An EIS is being prepared and will evaluate and address environmental impacts associated with proposed development at Honolulu Harbor. Approximately 80-percent of Hawaii’s goods are imported into the state. Of that amount, 98-percent comes through the state commercial harbors system. To ensure the continued and unimpeded movement of cargo in and out of the state, as well as between islands, commercial harbors must undergo expansion and improvements.
Terminal capacity at Honolulu Harbor, the hub of the state commercial harbors system, has not been substantially expanded in many years. If no new capacity is developed, major reductions in service time and increases in operational cost are expected by 2015 at the Sand Island terminals. By or before 2020, efficiency of cargo distribution will be constrained with significant impacts on Hawaii’s economy.