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NOAA gives $1 million to Kahoʻolawe boathouse expansion; commission seeks state or county match
Summary
NOAA awarded a $1 million reimbursable grant for expansion of the Kihei boathouse. Commission staff say project estimates exceed the grant and they will seek matching funds from state or county sources while beginning reimbursable design work.
NOAA has awarded a $1 million, two‑year grant to the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission for expansion and improvements at the Kihei boathouse, staff told commissioners on Aug. 21. Commission staff said the NOAA funds are intended to cover design, planning and an initial construction phase, but the full project likely exceeds that amount.
Executive Director Mike Naho'opee said the boathouse project “consists of expanding both sides of the Kihei boathouse to provide two covered boat parking areas with additional enclosed workshop and storage space,” adding the grant also covers a comfort station (restroom) and a pavilion. He said early estimates put the full scope between $1.5 million and $1.75 million.
Naho'opee said the commission will execute a small, reimbursable professional services contract for design and planning and then invoice NOAA for reimbursement. “We'll execute maybe a small task, $5,000, something like that, get that executed. The contractor will bill us. We'll apply for reimbursement through NOAA,” he said. He added that if reimbursements stop, the commission will pause the work and that the grant funds already set aside by NOAA are in their account but need processing to release payments.
Staff and commissioners discussed project cost drivers: updated archaeological requirements, the need for a cultural landscape review, construction inflation on Maui, and potential cost savings if the commission uses in‑house archaeology staff to reduce consultant work. Naho'opee said having a new staff archaeologist may reduce planning costs, but construction pricing on Maui could rise.
The commission is pursuing matching funds through multiple avenues — state capital improvement requests, county funding and other grantors — so the project can be completed if costs exceed NOAA’s allocation. Commissioners also discussed retaining a portion of the boathouse for long‑term NOAA vessel use under a long‑term arrangement once built.
Why it matters The boathouse expansion is intended to increase on‑shore storage and workshop capacity for vessels and volunteer operations that support restoration and access to Kahoʻolawe. Staff said the project supports volunteer staging, vessel maintenance and community access needs in Kihei.
What’s next Staff plan to proceed with a modest reimbursable professional services contract to develop designs and will pursue state and county matching funds; construction will proceed only as reimbursements are confirmed and additional matches are secured.
