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RIVER AND HARBOR, FLOOD CONTROL, AND BEACH EROSION CONTROL PROJECTS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

Hawaii, last U.S. organized territory, called the Paradise of the Pacific, succeeded in its long campaign for statehood in 1959, becoming the 50th State. By plebiscite June 27, 1959, Hawaii voted to join the Union by a vote of 132,773 to 7,971. On March 12, 1959, Statehood for Hawaii was approved by vote of the Congress, and President Eisenhower, on August 21, proclaimed Hawaii the 50th State and ordered a 50-star flag effective July 4, 1960.

It is the first overseas and second noncontiguous U.S. State, separated from the mainland by the north Pacific Ocean, lying 2,090 miles from San Francisco, 2,900 miles from Juneau, Alaska, and approximately 5,000 miles from Washington, D.C.

The volcanic islands comprising the Hawaiian Archipelago stretch 1,600 miles across the central Pacific. The State of Hawaii, farthest west of the 50 States, includes all islands in the chain except for Midway Island. The eight principal islands of the State of Hawaii are Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. No other community in the United States is so dependent upon shipping as these islands located about 2,100 miles southwesterly from San Francisco. Navigation interests and commerce are continually alert to keep pace with the needs of a rising population (744,000 on July 1, 1966) by putting more ships on the Hawaiian water routes and by improving harbor facilities in the islands. Water sports provide the main recreation in the islands for residents and visitors alike, pointing up the need for improved small boat facilities and for beach erosion control. Federal water resources development projects completed, underway, or under study by the Corps of Engineers are geared to meet the needs of each of the islands.

The island of Hawaii is the youngest and largest in the Hawaiian group and is 4,021 square miles in area. The population on July 1, 1966, was 58,997. Hilo, the county seat, is the second largest city in the State and has the bulk of the island's population with 26,107. The economy of the island is primarily agricultural, with the growing of sugarcane, beef cattle, coffee, and truck crops predominating. Beef cattle are raised on one of the world's largest privately owned ranches. The tourist industry is the major nonagricultural activity with the greatest growth potential and this is reflected in the rapidly expanding resort developments on the Kona coast of the island. Two of the seven deepwater harbors in the State of Hawaii are located on the island of Hawaii at Hilo and Kawaihae.

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River and harbor and beach erosion control projects, State of Hawaii

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Maui, second largest island of the group, is 728 square miles in area and had a population of 38,316 on July 1, 1966. Maui is famous for having one of the largest extinct volcanoes in the world, Haleakala, "House of the Sun." Sugar and pineapple are the basic industries of Maui. However, various types of service industries are gaining in importance since the rapidly expanding tourist industry is becoming a major factor in the island's economy. Lahaina, on the west coast of Maui, is the former capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The lone deepwater port serving Maui is at Kahului. The breakwaters protecting this harbor recently underwent major rehabilitation.

Oahu is the hub of economic and political activity within the State. The island is third in size with an area of 602 square miles and had a population of 611,948 on July 1, 1966. Approximately 70 percent of this population is in Metropolitan Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. Retail trade, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourist expenditures are of growing importance with service industries showing a predominance of economic importance. Honolulu Harbor, "Crossroads of the Pacific," is the principal port in the State and is the major transpacific commercial harbor in the islands.

The island of Kauai is 553 square miles in area with a population on July 1, 1966, of 25,545. Its basic industry is sugar and pineapple with the tourist industry growing in importance. Mount Waialeale is the highest peak on this island and claims fame as one of the wettest spots on earth with an average rainfall of 465 inches annually. Kauai is serviced by two deepwater ports, one at Nawiliwili and the other at Port Allen.

Lanai, the sixth in size, is 58 miles southeast of Honolulu, Oahu, and is 141 square miles in area. As of July 1, 1966, the population was 2,925. This island is owned by the Dole Pineapple Co. and is one of the largest pineapple plantations in the United States. There is no deepwater port on the island of Lanai.

The island of Niihau is off the southwest coast of Kauai. It is privately owned and little developed compared with the other islands in Hawaii. It is 72 square miles in area and had a Hawaiian population of 285 as of July 1, 1966. The basic industry is an islandwide cattle ranch.

The island of Kahoolawe, smallest of the eight islands, is off the southwest coast of Maui. It is 45 square miles in area, and is a barren, uninhabited island under military control.

REPORT OF INSPECTION

The inspection party headed by Senator Stephen M. Young, left Washington on November 18, and returned on Saturday, November 23, 1968.

In addition to Senator Young, the inspection party included members of the committee's professional staff. Representatives of the Corps of Engineers and members of the staffs of Senators Daniel Inouye and Hiram Fong joined the inspection party in Honolulu.

The inspection party left Honolulu by light plane, flying over the various islands comprising the State of Hawaii. Stops were made at various localities, including Kona and Hilo, Hawaii.

At Kona the party motored to the site of the Honokahau smallboat harbor project which is in the early stages of construction. Captain Leonard Hasse, Jr., of the Honolulu district of the Army Corps of Engineers, briefed the party, explaining the various work items that were in progress. The project when completed will provide a protected harbor basin having an area of 14.5 acres and will accommodate about 450 small craft. It was explained by Captain Hasse that the project, in addition to serving the needs of the local fishing and recreational boat fleet, will also provide shelter for small craft during periods of stormy weather along the Kona coast.

The inspection party stayed overnight at Hilo and met with officials of the County of Hawaii. Projects located on the island of Hawaii were discussed including the Hilo Harbor tsunami project. Discussions centered around the reason for delay in proceeding with construction of the authorized breakwaters at Hilo. Recommendations concerning this project are contained elsewhere in this report.

Many projects were viewed from the air and explained in detail by representatives of the Corps of Engineers. One of the project sites viewed was the deep-draft harbor at Barbers Point on the island of Oahu. Construction of this project has not been started, but it was quite obvious in seeing the extensive industrial development in the area that the harbor is greatly needed in order to accommodate the shipning needs of the Honolulu-Barbers Point area. Later the inspection party met with State and local officials interested in the development of this harbor as well as in the development of other water resource projects located in the State of Hawaii.

Details concerning each of the projects or project sites viewed or inspected are set forth on the following pages.

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