Isemoto Contracting Company is slated to complete the Highway 180 shoulder strengthening project (near the old Hawaiian Gardens and Palani Junction) by February 2012. However, the contractor will be seeking a time extension. They encountered unforeseen subsurface/geotechnical issues, which held up the project.
The Court has granted the order of possession of the Coupes property to Hawaii County, according to Hawaii County Corporation Counsel office. Then the Coupes need to withdraw the funds deposited by the county. The Court could grant the final order after this step is completed, which finalizes the condemnation of the Coupes property for the Mamalahoa (Hokuli’a) bypass.
There is two remaining landowners along the rest of this roadway, Smith/Whitaker families and LAFC Hawaii Holding Company LLC. LAFC is affiliated with the Hokuli’a project, so this leaves the Smith/Whitakers as the last holdout.
Caroline Smith and Alexander Smith expressed conflicting opinions about this roadway. Ms. Smith stated she was opposed to the bypass traversing her property, according to this 2009 West Hawaii Today article. However, Mr. Smith expressed a polar opposite view in this 2011 West Hawaii Today article.
He was wondering why it was taking the county so long to finalize the acquisition of his property. Nevertheless, Hawaii County may proceed after their ongoing lawsuit against American Motorist Insurance Company and 1250 Oceanside Partners is adjudicated. This could happen after the jury trial begins in January or if the lawsuit is resolved during the November 29th, 2011 settlement conference.
Lanihau Properties’s West Hawaii Business Park contractor has begun preliminary construction work. Riley Smith President/COO of Lanihau Properties LLC provided this update:
“They are putting up the dust screen and cutting the access roads for their work. I expect to have the NPDES permit in two weeks or so. It should be a lot more obvious in mid-November.”
Lastly, the Palani Road paving schedule is 95% complete. I’ll post this schedule after I talk to Alex Leonard, the Ane Keohokalole Highway project manager, on Wednesday.
