Near-gale winds delay Haʻaheo arrival at Kawaihae; port extends gate hours

Young Brothers, LLC notified customers that its barge Haʻaheo, scheduled to arrive at the Port of Kawaihae on Tuesday morning, February 17, 2026, was delayed "due to severe ocean conditions caused by near-gale force winds," and that the port would extend gate hours for customer convenience. The company’s customer letter, dated February 17, said the Port of Kawaihae "will have extended gate hours today until 5:00 p.m. for the pick up of straightload containers only."

The Young Brothers letter set out cargo availability in precise terms. It listed "Dry and refrigerated straightload containers: Upon Notification." It listed "Dry palletized and mixed cargo: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 7:30 a.m." It listed "Refrigerated palletized and loose cargo: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 8:00 a.m." It also listed "Vehicles and roll-on roll-off cargo: Upon Notification." Hawaii News Now and Big Island Now repeated the same schedule and corroborated the Feb 18 availability times.

Company and local coverage identified groups likely affected by the delay: Port of Kawaihae customers and cargo recipients on Hawaiʻi Island, including agricultural shippers, retailers, and individuals awaiting shipments. Young Brothers’ contemporaneous notice opened "Dear Valued Customer" and closed, "Thank you for your patience and understanding. Sincerely, Young Brothers, LLC."

Hawaii News Now provided an explanatory clarification alongside the Young Brothers wording, noting that "Only straightload containers, or those that can be collected without extra handling, will be available for pickup." Big Island Now published the same core details, saying the Haʻaheo was delayed by "severe ocean conditions caused by near-gale force winds" and that gate hours were extended Tuesday until 5 p.m. for straightload pickup.

For ongoing updates, the Young Brothers letter directed customers to the company website and to sign up for customer notices through its email-updates page, and it listed social media handles as @youngbrothershawaii and @youngbrothershi. Hawaii News Now and Big Island Now likewise directed readers to visit the Young Brothers site for the latest sailing schedules and cargo availability.

Reporters and customers seeking further confirmation were advised to contact Young Brothers or Port of Kawaihae for an updated ETA for Haʻaheo and to confirm how "Upon Notification" items are being communicated. The company’s Feb 17 customer letter remains the primary source for the delay, the extended gate hours, and the cargo release timetable.