Lock and dam system for Honolulu? Is this just the beginning?

by Stas Margaronis, American Journal of Transportation, April 27, 2021 (excerpts)

Derek Chow, deputy director, Department of Transportation, Harbors Division (DOTH) tells AJOT that the State of Hawaii has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the construction of a lock and dam system for the ship channel entrances to Honolulu Harbor to combat rising sea levels.

In an April 20th email to the Hawaii Harbors User Group (HHUG), an association of maritime advisers, Chow wrote:

“ … we have asked the Corps of Engineers to help us investigate adaptation strategies … that include increasing the width and depths of the channels and basins, a secondary outlet through Kalihi Channel, and a lock and dam system that will help to control water levels within Honolulu Harbor. These are definitely costly modifications….”

Chow believes there is “a good chance that the feasibility study will be funded in Federal fiscal year 2022 by the application of Congress’ Community Project Funding (CPF)” and asks for support from the harbors’ group “convincing Congress to fund the Honolulu Harbor feasibility study.”…

(Translation: CPF = useless white-collar make-work projects)

While the feasibility study is on Honolulu Harbor, “what we do and learn through the study will and can be applied to other Hawaii harbors, “ Chow told AJOT….

read … Full Report