As Honolulu Harbor becomes increasingly identified for its recreational, scenic and retail potential, longtime industrial users fear they may be squeezed out.

Thus, it is heartening that the state is getting serious about the redevelopment of the former Kapalama Military Reservation into a modern commercial cargo facility.

Cargo operations, now concentrated on Sand Island, are expected to run out of space in as little as five years.

That gives the state precious little time to plan and complete its $300 million redevelopment plans on the 55-acre Kapalama site, on the harbor below Kalihi Kai.

Commercial users of the harbor have complained for some time that they felt short-changed as the state focused its energy and money on glamorous highway and airport projects.

Those projects are needed, but the harbor is, as it always has been, the lifeline for Ho-nolulu and indeed for the state.

Redevelopment of Kapalama won't be easy. One of the first tasks will be relocation of the 100 or so small businesses that have been operating there on short-term leases.

Planning on that aspect of the project should begin now.

But the difficulties and costs must be measured against the disruption that the commercial life of Hawai'i would experience if our existing cargo facilities run out of room. Our economy cannot grow without a vibrant and efficient cargo shipping facility.

And converting Kapalama would delay, or perhaps even eliminate, the need for construction of an entirely new harbor, which would be far more expensive and time-consuming.

Lawmakers will be asked for substantial amounts of money to move this project forward. While public attention is focused on high-profile plans for waterfront property in Kaka'ako, this less glamorous, but entirely vital, project must not be allowed to languish.