PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Kawaihae
Pilot
updated May 2010- Kawaihae Pilot boards20°03.1′N 155°51.3′W
Mandatory for all foreign vessels; agent arranges pilot through Honolulu office. Pilots board day and night, 1nm NW of the head of the breakwater. Vessels should contact Kawaihae pilot on VHF Ch 12, 1 hour before arrival. Vessels are requested to rig the pilot ladder, 0.6m above the water on the lee side and maintain a speed of not more than 5kts.
Key data
updated Jun 2022Size limits
LOA 38.7m, beam 10.97m, draught 10.6m.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Apr 1 to Oct 31, Summer Nov 1 to Mar 31.
Tides
Mean maximum range 0.6m, mean minimum range 0.2m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Kawaihae Cement Terminal | — | 39 m | 1 |
| U.S. Military Reservation | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Dec 2016Approach
Entry to the port is via an entrance channel length 996m, width 152.4m with a depth of 12.2m. Surge buoy available in turning basin. A 807.72m breakwater protects the harbour.
Port limits
The port limits extend 1nm NW of the head of the breakwater (20° 02.238'N 155° 50.036'W).
Anchorages
Good anchorage except during Kona (S'ly) winds is available just N of the harbour in depths of 14.0 - 27.0m.
Restrictions
Daylight entry encouraged. The harbour is exposed to wind and sea; during storms vessels range alongside.
Tugs
Available on request with sufficient notice. Tug must transit from Hilo, Hawaii or Kahului, Maui.
Mooring
Vessels generally moor starboard side alongside in order to facilitate departure.
Charts and publications
BA 1309, 1490, 1510. Admiralty Pilot NP62, NP286(5).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
Communications
VHF: Pilots: Ch 12, 07A, 08. Tel: +1 808 5374169, Fax: +1 808 5327229, Email: [email protected].
Port: Ch 12. Tel: +1 808 9338850, Fax: +1 808 9338851.
Documents
Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.
Health
No action initiated unless there is illness onboard.
Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.
Customs and immigration
Kawaihae is a port of entry; inspectors come from Kailua Kona. For crew not to be detained onboard, each crew member must have a visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.
Notices and regulations
Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.
Inspections
Port State Control here: US Coast Guard.
Foreign ships are examined by the US Coast Guard. File the Advance Notice of Arrival 96 hours ahead (33 CFR 160).
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: United States Coast Guard, Office of Compliance. Address: 2100 Second St, SW, Washington DC, 20593, USA. Tel: +1 202 267 2978. Fax: +1 202 267 4858. Email: [email protected]. For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www2.imo.org/ISPSCode.
Port services
updated May 2022Repairs
Minor repairs and divers available.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Available by special request.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital (17km).
Crew change
Arrange through agent.
Transport
Nearest airport: Waimea-Kohala Airport (16.3km).
Working hours
Monday to Friday. 7:30am â 11:30am, 1:00pm â 3:00pm
About Kawaihae
updated Jun 2022Where it is
Kawaihae Harbor is located on Hawaii Island's western coast, approx 35 mi (55 km) north of Kailua-Kona.
The port
The harbour is protected by a breakwall (breakwater structure) and consists of docking facilities (wharves, US military landing site), fuel depot, anchorage area (for yachts and leisure boats), cargo terminal (storage for shipping goods). As cruise port, Kawaihae was included for the first time in 2020, in the schedule of the UnCruise Adventures-owned ship Safari Explorer (1998 -built, max passenger capacity 40).
The harbour consists of two wharves and a turning basin 230m wide with a depth of 10.7m. The port handles imported general and containerised cargo, bulk cement, lumber, petroleum products and bulk fertilizer. Exports include cattle, produce, bulk raw sugar, molasses and lava cinders. There is a ramp for offloading Logistics Support Vehicles (LSV) for the U.S. Army at the S end of harbour.
Traffic
Approx. 2,00,000t of cargo handled annually.
Questions about Kawaihae
Where does the pilot board at Kawaihae?
The pilot boards at Kawaihae, 20°03.1′N 155°51.3′W.
What time zone is Kawaihae in?
Local time at Kawaihae is UTC−10. No summer time.
What is the water density at Kawaihae?
1025.
Which load line zone is Kawaihae in?
North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Apr 1 to Oct 31, Summer Nov 1 to Mar 31.
Who carries out Port State Control at Kawaihae?
Port State Control at Kawaihae: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Kawaihae?
The UN/LOCODE of Kawaihae is USKWH.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Kawaihae say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.