Subzone 9A was expanded to allow for installation of a synthetic natural gas (SNG) plant operated by Enerco, Inc., a sister company of Hawaiian Independent Refinery, Inc. The FTZ Board grant was issued on 5/17/74, Board Order No. 98. Production of SNG with a 16-million-cubic-foot-per-day capacity commenced on February 15, 1975. SNG is piped through a 22-mile line into the city of Honolulu and its suburbs.

Authority for extending FTZ status to a terminal annex at Honolulu Harbor for fuel delivered via a 22-mile pipeline from the HIRI Subzone 9A was granted on September 27, 1974, Board Order #100. The Board Order also authorized an increased production capacity to 125,000 barrels per day by the HIRI oil refinery.

Governor's Executive Order 74-5, issued December 16, 1974 by Governor George Ariyoshi, authorized the Department of Business and Economic Development to establish, maintain and operate any and all Foreign-Trade Zones and Subzones throughout the State of Hawaii.

President's "E" award, issued by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for excellence in exporting, was presented to FTZ-9 on February 12, 1976 at a ceremony in the office of then Governor George Ariyoshi.

On April 16, 1982, Board Order No. 188 granted the State authority to relocate FTZ-9 from Pier 39 to Pier 2/Fort Armstrong in facilities modified to accommodate the Zone tenants and users. The move was part of a general master plan for redevelopment of Honolulu Harbor. The relocation and reactivation of the Zone became effective December 15, 1982.

Board Order No. 274 authorized the establishment of Subzone 9B at Pier 23, Honolulu Harbor, for production of bakery mixes by Hawaiian Flour Mills. The finished product containing a mixture of powdered milk, flour, sugar and other ingredients was shipped in bags to a customer in Japan under a term contract. Benefits included duty-free and quota-free exports.