LAHAINA, HI — Healy Tibbitts Builders, Inc. (HTBI), a subsidiary of Kiewit, has been honored with the 2025 Baldwin Group Build America Merit Award in the Highway and Transportation (Under $20M) category by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) for their work on the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor Ferry Pier Improvement Project.
Completed just before the August 2023 wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, the project included significant upgrades such as a wooden trellis, gangway, and administration building. Despite the damage caused by the fires, the team promptly supported recovery efforts by setting up a temporary harbor administration office and assisting with shoreline debris removal under separate recovery-related contracts.
Located along West Maui’s shoreline, the project required meticulous coordination to protect sensitive marine habitats and cultural landmarks. The construction included a 115-foot-long, 20-foot-wide ferry pier supported by a drilled shaft foundation, expanding berthing capacity from two to four spaces to accommodate ferries, commercial boats, and cruise ship passenger transfers. A notable feature is the fiberglass grating pier deck, which allows sunlight to filter through, sustaining marine life below. Additionally, a custom access trestle provided a stable platform for heavy equipment in an area exposed to ocean swells.
Finn McCall, Engineering Branch Head for the owner, State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, praised the project team for their project performance.
“We look forward to many future quality projects with HTBI and will continue to value the exemplary work done at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor,” McCall said.
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Healy Tibbitts Area Manager Rick Heltzel also commended his team’s effort throughout the project.
“Healy’s project team provided outstanding leadership, paving the way for the successful completion of this challenging Lahaina Small Boat Harbor Ferry Pier project," he said. "Healy’s commitment to partnering with the owner, the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the lead design firm Mitsunaga and Associates, Inc., the structural design firm KSF, Inc., and various subcontractors supported expedited and smart solutions to several unforeseen conditions encountered. Despite the many challenges of this complex pier project, it was safely completed with no recordable incidents in 21,920 hours of work, well ahead of the February 15, 2024, contract completion date.”
