Port of Hawaii, Honolulu Harbor
Port Improvement Plan
Richard A. Brooks
TLMT607 Port and Terminal Operations, I001 Winter 21
American Military University
Dr. Seli Agbolosu-Amison
March 28, 2021
Agenda
• Overview of Port of Hawaii
• Strategic goals
• Port of Hawaii’s strengths
• Its weaknesses
• Performance metrics
• Current improvement projects
• Slated improvement projects
• Possible Improvement projects
2
The Port of Hawaii has a long history with ancient mariners and
the “gateway to the Pacific” has seen exponential growth since
Hawaii’s statehood in 1959.
(Hawaii Department of Transportation, 2021)
Figure 1. Captain Cook arriving in Hawaii (Moore, 2012)
3
Physical characteristics
• 200+ acres of container yard
• Over 30 berth facilities
• Five linear miles of mooring
space
• 10 cranes/gantry systems for
cargo
• 45 feet depth at the entry and
exit point
• Limited room for anchorage Figure 2. Container shipping port Honolulu,
inside the harbor Oahu, Hawaii (Gibson & Gibson, 2021)
4
Facility and Pier Usage (Hawaii.gov, 2012)
• Piers 1 and 2: Foreign containers, cruise ships, and foreign
trade zone area
• Piers 5 through 11: Small passenger vessels and cruise ships
• Piers 12 through 35: Harbor management vessels and
commercial fishing boats, water taxis, RO/RO vessels,
pipeline, and grain and general cargo barges
5
Facility and Pier Usage, cont. (Hawaii.gov, 2012)
• Piers 36 through 38: Commercial fishing
• Piers 39 through 45: Break bulk and container cargo and RO/RO
vessel
• Piers 50 through 53: Domestic containers and autos
6
By the Numbers (HDOT, 2018)
• Generates 78% of the revenue of the Hawaiian harbor system
• 2017 numbers: 234,879 domestic containers, 33,523 foreign
containers, 327,709 interisland containers, and 1.08 million
passengers
• Revenue is generated from harbor usage fees and other
associated charges
7
Cargo Trends
Figure 3. Port of Hawaii 2017 cargo trends (HDOT, 2018)
8
Revenue
Figure 4. Financial Results, Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2017 (HDOT, 2018)
9
Cargo Traffic
Figure 5. Cargo Traffic for Port Hawaii, Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2016 (HDOT, 2018)
10
Strategic Goals
In line with the Hawaii Statewide Transportation Plan
(HSTP) (SSFM International, 2011)
• An integrated multi-modal transportation system
• Enhance the safety of all transport systems
• Ensure the secure operations
• Protect Hawaii’s unique environment
11
Strategic Goals, cont.
• Supports Hawaii’s economy and future growth
objectives
• Supports the State’s energy goals
• Create secure, flexible, and sustainable revenues
• Implement a statewide planning process
12
Port of Hawaii’s Strengths
• Centrally located in the Pacific
• The maritime gateway between Asia and the
Americas
• The main hub and spoke for the Hawaiian Islands
13
Port of Hawaii Weaknesses
• Vulnerable to oceanic and weather disturbances such as
tsunamis and hurricanes
• Currently, cannot accept Panamax or other post-
Panamax sized vessels
14
Performance Metrics
15
Annual TEU Throughput and Capacity
Figure 6. Projected Container Throughput and Capacity (Hawaii Department of
Transportation Harbor Division, 2020)
16
Cruise ship port calls and passenger
Figure 7. Honolulu Harbor – 2019 Cruise Ship Port Calls (Hawaii Department of
Transportation Harbor Division, 2020)
17
Current Improvement Projects (Hawaii.gov, 2021)
Phase 1 of Kapalama Container Terminal (KCT) finalized by adding
• A 65.9-acre container yard
• Support buildings
• Entry and exit gates
• Security fencing
• Parking
• Gantry cranes and container handling equipment
• On-site utilities
• Outdoor energy-efficient lighting
• Truck weigh station
• Other ancillary features
18
Current Improvement Projects, cont. (Hawaii.gov,
2021)
Phase 2 of the KCT just broke ground
• An 18.5-acre container yard
• 1863 linear feet of additional berthing capacity
• Dredging of the waterfront and harbor channel
• Widening of Piers 40 and 41
• Reconstruction of Pier 41
• Improvements to Pier 40 to support roll-on/roll-off
cargo operations
19
Slated Improvement Projects
• Improve the secondary entrance at Kalihi Channel
• Create a secondary port in addition to Port of Hawaii
20
Possible Improvement Projects for Consideration
• Modernize cruise ship terminals, Piers 10 and 11
• Improve Piers 51, 52, and 53 in conjunction with Phase 2
of KCT improvement
21
References
Gibson, M., & Gibson, A. (2021). Container shipping port Honolulu Oahu Hawaii. Fotosearch.
https://www.fotosearch.com/STK020/mag1345/
Hawaii.gov. (2012). Honolulu Harbor. https://hidot.hawaii.gov/harbors/files/2012/10/Honolulu-
Harbor-Oahu.pdf
Hawaii.gov. (2021, March 2). Major milestone in commercial harbors modernization: Dedication
of Kapalama Container Terminal Phase 1 & groundbreaking of Phase 2.
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/harbors/major-milestone-in-commercial-harbors-modernization-
dedication-of-kapalama-container-terminal-phase-1-groundbreaking-of-phase-2/
Hawaii Department of Transportation. (2021). History - Honolulu Harbor. Honolulu Harbor 2050
Master Plan. https://honoluluharbormp.com/history
Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division. (2020, September 30). 2050 Master Plan
Project Prioritization. Honolulu Harbor 2050 Master Plan.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a6f9300b1ffb62cf1932433/t/
5f765cd4e9886e7832844f64/1601592533767/201001_HHMP+2050_MP+Not+Further+C
22 onsidered.pdf
Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division. (2020, October 1). Honolulu Harbor
Master Plan 2050 Planning Advisory Committee Meeting #3.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a6f9300b1ffb62cf1932433/t/
5f8f70af0ace717f50230ad5/1603236066433/201001_HHMP+PAC+3+PPT__FINAL.pdf
HDOT. (2018). PORT HAWAII: OUR COMMERCIAL HARBOR SYSTEM.
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/HDOT-Harbors-Division-Media-Kit-
2018-1.pdf
Moore, R. C. (2021). Captain Cook arriving in Hawaii.
http://www.ship-paintings.com/ships2012/age-of-sail-captain-cook.htm
SSFM International. (2011). Hawaii Statewide Transportation Plan.
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/administration/files/2013/02/hstp2011-volume1-making-
connections.pdf
23
