Monthly Archives: October 2009

October 31, 2009

Future Federal Stimulus Funding Should Be Directed Towards Hawaii County’s Roads And Parks

By Aaron Stene

I’m utterly disgusted that the federal economic stimulus funding has only created 26 new jobs in Hawaii County. I know there is projects in the pipeline like the mid level road and the Makalei fire station that will receive stimulus money. However these improvements will take time to stimulate the economy since they haven’t started yet.

Thus it is my strong belief that we need to do something now. Hawaii County’s existing roads and parks are in a embarrassing state of disrepair. I would bet there is some stimulus money out there that would help repair these facilities and roads.

The permitting process for these projects should also be streamlined so the work can start faster. These improvements should not cause any environmental damage unlike building a new road or a school.

I hope our government officials do a better job in the coming months in going after and directing this stimulus money to these much needed community improvements. It would help put people back to work and our community’s image.

Leave a comment | posted in Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Politics

October 30, 2009

West Hawaii Roadway Projects Update

By Aaron Stene

It is my understanding HELCO will be starting to relocate the utility poles by the Palani Road/Kealaka’a Street/Palihiolo Street intersection within the next two weeks.

The HDOT is waiting for new signal loops for the Malulani Gardens/Queen Kaahumanu highway stop light before it is complete.

I found out today that construction on re-aligning Palani Road fronting Grace Church should be starting no later than the second week in November (However it is very likely construction will commence sooner than that). Bolton Inc‘s (Grace Church’s contractor) construction manager for this project had a death in the family. Thus this is why the project was delayed yet again. I’ll be getting an update early next week regarding any changes to this time line.

Road & Highway Builders LLC will be starting work next week on the next phase of the Saddle Road improvement project between m.m 11-19.

Lastly,I strongly feel that the state and HEI should re-explore laying an undersea power cable from the Big Island to the rest of the state. Hawaii County’s geothermal power would provide more consistent power generation for Honolulu than depending on wind farms on Molokai and Lanai.However I recall there was cost and environmental issues that scuttled laying a cable from the Big Island to Oahu. These same reasons may scuttle the current plans to lay a cable from Molokai & Lanai to Oahu ?

I’m curious what are the pros and cons about doing this ? If anyone can enlighten me I would appreciate it.

1 comment | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Planning, Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Technology, Hawaii Transportation

October 29, 2009

New Kona Int’l Airport Air Traffic Control Tower Groundbreaking

By Aaron Stene

I’m very happy to see that ground has been broken on the new Kona Int’l Airport air traffic control tower.This project will replace the old and outdated existing tower that has increasingly become a safety hazard over the years. They had to cut back the coconut trees at the gates to increase the tower’s visibility of the tarmac and the runway when I used to work at the airport . The latter won’t be an issue after the new air traffic control tower is completed in 2012 on the Kohala side of the airport by the waste water treatment plant.

Lastly, it is now predicted that Hawaii won’t be seeing a economic recovery until 2011.This means the State of Hawaii will still be facing a tough budgetary picture for the foreseeable future. The latter won’t be solved by raiding the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, increasing the general excise tax, or running a deficit.

However we need to take strong look at other solutions like  creating a state lottery,legalizing gambling, and legalizing sales of marijuana to medical marijuana patients. to help the state out of the serious budgetary mess it is currently in.

Leave a comment | posted in Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Transportation

October 29, 2009

Hawaii DOT’s Appeal of the OAH’s Queen Kaahumanu Highway Bid Award Ruling Delayed Again

By Aaron Stene

I noticed this evening that the start of the oral arguments for the Hawaii DOT’s appeal of the OAH’s Queen Kaahumanu highway phase II bid award ruling has been rescheduled again. The oral arguments will start on December 11, 2009 instead of November 18,2009. It is unknown who asked  (or why) for this latest delay that was granted by the court.

ScreenHunter_02 Oct. 29 16.57

Leave a comment | posted in Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Transportation

October 28, 2009

Big Island Weekly Unfairly Criticized DHHL for Their Handling Of The Hilo Target/Safeway Lease

By Aaron Stene

Big Island Weekly had an article criticizing the Department of Hawaiian Homelands handling of leasing 15.5 acres of their land to Target and Safeway.

I agree that DHHL should do a better job working with Hawaii County regarding mitigating the impacts of their projects on the surrounding areas.However I feel that Hawaii County should’ve been aware that DHHL was planning on developing this land. Wal-Mart had plans to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter on this same parcel a few years ago.Thus it is unfair to totally blame DHHL for failing to notify Hawaii County of this latest proposal in a timely manner.

The other aspect of the article that irritated me is the implication that DHHL should screen who leases their commercial homestead lands.It would be unfair to restrict certain entities from leasing these lands just because it may harm the surrounding businesses.The free market system,not the DHHL, should  decide who remains open and who closes.

It is unbelievable that some State Senators want to raid the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to restore lost school days.It would be extremely shortsighted to raid this fund. For starters, there is no way to replenish the money that is taken. This will cause huge problems if a hurricane hits Hawaii again in the future.

Thus it is my firm belief that restructuring the DOE,and seeking more federal stimulus money could restore the lost school days.

Lastly, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a ruling against the last remaining plaintiff in the Hawaii ceded lands litigation yesterday.

Leave a comment | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Education, Hawaii Planning, Hawaii Politics

October 27, 2009

The Kona Community Needs The Ane Keohokalole Highway Completed To Hina-Lani Street

By Aaron Stene

WHT had an article about last night’s Ane Keohokalole highway final environmental assessment public hearing.I really hope this much needed road qualifies for federal stimulus funding and is built all the way to Hina-Lani Street.

However there needs to be a finding of no significant impact by the current environmental review process before it qualifies for federal funding. On top of that, there is a rumor that someone from the community may be filing a lawsuit to block the construction of this much needed highway.

The Hawaiian Airlines pilots union have asked the federal mediator to release the union from further negotiating with the airline . If the union gets its wish from the federal mediator it will set the stage for a 30 day cooling off period. The union will be free to strike if the latter expires and a Presidential Emergency Board is not appointed to act as arbitrator.

However it is my understanding that the President can step in at that point and bar the pilots from striking if its deemed too much of disruption for the flying public.

Lastly the poll asking when will the Mamalahoa (Hokulia) bypass will be completed is closed .

50% of respondents felt it will never be completed due to the Coupe’s and the Smith’s legal wrangling

Thus it is no surprise why people have lost faith in the judicial system. It has given the Coupe’s far too many chances to block the completion this much needed roadway.

Leave a comment | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Planning, Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Transportation

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