Monthly Archives: November 2011

Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening Project Update

I recently found this website, which details the various Native Hawaii Organization concerns about the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project. I was astounded about the extent of these archaeological issues. Isaac Harp’s response to my recent e-mail inquiry (Mr. Harp is one of the leaders of this hui), which I posted here, only touched the surface.

The NHPA Section 106 process is the last step before construction can begin. However, it’s uncertain when this process will be completed. For example, Mr. Harp recently found additional archaeological sites located in north end of this project. I believe these new sites may further delay this project.

Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company recently provided this update regarding their Kealakehe Parkway baseyard:

“On another note, the superintendent on our bridge project in Pauuilo asked to use the operator that was working at the crusher site for one week (next week) to meet a deadline. We will be back on December 5th to continue to knock down the stockpile. I am keeping my eye on the Jan 31st deadline as time seems to fly by. The delays to Phase II will not help but we have a commitment to meet and will do what it takes.”

Resolution 188, which authorizes the county to condemn land for the La’aloa Avenue Extension, passed its first reading 8-0. The second reading is scheduled for December 7th, 2011.

I hope to speak to Katherine Garson, the corporation counsel attorney handling this litigation, this week regarding the status of the other land condemnation, which the council authorized on October 19th, 2011.

Righthaven LLC, Stephen Media Group’s copyright mercenaries is facing mounting Court losses. The Nevada Federal Court recently upheld fair use rights regarding copying of copyrighted material on the Internet.

Lastly, the HOVE well facility should be operational by early 2012, according to The Ka’u Calender.


Makalei Fire Station Project Update

The manager overseeing the Makalei Fire Station project provided this construction update:

“Work is progressing quite well and I expect work to really pick-up now that the dormitory building has membrane roofing on (subcontractors working on interior work). The apparatus bay roof is now completely trussed and metal decking scheduled to be done next. As you can probably tell, the new driveway is now excavated down to the highway. This will allow for the associated utilities to be started on.”

(Photos courtesy: Noland Eskaran)


Talk Story Schedule With State Senator Josh Green

Related item: Senator Josh Green’s Talk Story schedule flyer


Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all the loyal readers of my blog. Regular blog programming will return on Monday November 28, 2011.

 


Mamalahoa Highway Resurfacing Project Update

The county hopes to complete the contract bidding documents for the Kaiminani Drive improvement project by the end of 2011, according to the project manager.

The Mamalahoa Highway resurfacing project bid solicitation (from Makalei to Palani Junction) was delayed again. The HDOT hopes to advertise this solicitation by December 2011.

West Hawaii Today recently published yet another letter to the editor from me. However, the point I was trying to make was lost in translation:

“Aaron,

Nice complaining.

Can’t stream movies without high speed Internet.

There are many places (and on the mainland) that still can’t get DSL! What’s the world coming to?”

I posted this rebuttal here:

“Isleguy,

You misunderstood the point of my letter. Two out of three of the submarine fiber-optic cables serving the neighbor islands are nearing the end of their life. The companies who own these cables haven’t announced any plans to replace them. This doesn’t bode well for the folks living on the neighbor islands.”

Lastly, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company provided this update regarding their Kealakehe Parkway baseyard:

“We had begun removing the last of the debris pile but the contractor needed some time to push the loads that we sent previously. Our operator was able to push about 1/2 of the large pile. The operator was sent to Oahu temporarily to help with DOT projects in conjunction with APEC. We were contracted to gather, stockpile and eventually put in place over 500 concrete barriers that started on November 3rd. Removing the barriers will begin tomorrow. Once done, the operator will be sent back. We received DOH approval to relocate our remaining crusher last week also.”


Boeing 787 Stops At Kona Int’l Airport Again

A Boeing 787 recently stopped at Kona Int’l Airport again. It was heading back to Seattle after conducting flight testing  in Australia.


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