Tag Archives: Bolton

March 3, 2011

Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening Update

By Aaron Stene

The Hawaii DOT  published a newsletter outlining the status of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway Phase II widening project.

Goodfellow Brothers may start construction on this important roadway project in April. However, I would be surprised if they started by then. The project team still has several issues to resolve (here, and here) before they can schedule the next public information meeting. Then Goodfellow can proceed with this project.

(Courtesy: Hawaii DOT)

Hawaii County has revised the Kaiminani Drive resurfacing project‘s scope. The county originally planned to reconstruct the pavement and improve drainage along the entire roadway. However, the project is now slated to end midway through Kona Palisades at AhiAhi Street. This change was likely done because of the increased cost of doing both a pavement reconstruction and improving drainage.

Related items:

Kaiminani Drive Reconstruction Update

2011-2014 +2 STIP revision 1#

There has been a flurry updates here, here, and here regarding the status of the Discovery Harbour Golf Course.

I recently had a run-in with one of the current owners. This happened after I alerted him about one of his ex-partners holding unsanctioned meetings regarding the golf course. So, I’ve taken hands-off approach regarding this issue.

Bolton installed the last punch list item (signage) for the Holu Street Connector Road project on Tuesday.

The reopening of Kamaka’eha Avenue likely won’t happen for another two weeks. I spoke to the project engineer yesterday. They won’t start repaving until March 14th at the earliest.

The mid-level road project engineer also informed me the new Palani Road steel poles arrived ten days early. They’re currently adjusting their plans to mesh with HELCO’s newly accelerated pole installation schedule.

Hawaii Island Life recently took several photographs of the ongoing  HOVE well facility project.

Lastly, Sandwich Isles Communications is continuing to predict they’ll have to file for bankruptcy if they don’t receive 15 million dollars in subsidies to operate the Paniolo Fiber Optic Network.

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

February 24, 2011

The Villages At Aina Le’a Project Update

By Aaron Stene

I’ve been really sick with the flu for the past couple days. So, I’ve decided to put my blog on autopilot for the rest of this week.

(Note: there will be regular blog postings today and tomorrow)

The State LUC is slated to review the final The Villages Aina Le’a project land classification reversion D&O at their March 9 -10, 2011 meeting.

Bolton‘s subcontractor completed the roadway striping for the Holu Street Connector Road on Tuesday. The installation of the roadway signage is scheduled for today. This is the last ancillary punch list item before the county can conduct an inspection.

Lastly, I followed up with the engineer overseeing Kamaka’eha Avenue sewer line project yesterday. He told me:

1.  Construction should be completed by March 7th (if the recently uncovered lava tube doesn’t need any remedial work)

2. Roadway resurfacing should be begin on March 8th (if construction is completed by March 7th)

3. Kamaka’eha Avenue should be reopened to traffic by March 9th (if construction and resurfacing are completed by the dates stated above).

I’ll follow-up again with the project manager next week to check the status of this job.

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

February 21, 2011

Makalei Fire Station Project Update

By Aaron Stene

Bolton‘s Holu Street Connector Road subcontractor will start installing the striping and signage on Tuesday, according to the project manager. The county can conduct an inspection when this is complete. This may be completed by February 28th, 2011.

Keauhou Kona Construction Corporation is slated to begin construction on the initial Palamanui campus roadway infrastructure by the middle of this week. Grading of this future roadway will start from the Palamanui project and head south.

KKCC has 310 calender days (starting in December 2010) to complete this 7,000 foot roadway.

Lastly, the manager overseeing the Makalei Fire Station project e-mailed me this update.

“Good morning Aaron,

At this point, the bids will be opened today. After opening, the bids will be reviewed, and yes that should take a few weeks to complete. Based on the original bid opening date, 2/3/11, we were anticipating the bid to be awarded by mid-March. So I’d say it’ll probably be late March to early April to award the bid.

Desmond”

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

February 17, 2011

Waikoloa Vacation Rentals Is The Kona Blog’s First Sponsor

By Aaron Stene

Grace Pacific finished paving the Holu Street Connector Road yesterday.

Bolton needs to complete several ancillary punch list items (striping and signage) before the county conducts an inspection. The roadway will be opened to the public after this is done.

From The Kona Blog archives:

Missing Holu Street roadway segment

Waikoloa Vacation Rentals is The Kona Blog’s first blog sponsor. I’ve been blogging for the last five years for gratis. So, I’m absolutely ecstatic about this milestone.

Please e-mail me if you want to advertise on this blog.

I mistakenly said Kamaka’eha Avenue would be open during non-work hours. Please accept my apologies for this error. Phase II of the Kamaka’eha sewer line project began last Friday. CTS Earthmoving Inc. is slated to complete this sewer line by March 7th.

I’ll follow-up with the project manager next week to check the status of this job.

Lastly, February 10th wasn’t the deadline for the Coupes to petition the US Supreme Court. The Hawaii Supreme Court hasn’t filed a Judgment on Appeal for this case yet. So, the 90 day window for the Coupes to appeal hasn’t started. I’ve inquired with the judiciary to see when the Court will record this document.

3 comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Planning, Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Transportation

February 8, 2011

Kamaka’eha Avenue Sewer Line Project Update

By Aaron Stene

Bolton Inc.‘s subcontractor is scheduled to pave the Holu Street Connector on February 16th, 2010.

CTS Earthmoving Inc. is slated to begin phase II of the Kamaka’eha Avenue sewer line project within the next three days, according the project engineer.

Makala Blvd will be only way to reach  Big Kmart, Makalapua Cinemas, and Macys during work hours.

CTS was able to complete the first phase earlier than anticipated. So, they are able to start work on the second phase much sooner.

The Queen Kaahumanu Highway phase II widening project website has been updated.

Goodfellow Brothers was slated to start construction in January. However, the HDOT has held up construction to address several outstanding issues.

The project team is preparing to release a newsletter detailing the current project status shortly.

I don’t think its fair that residents of Kukio and Hualalai Resort paid half of Hawaii County’s property tax windfall. Why should the 300 residents of these developments shoulder this burden? The entire island, not just residents of Kukio and Hualalai Resort, should be paying their fair share.

I’ve received several interesting suggestions/comments from the ongoing blog improvement survey.

1. I wish I had more time to do more in depth reporting. Nevertheless, my job (which pays the bills), girlfriend, and family take precedence. In addition, please note that I’m doing this blog on my own time and for free

2. The Kona Blog is biased. I wish the person who said that could elaborate why he/she thinks that?

3. I should focus The Kona Blog on island wide issues. Please read #1

4. “Ask about a government issue” – I may consider doing this. However, the project managers, government officials, etc that I speak to have a very limited time to talk to me. So, I don’t want to overload them with frequent inquiries.

Lastly, I have mixed feelings about the proposed state motor vehicle registration fee increase.

I wouldn’t mind paying more registration fees to fix deplorable condition of our state highways. However, I’m afraid the legislature may raid the highway fund to balance the budget again.

2 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Planning, Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Technology, Hawaii Transportation

February 3, 2011

Hawaii County Needs To Extend La’aloa Avenue

By Aaron Stene

The manager overseeing the Holu Street Connector Road project e-mailed me an update today. Bolton’s subcontractor is slated to begin paving  the week of February 14th, 2011. He promised to let me know when a firm date is finalized.

I’m very frustrated that Mayor Kenoi and the council have failed to secure funding for the La’aloa Avenue Extension. For example, the mayor has touted the need for the Kapiolani Street Extension in Hilo instead.

The residents of Ali’i Drive will be the ultimate losers if this road isn’t built. There are only two exit routes (one of which has speed humps) to evacuate this area if a tsunami is generated.

Lastly, I encourage all my blog readers to participate in this new survey. The suggestions, ideas, etc will be used to help improve this site.

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

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