from the shore to the S.
Currents
The strong N current felt off Keahole Point and Makolea Point passes offshore at Kawaihae, where there is practically no current.
Weather
This subject has been discussed on previous pages, but vessels maneuvering in Kawaihae Harbor are again warned to be on the alert for sudden strong offshore gusts caused by the trade winds drawing over the mountains.
Pilotage
Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and for U.S. vessels under register in the foreign trade; it is optional for U.S. vessels in the coastwise trade with a Federal licensed pilot on board.
The pilot boat, NININI, is yellow and 22 feet long with the word “PILOT” written in black letters on the hull. The boat displays the standard pilot lights at night and the International Code flag “H” by day. The pilot boarding station is 1 mile seaward of the NW end of the breakwater on the entrance channel rangeline. The pilots monitor and work VHF-FM channel 12. Mariners are requested to give at least 24 hours advance notice of arrival with gross tonnage, length, and draft of vessel; telephone (808–537–4169). Additionally, vessels are requested to rig the pilot ladder 2 feet above the water on the lee side and maintain a speed of not more than 5 knots.
Towage
Tug service must be arranged for in advance; there are no tugs available in the harbor.
Quarantine, Customs, Immigration, Agricultural Quarantine
(See chapter 3, Vessel Arrival Inspections, and Appendix A for addresses.)
Quarantine is enforced in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Public Health Service. (See Public Health Service, chapter 1.)
Harbor Regulations
These are established by the Harbors Division of
the Hawaii Department of Transportation and are enforced by the harbormaster.
Wharves
The State-owned waterfront facilities are on the NE side of the harbor basin. General cargo is usually handled by ships’ tackle, and cargo to and from barges by forklift trucks. For a complete description of the port facilities refer to Port Series No. 50, published and sold by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (See Appendix A for address.)
Kawaihae Pier 1: Just inside harbor basin; 410-foot face, 20 to 24 feet reported alongside; deck height, 8 feet; 8,700 square feet covered storage; 20 refrigerated container positions; receipt and shipment of general and containerized cargo by barge; receipt of bulk cement and lumber; operated by State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Harbors Division; and others.
Kawaihae Pier 2: 200 yards SE of barge wharf; 1,152 foot face with 38-foot ends; 35 feet reported alongside; deck height, 8 feet; 12,000 square feet covered storage; pipelines extending from wharf to 5 steel storage tanks in rear with 41,000 barrel capacity; receipt and shipment of general cargo and automobiles; shipment of aggregate; receipt of petroleum products; operated by State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Harbors Division; and others.
A 100-foot-wide concrete ramp with mooring dolphins, used exclusively for handling military cargo to and from U.S. Government-owned landing craft, is at the SW end of the harbor.
Supplies
Water and limited amounts of fuel oil and diesel oil are available.
Communications
Kawaihae has interisland barge and air service and is a port of call for transpacific vessels.
