The Haines Borough officially employs the State of Alaska’s top harbormaster.
The Alaska Association of Harbormasters & Port Administrators earlier this month named harbormaster Henry Pollan its 2026 harbormaster of the year.
In a nomination letter to the group, Haines Borough manager Alekka Fullerton described Pollan as a “consummate team player” and praised his interactions with the public.
Pollan, in his almost two-year tenure as harbormaster, has played a key role in some of the borough’s higher profile topics.
“[Pollan] inherited the very challenging Lutak Dock project and has faced that challenge with creativity, perseverance, grace and humility,” Fullerton wrote.
Resident Fred Gray has worked with Pollan in his role as a member of the Ports and Harbors Advisory Committee. Gray said Pollan has “raised the bar” on harbor and infrastructure management — for instance Pollan’s effort to put in more stringent, enforceable requirements for boat insurance at borough facilities.
Gray praised Pollan as having “complete command and control of the Haines Harbor.”
Borough tourism manager Reba Hylton, who has worked closely with Pollan, praised his work ethic and ability to connect with others.
She recalled bringing Pollan to Southeast Conference last year as a representative of the borough.
“All I needed to do was introduce him to someone and then he would just run with it. And then he was making all these connections on his own,” she said. “He’s a true joy to work with.”