Some fear millions of dollars worth of improvements by the state will wipe out several popular surf spots. The changes are part of the Kahului Harbor 2030 Master Plan.

A public meeting on the draft environmental impact statement was held in Wailuku on Wednesday night. Both sides agreed the expansion is badly needed but they had different ideas about what should be done.

Space is tight in Kahului at the third busiest harbor in the state. Cargo is crowded. Cruise ships and the Superferry need more room.

"It's the busiest neighbor island harbor. They only have three piers and they've outgrown their capacity probably as of two or three years ago," said Michael Formby, deputy director of the state Department of Transportation's Harbors Division.

The state hopes to fix the problem with its 2030 Master Plan which contains two alternatives.

Both require dredging and extending concrete structures called breakwaters that weaken waves heading into the harbor.

Alternative A calls for a new facility at the west breakwater for cruise ships and the inter-island ferry.

Pier 1 and 2 would be expanded for cargo. Alternative B would develop passenger facilities at Pier 2 and expand Piers 1 and 3 along with the west breakwater for cargo.

Groups like the Maui Sierra Club and Save Kahului Harbor disliked both ideas. One of their main concerns was the impact on surf spots. State officials admitted the changes will affect some of the surfing sites.

"There are many, many problems with safety and just practicality. They are fast-tracking it and ignoring these problems," said Karen Chun, a spokesperson for Save Kahului Harbor and the Sierra Club.

"If they come forward, put their concerns on the table, we have an opportunity to mitigate the impact to the recreational interests as much as possible," Formby said.

Opponents said paddling should not be labeled as recreation but as a key cultural practice. They also worried the plan would make the turning basin used by tugboats unsafe.

"We can come up with a plan that expands the harbor outward which really does set us up for 2030 instead of inward. Basically, they're not looking at what's best for Maui," Chun said.

"I think what we try to do is accommodate the commercial interests and at the same time have as little impact on the recreational interests as we can," Formby said.

The cost estimates are $390 million for Alternative A and $359 million for Alternative B.

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