Monthly Archives: December 2011

The Kona Blog’s Top 2011 Stories

These are the Kona Blog’s top five stories from 2011:

1. March 11, 2011 Japan tsunami

2. Judge Strance’s December 16th, 2011 ruling, which reversed the LUC’s land classification reversion of The Villages at Aina Le’a project

3. The completion of the Mamalahoa (Hokuli’a) Bypass is assured. It was held up by 1250 Oceanside Partners financial problems and the Coupes decision to block the condemnation of part of their land for this roadway

4. Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening delays. This project is now slated to begin in April 2012

5. Saddle Road improvements continue. Kirkland Construction of Colorado recently started the next phase of this project.


Ane Keohokalole Highway Project Update

Nan’s concrete subcontractor completed the second segment of concrete pavement on the Ka’u side of Palani Road on Wednesday. The concrete has to cure for up to 14 days. Then they’ll start on the next phase, which entails rerouting traffic to the new Ka’u bound lanes, demolishing the Kohala side lanes and pouring additional cement.

Nan is slated to begin concrete paving between the Henry Street intersection and the West Hawaii Civic Center starting on January 9th, 2012.

The project manager, who is overseeing the Palani water transmission project, provided this update regarding the incomplete fencing around the new Palani Road water tank.

“I just spoke to our inspector earlier today and he said the contractor still hasn’t procured the materials for the fencing, despite what we were told would happen a couple of weeks ago. Also, the contractor’s foreman was unable to tell our inspector when the owner will be purchasing the fence materials. I’ll check with the contractor again let you know what they say.”

The Villages at Aina Le’a‘s Facebook page admin summarily deleted three comments I recently posted. I stated the project still faces two outstanding lawsuits (Goodfellow Brothers and Mauna Lani Resort Association). Goodfellow is seeking reimbursement for unpaid construction work and Mauna Lani Resort Association is trying to invalidate the project’s FEIS. Nevertheless, these facts were pushed under rug, so the focus was directed on their recent legal victory.

I strongly believe the State of Hawaii should appeal Judge Strance’s ruling, which turned the Land Use Commission into a paper tiger. This decision curtailed the commission’s ability to hold developers accountable if they don’t comply with all conditions and promises.


Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening Project Update

The DCCA-CATV division and Oceanic Time Warner Cable mutually agreed to delay the DCCA’s final decision on their Hawaii County franchise renewal until March 1st, 2012.

Nan’s concrete subcontractor laid the concrete forms for the second segment of Palani Road from the fire station to the Henry Street intersection. In addition, they’ve poured concrete 1/3 of the way up this segment.

Nan is slated to begin pouring cement using the specialized concrete paving equipment starting the first week in January between the Henry Street intersection and the West Hawaii Civic Center.

I spoke to Isaac Harp over the weekend about the archaeological concerns raised by several Native Hawaiian Organizations regarding the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project. The NHO’s are waiting for the archaeologists to analyze the recently found sites in the northern segment.

I hope this project starts by April 2012. Nevertheless, I have strong doubts it will start by then. These archaeological issues can’t be taken lightly and need to be addressed before construction can begin.

Lastly, Inversecondemnation published an excellent commentary about Bridge Aina Le’a LLC’s lawsuit against the State Land Use Commission. The Federal Court in Honolulu recently held a hearing regarding this lawsuit. Judge Mollway asked the parties to file briefs explaining how the recent state Court ruling impacted this lawsuit and deferred this case until March 19, 2012.


Hawaii DOT Advertised Latest Mamalahoa Highway Resurfacing Project

The HDOT advertised the Mamalahoa Highway resurfacing project (between Makalei and Palani Junction) on Friday. Construction is slated to begin six months after bid opening .

Senator Green assured attendees of his Thursday talk story meeting that Hawaii County’s share of the Transient Accommodations Tax won’t be cut in 2012.

I recently spoke to the manager, who is overseeing the Palani Water Transmission project. He told me the fencing material  arrived at CTS’s baseyard on December 16th. This material will be used to complete fence around the new Palani Road water tank. I’m planning on following up with him this week to get an update.

The HDOT director gave an update on several other transportation projects in West Hawaii at Senator Green’s talk story meeting on Thursday.

Queen Kaahumanu Highway improvements at Kiholo Bay is slated to be completed by March 16th, 2012

Queen Kaahumanu Highway intersection improvements at Kawaihae Road will be advertised by December 2012.

Lastly, the Kona side Saddle Road segment is scheduled to be paved beginning in December 2012. Kirkland Construction has up to 19 months to complete the earthwork for this phase. Nevertheless, I doubt they’ll get it done within the DOT’s estimated time frame.


Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening Project Delayed Again

I attended Senator Josh Green’s talk story meeting on Thursday night. Glenn Okimoto, the Hawaii Department of Transportation Director, provided updates on several West Hawaii transportation projects. The delayed Queen Kaahumanu Highway phase II widening project elicited the most questions. They hoped to begin construction in January 2012. However, the DOT has pushed this date back to April 2012.

The archaeological issues raised by several Native Hawaiian Organizations caused this latest delay. I don’t hold ill will against these individuals for doing this. The HDOT should’ve addressed these issues before the project was awarded.

I e-mailed Isaac Harp yesterday to get an update regarding the NHO’s concerns, but I haven’t heard back from him yet.

These delays won’t impact the project’s funding. The HDOT already obligated funds for these improvements, so there isn’t any chance it will expire.

I didn’t get any advanced warning from my HDOT contacts regarding this latest delay. The consultations with the Native Hawaiian Organizations are ongoing, so there is no firm start date, per the last update from one of my contacts. Nevertheless, they really want to authorize Goodfellow Brothers to start work on the northern segment (Kona Int’l Airport to Hina-Lani Drive) soon.


Regular Blog Programming Will Return On Friday

I’m attending Senator Josh Green’s talk story meeting tonight, so there won’t be a blog posting today. Regular blog programming will return on Friday.


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