Holo Holo Charters Celebrates the Completion of Their New Maintenance Facility
Grand opening festivities included a traditional Hawaiian pi kai ceremony and a family-friendly 1950s-themed “Shop Hop.”
June 27, 2022. Kauai, Hawaii. Construction is complete for Kauai tour boat company Holo Holo Charters’ new boat shop and maintenance facility.
In 2019, the company purchased a one-acre plot of land in Port Allen from Alexander & Baldwin Holdings. Construction of a 90’ x 90’ metal structure began in June 2021 with Kauai contractor Todd Carrico of Carrico Stone Construction heading up the project and seeing it through from the pouring of the foundation, the assemblage of the metal pieces, to plumbing and electrical wiring.
With its massive tilt-up door, the 8,100 square foot building allows the tour boat company to pull their vessels fully inside for maintenance, repairs, and annual haul-outs. This is the first of its kind on Kauai, as no real boat yard or indoor facilities currently exist on-island for mariners.
“Part of our company mission is to maintain the best vessels and equipment on island,” said Chandra Bertsch, Holo Holo Charters co-owner and general manager. “Not having to contend with Kauai’s erratic weather patterns will allow us to do everything so much more efficiently than ever before, which means we can spend more time out on the Napali Coast creating incredible experiences for our guests,” she added.
In addition to being a comfortable and effective workspace for regular projects, the roomy new building will provide excellent protection for the company’s assets during Kauai’s annual hurricane season, as it was engineered to withstand sustained 150 miles per hour wind speeds.
A traditional Hawaiian pi kai ceremony was held in which salt water was sprinkled with ti leaves around the entire building to bless the space. Afterwards, approximately 160 employees and friends of the company attended a 1950’s Grease-themed, family-friendly “Shop Hop” celebration complete with food trucks, live music, and rolling skating.
Now that the festivities are over, the Holo Holo maintenance department will begin moving the company’s tools and inventory out of their existing shop and into the new space.
Holo Holo Charters was established in 1997 and runs daily Kauai sailing, sightseeing, snorkeling, and sunset dinner cruise tours on the Napali Coast and to the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau. The company was recently voted #1 Best Bout Tour in the Nation by the USA Today 2022 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards.