Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

HILO, Hawaii: The Hawaii Department of Transportation’s Harbor Division held a talk story at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale on Thursday evening on the topic of the 2035 master plan, impacting a huge Hilo Harbor project that just broke ground on phase 1.

The $8 million dollar dredging project will make way for a new Pier 4, the first to be constructed at the busy harbor in decades. the final price tag will be $55 million.

At the meeting, the master plan was detailed, and then DOT officials took questions from the audience… many wondering about the impacts the project will have on the surrounding area.

Already, the project is expected to affect Baker’s Beach, a known fishing spot, and the leased house lots in the area.

Cheryl Soon, the Planning Group Director for SSFM International, said the leasees of the beachlots have all been notified, and after a three year extension on their leases, the DLNR will grant them year to year agreements until the Harbor work necessitates otherwise. The public also wanted to know what would happen with the dredge material.

A second meeting, dealing with the expansion of Kawaihae Harbor, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory.