The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-04-04
MALA H A OPENING.

Celebrations are the order of the day in the Valley Isle just
now and before the citizenry has finished iubiatng over the honors
that have come to and the victory won by a son of "the four waters
of Maui they are called upon to pause for a moment and turn
their attention to West Maui and ceremonies attendant upon the
putting into ue of the new Mala wharf. For the first time a pas
senger steamer will tie up alongside the new structure and discharge
human cargo tomorrow afternoon. It is expected the governor,
chairman Of the harbOr board and other territorial and county Off
Gals will be in attendance and there will be CALCULATIONS, congratu-
iations and a general rejoicing under the arrangements completed
by the Maui Chamber of Commerce.
When the Mauna Kea ties up alongside of the bic concrete
wharf hopes that alternately languished and fourished for many
years, a quarter OF a century, more or less, will have been realized.
AS often as a steamer has disembarked passengers at Lahaina has
the need of an adequate landing place been felt. 1t was not through
lack OF realization of the urgent need that the project took so many
years to become "a reality. But in nearly all other respects Maui
went forward while the old method of rowing persons ashore from
vessels to the West Maui port continued. In those long years there
Dec thousands II persons who would have liked to have stepped
upon the shores of Maui, to have visited her wonder places, viewed
her marvellous scenery and enjoyed her hospitality who were fright
ened away. With the Inter-Island steamers tying up alongside
Mala wharf Inconvenience and difficulties that have been magnifed
IN the eyes OF mainlanders who re used to nothing of the sort at
home are eliminated. With mterIsland steamers walking passen-
gers down their gang planks both in East and West Maui there is
reason to go after the tourist as never before and reason to expect
before.
For commercial purposes, too, the Importance of the Mala pro-
ject cannot be over-estimated and it puts West Maui at an advantage
over East Maui until Kahului wharf shall be completed and in use.
II marks the passage OF the days of Tightening freight and will
mean economy in making shipments and in the DISCHARGE of ear
goes. Probably the new wharf will have to be enlarged at an early
date to accommodate larger vessels, but the change from old meth
DDS is at hand.
Some criticisms of the wharf are heard. 1t is said there is q
current which might make landing difficult, might mean refusal to
use the landing facilities but it is easily demonstrate that tho sIobt
current at Mala wharf is nothing in comparison to the currents
eddles and tides that are encountered in mainland harbors. The
rise and fall of the tides here are negligible with those in sucb
harbOrs as New York and Boston. Ships that make their berths in
San Francisco harbOr should find the current at Mala unimportant
When ships captains famiiarize themselves with conditions at Mala
wharf they will treat such conditions as a matter of course.
Mala wharf is a ma gnifcent structure. There are few finer
in the Islands of its size. 1t is a credit and asset not only TO La
haina but to all Maui, Primarily it is a Lahaina project but the
community spirit of the Valley Isle is so strong that all sections of
the Island rejoice with the beautiful, old West Maui port share
with her IN pride taken in it, rejoice with her on securing it and,
in turn, Lahaina Hospitality shares its advantages with all Maui
So 1t is fitting that automobiles from Waikiki, Kahului, Pun
meme, Paia, Makawao, Haiku and other East Maui points should
traverse the pail road and welcome the landing of the first passen-
gers at Mala wharf.