Monthly Archives: May 2010

May 31, 2010

Isemoto Contracting Co. Ltd Has Completed Work On The New Kona Ross Dress For Less Store

By Aaron Stene

I made a mistake regarding roadway striping for the new Kealaka’a/Palani/Palihiolo Street traffic signal. The striping contractor finished this work likely around the last time I blogged about this project. However, the warning signs which were in the mauka turn pocket threw me off.

I’m going to call up the project engineer this week to find out when the county plans to activate the signal. The latter was going to happen after the roadway striping was completed as far as I understood. In addition, I’m also going to reiterate my concern about the poor makai town-bound roadway pavement to the project engineer.

The new Queen Kaahumanu Highway streetlights by the police station were turned on a few days ago. I’m absolutely ecstatic HDCC’s electrical contractor was able to resolve the electrical issues with these lights. However, it appears the streetlights by the Makala Blvd/Queen Kaahumanu Highway intersection is still off. I hope HDCC’s electrical contractor can also fix these streetlights.

Parker Ranch’s contractor, Goodfellow Brothers, apparently still needs to complete additional work on the Parker Ranch Connector Road. (some drainage, final paving, roadway markings, signage) before it can be opened to the public. This explains why Parker Ranch reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs to delay the opening of this roadway until August 28th, 2010. However, it doesn’t explain why they failed to initiate the dedication of this roadway to the county until the last minute.

I’ve noticed Goodfellow Brothers/SSFM International’s surveyor subcontractor has been surveying Queen Kaahumanu Highway for the phase II widening project during the past couple days. The HDOT is planning on giving Goodfellow Brothers the design notice to proceed in July for this project. However, the time frame when they’ll give Goodfellow the construction notice to proceed is still unchanged (sometime in October/November).

Lastly, Isemoto Contracting Co. Ltd has completed work on the future Ross Dress For Less store at Kona Commons.

NOTICE OF
COMPLETION
Pursuant to Sec. 507-43, Hawaii Revised Statutes, notice is hereby given that the construction by ISEMOTO CONTRACTING CO., LTD. of that certain Ross Dress for Less Store #1375 Kona Commons situate on/at “Makalapua Business Center Subd., Incr. 1, 2 & 3”, F.P. 2369 & 2454, Keahoulu, North Kona, Hawaii Tax Key (3)7-04-013:0000 has been
completed.
MK Kona Commons LLC
Owner(s)

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

May 29, 2010

Mufi Hannemann’s Criticism Of Governor Lingle’s Handling Of The Hawaii Superferry Is Spot-On

By Aaron Stene

I’m absolutely disgusted by the actions of a Hawaii County police officer towards a federal census worker in Puna.

“I handed them the Census and expected them to hand them to this guy and say, ‘That’s it,’” Haas said. “They walked over and talked to him for a minute or two, then walked back to me … and then stuffed it into my chest, and said, ‘He doesn’t have to enter your Census. He doesn’t have to enter any Census. He doesn’t have to fill out any of your forms or answer any of your questions. And if I were you, I’d get into my car and get the hell outta here, right now.’”

However, there is two sides to every story. So, it should be interesting to see how a jury will adjudicate this case against the census worker.

I, along with my girlfriend, spoke to an employee at American Savings Bank this morning regarding their rejection of  her tax refunds. They said she needed to use a ten digit account number on her return, not the five digit one. This is why these refunds were rejected. However, it doesn’t explain why the five digit account number worked last year ?

Brad Parson’s January prediction of Hawaii’s tourism industry faltering was off the mark for the most part. Oahu, Maui, and Kauai have posted strong hotel occupancy rates. The Big Island is the only island still posting poor hotel occupancy numbers.

Lastly, I got very frustrated after reading Governor Lingle’s rebuttal to Mufi Hannemann’s criticism of her administration’s handling of the Hawaii Superferry debacle. I believe Mr. Hannemann’s criticism is spot-on. The State of Hawaii Office of the Auditor’s report (here, and here) sharply criticized her administration for exempting the Hawaii Superferry from Hawaii’s environmental laws. This action directly resulted in the demise of this much-needed service.

(Related item: [Hawaii] Superferry Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Canceled Yesterday‏‏)

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

May 28, 2010

HELCO Received Interim Approval To Start The Palani Road Utility Pole Relocation Project

By Aaron Stene

The Hawaii PUC issued an interim order approving HELCO’s Palani Road utility pole relocation application on May 27th, 2010. I’m absolutely ecstatic that HELCO can start committing resources to this pole relocation project. It also allows Nan/CTS Earthmoving Inc. to start reconstructing/widening Palani Road between Henry Street and Queen Kaahumanu Highway in the near future.

It seems my op-ed about the anti-Mauna Kea astronomy activists has elicited a firestorm of criticism. The responses are not surprising. However, it really bothers me when a certain individual attempts to insult me in lieu of responding civilly. This anonymous individual has no clue who I am or what I stand for.

I received this e-mail response from the Hawaii Department of Water Supply regarding my concerns about the incomplete HOVE well facility.

“Mr. Stene,

In response to your email inquiry regarding the subject project, below is our Department’s testimony of April 21, 2010, to the Honorable Robert Herkes and members of the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, regarding H.R. 136, HD 1:

The following is a timeline of events for the HOVE Water Facilities Project which includes funds that were expended or encumbered in contracts, as well as future events towards final completion.

· May 2005 – Legislature passes Act 178, appropriating the $6M. Funds to lapse in June 2008.
· July 2005 – Sate Comptroller issues Appropriations Warrant No. 234.
· October 2005 – County of Hawaii requests Governor to release funds.
· March 2006 – Governor and Budget and Finance release funds with Allotment Advice No 06-0444.
· November 2006 – SSFM contracted for $0.16M to plan and design Phase 1 (Exploratory Drilling). Contract also includes locating the well/storage and fill sites and pipeline route, and environmental assessment.
· June 2007 – Supplemental contract for $0.44M executed with SSFM to prepare a design/build process for Phase 2 due to time limitation.
· August 2007 – Exploratory Drilling Contract for $1.9Mexecuted.
· May 2008 – Design/build contract for $3.4M for Phase 2 executed. Note, contract executed to encumber funds scheduled to lapse in June 2008; time extension would not be considered by Legislature. Further, Phase 2 cannot proceed until final results of Phase 1, Exploratory Well Drilling.
· May 2009 – Phase 1 completed. Phase 2 proceeding with design and permit approvals; construction to tentatively start in December 2009.
· August 2009 – Discussions with community for larger capacity reservoir and additional standpipe.
· November 2009 – County Council approves $0.4M for larger reservoir and additional standpipe.
· Present – Contractor finalizing design and securing all necessary permits. Pipes stored at well site and material stockpiled at fill site.
· Future – Phase 2 construction to be completed in 15 months (second half of 2011).

The following is the project budget:

· Land Acquisition – $0.236M
· Consultant – $0.441M
· Phase 1 – $1.922M
· Phase 2 – $3.401M
· Phase 2 Add – $0.400M (County Funds)

The delays in this project have been experienced due to our desire to accommodate as much as possible the desires of the community’s selected representatives.

The Department has been working closely with the consultants and contractor to bring this important project for the community to fruition. Barring further delays, the project can be completed before the end of 2011.”

Mayor Kenoi believes the Hawaii County Council shouldn’t cut the budget further. Mayor, I’m sorry to say this, but your opinion is incorrect. For example, the council could do away with funding vacant positions. Maui County has already done this. In addition, the council needs to take a close look at eliminating non-essential services such as the Hawaii County Band.

Lastly, the plaintiffs and Parker Ranch have reached a settlement agreement extension. The Parker Ranch Connector Road will be opened to the public on or before August 28th, 2010.

I’m happy the parties were able to reach and consensus without having to go back to court. Nevertheless, there is still unanswered questions about the delay. Why is it taking Parker Ranch until August to formalize the dedication of this roadway to the county? There is no other outstanding issues which would preclude the opening of this roadway. In addition, why did Parker Ranch wait until the last minute to initiate the dedication of this roadway. They should have taken care of this issue a long time ago.

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

May 27, 2010

Palani Road Tragedy

By Aaron Stene

Fred Housel submitted this op-ed to The Kona Blog and West Hawaii Today.

The loss of two young Kona men’s lives on Palani Road last Saturday is very tragic.

The loss is even more tragic in that the deaths could have been prevented.

There were many warning signs. In the past eight years, Palani Road has been closed at least seven times due to speeders hitting power poles, causing the poles and wires to fall on the roadway.

For years, Palani Road residents have been asking the Hawaii County Police Department to enforce speed limits on Palani Road. All these years, the Police Department has refused to enforce speed limits because “there are no safe turnouts to pull over speeders”.

In 2006, the Department of Public Works added the Palani Road Pull Outs Project to the Hawaii County Capital Budget.

The Palani Road Pull Outs Project was never started and has actually fallen off the Department of Public Works Capital Budget.

We need our Police Department and Department of Public Works to stand up and do the right thing now to prevent another tragedy like this one from happening again.

Fred Housel
Kailua Kona

1 comment | posted in Hawaii Transportation

May 27, 2010

American Savings Bank Sucks

By Aaron Stene

I’m absolutely frustrated with American Savings Bank. My girlfriend received a notice from the Department of Taxation stating they were unable to direct deposit her refund and she would receive a paper check. The Department of Taxation got an error message (invalid account number) when they attempted the electronic transfer with American Savings Bank.

I put the same account number/routing number for her workplace paycheck- no problems. However, ASB rejected her federal and state refunds with the same information this year.

There was yet another letter to the editor complaining about how little the current Mauna Kea telescopes pay in lease rent. I agree $1.00 a year is totally inadequate. However, the activists have requested this fee is  increased to a cumulative 50 million dollars. This is a pure and simple shakedown.

Andrew Cooper explains here why this request is also unreasonable:

“One recent letter parroted an oft heard complaint about money, that the observatories pay only a token rent for the use of the mountain. The assumption in paying a “fair market value” rent presupposes that there is profit involved. The telescopes are non-profit institutions, these institutions make no money from the use of the summit of Mauna Kea.

The only ones making a profit from the observatories are the businesses and citizens of Hawai’i that benefit from the millions of dollars that these telescopes bring to the island. Millions of dollars in payroll, millions more in services provided by local businesses. This money has a direct impact on the lives of every resident of the island.”

My brother was a direct beneficiary of the Mauna Kea telescopes. He participated in the Akamai Observatory Internship Program in 2005.

Hawaii247 published my letter to the editor regarding my frustration with the anti-Mauna Kea astronomy activists. I hope the other local newspapers publish this op-ed.

Lastly, I received this follow-up e-mail from Councilman Enriques office regarding the estimated time line when the unfinished HOVE well facility may be completed.

Aloha Mr. Stene,

I would love for you to see the timeline chart: it is a very impressive, complex grid of duties interlocking the actions of several subcontractors, 97 stages with it culminating with the DWS operational acceptance on or before January 25, 2011. It is very understandable that it’s a challenge to revise such plans. Meanwhile the project continues to move forward.

We are awaiting an updated timeline, and expect to receive it soon. The last timeline as stated above, had a completion date of January 2011. I would hazard a guess a few months further on would be the new target, but we do not know yet. I’ll be sure to write you as soon as we have the next published set of plans.

2 comments | posted in General, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Technology

May 26, 2010

I’m Absolutely Frustrated With The Anti-Mauna Kea Astronomy Activists

By Aaron Stene

I’m submitting this letter to the editor regarding the Mauna Kea telescopes to WHT, BIW, HTH, etc tonight:

I’m absolutely frustrated with the anti- Mauna Kea astronomy activists. They continue wage legal warfare against one of the backbones of Hawaii County’s economy. The Mauna Kea telescopes provide not only an economic, but also educational boost to our island.

However, these activists have portrayed the telescope development on Mauna Kea as evil and harmful to our island. In addition, they’ve decided to protect Mauna Kea through the courts instead of working within the system. For example, they filed a lawsuit attempting to invalidate the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. This document provides the framework to preserve Mauna Kea for future generations.

It seems these astronomy opponents hold very shortsighted view of Mauna Kea and this island. Hawaii County’s economic mainstays are tourism, construction, real estate, and the military. These industries are unsustainable over the long term.

Nevertheless, this fact hasn’t dawned on these individuals. Kealoha Pisciotta even stated “If jobs are the concern, the Target store being built in Kona will offer twice as many jobs as TMT,”

Ms. Pisciotta completely missed the point with that infuriating comment. Retail jobs, unlike ones at the Thirty Meter Telescope, do not provide a living wage or are sustainable over the long term. So, I hope these activists finally see the bigger picture and cease filing lawsuits attempting to protect Mauna Kea. Hawaii County’s future economic health is at stake.

Leave a comment | posted in Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Technology

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