Repairs to Kahului Harbor's storm-damaged Pier 2 should be completed in time for a Thursday relaunch of the Hawaii Superferry's Maui route, state and U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

The Superferry vessel will go to Maui and pull in to the Kahului pier today as the state Department of Transportation completes repairs to the pier and a state-owned barge used to load and unload vehicles from the 350-foot ship.

The Alakai will arrive in Kahului between 10 and 11 a.m., complete a realignment with the pier and barge, and then return to Honolulu, the company said.

A U.S. Coast Guard marine inspector has been on site inspecting the work on the pier facilities while crews pour concrete to replace a plate bollard uprooted during an unusually high ocean surge in the harbor, said Coast Guard spokesman Lt. John Titchen.

"We want to ensure everything is safe," Titchen said. "The state has assured us that the work should be done by Thursday."

Michael Formby, deputy director of harbors for the state Department of Transportation, said the plate bollard was fabricated and put in place with concrete yesterday. However, the concrete won't cure for another two to three days.

"It's necessary for the operations on Thursday," Formby said, "but it's not necessary for the alignment" today.

A 100-yard moving security zone, which is standard for large passenger ships, will be in effect for today's realignment, the company said. The Coast Guard security zone — which prohibits anyone from entering harbor waters from an hour before the ferry's arrival until 10 minutes after its departure — to deal with protesters will take effect starting Thursday.

Meanwhile, environmental and community groups are organizing protests for the Thursday arrival of the Alakai.

"We are planning to protest whenever the Superferry comes," said Jan Roberson, Maui Chapter chairwoman of The Surfrider Foundation. "We've met with the police, the Coast Guard and anyone with authority here to determine the legal zones and to find out the rules. We're passing it along to anyone interested in expressing themselves."

Coast Guard and state officials have met with the public about where people can safely protest. "We're hopeful of not having any unlawful water demonstrations," Titchen said. "We are concerned about the safety of the demonstrators, the boats and the Superferry."

A narrow stretch of nearshore waters along the beach by the canoe halau and hotels has been left open for swimmers, paddlers and fishermen. But a moving security zone will extend 100 yards around the Alakai and will be activated whenever the ferry is within three nautical miles of the harbor entrance. The zone moves with the vessel.

The Hawaii Superferry will offer a daily roundtrip between O'ahu and Maui, leaving Honolulu at 6:30 a.m. and arriving in Kahului at 10:15 a.m.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.