Tag Archives: Palani Road

February 13, 2012

Mamalahoa Highway Resurfacing Project Update

By Aaron Stene

Grace Pacific was the lowest bidder for the Mamalahoa Highway resurfacing project between Makalei and Palani Junction. This project is slated to begin six months after bid opening.

Race Randle, the development manager for the Kamakana Villages project, provided this construction update:

“We are nearing the final stretch before starting construction on Phase 1A of Kamakana Villages. Goodfellow Bros. and SSFM are doing soil testing in order to finalize plans for the phase 1 Roadway. Our hope is to begin construction of the roadway in the first half of this year.”

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

“Last we left it the expected finish was at the end of this month but since nothing really seems to have happened yet, I don’t know that the contractor will meet that deadline. I have been trying to get better information and will let you know if I do.”

KAHEA recently posted a commentary regarding the recent Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals Mauna Kea CMP ruling. KAHEA claims the mainstream media incorrectly spun it. However, they did exactly the same thing. For example, KAHEA asserts the ICA’s decision prohibits UH/DLNR from enacting the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan.

I’ve read the ICA’s opinion several times and never saw any mention about this. In addition, KAHEA claims it doesn’t affect the Thirty Meter Telescope project. I strongly disagree with their opinion. Judge Glenn Hara ordered the University of Hawaii/DLNR to enact a comprehensive management plan for Mauna Kea
in 2006. The TMT project would be dead in the water unless this management plan was enacted.

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

January 23, 2012

Palani Road Concrete Pavement: Is It Too Rough?

By Aaron Stene

Several individuals complained about the new concrete pavement on Palani Road here. They don’t like the rough concrete surface.

I did some research on these grooves. They’re concrete control joints. These joints help minimize the cracking of the concrete. Nevertheless, I sought out a second opinion regarding this issue. These longitudinal grooves help prevent hydroplaning during wet weather. However, this isn’t usually done on only a 7% grade roadway.

The new pavement is admittedly a bit rough, especially on the mauka bound lane, but its also a huge improvement over the old pothole riddled asphalt pavement.

Lastly, I believe the Queen Kaahumanu Highway phase II widening project won’t  start in April 2012. I doubt Section 106 consultation process, which is addressing several archaeological sites within the right of way, will be completed by then.

This highway improvement project is critical to the Kona community and needs to move forward. We need to express this to the HDOT and the FHWA.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , | posted in Hawaii Transportation

December 15, 2011

Ane Keohokalole Highway Construction Update

By Aaron Stene

Ane Keohokalole Highway construction update:

“Both lanes on Palani Rd approximately 2,000 feet of roadway between Kamaka’eha Avenue to Henry Street will be closed Saturday morning, December 17, from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM. HELCO is removing utility lines on the north side in preparation to widen the road. Access from Queen Ka‘ahumanu to the Fire Station will remain open. The intersection at Henry Street and Palani Rd will remain open. Motorists are asked to use Henry Street as the alternate route to Palani and Hawaii Belt Roads during the road closure.”

Leave a comment   |  tags: , | posted in Hawaii Transportation

November 10, 2011

La’aloa Avenue Extension Project Update

By Aaron Stene

The Office of Corporation Counsel recently resubmited one of the La’aloa Avenue Extension condemnation resolutions to the Hawaii County Council for approval. Resolution 150 failed to include .003 acres of land. Resolution 188 has been submitted to fix this error. It may be included in the council’s November 16, 2011 meeting agenda. This will be first of two required readings.

The Office of Corporation Counsel hasn’t filed a condemnation lawsuit against the other landowner yet. However, I’ll post an update when they do.

Honolulu Civil Beat recently published a commentary titled “What Happens to Wind Turbines When They Die?” The abandoned Kama’oa wind farm plays a prominent role in this video, so I inquired with the owner to find when they plan to dismantle this facility.

“I would sincerely hope that others in the wonder State of Hawaii would not look at the old Kamao’a wind farm and note that the delay in removing this equipment is the reason wind farms should not be built in this state.

Concerning the current state of removing these turbines, several interested parties are looking at the old turbines and we have yet to determine which path to take. Our hope is that within six months the old wind farm should be in the initial stages of demolition (in fact, preliminary preparation by draining and disposing of all fluids has already been completed), and we are trying to schedule complete removal within this time frame.”

I spoke to the manager overseeing the Palani Road water transmission project about the unfinished fencing surrounding the new Palani Road water tank. The Board of Water Supply recently granted CTS Earthmoving another time extension for an unrelated issue, so technically they have until November 30th, 2011 to complete this work.

The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals heard oral arguments regarding KAHEA’s Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan lawsuit on Wednesday.

Lastly, the recent Board of Water Supply minutes provided an update on ,the status of the HOVE well facility.

“Mr. Inaba said that HELCO encountered a voltage problem, and will be going back to the site on Thursday to resolve it. The Manager-Chief Engineer said that once the electrical work is done, DWS can start the pump, do the efficiency test, take the water samples and send them to the Department of Health (DOH).”

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

November 4, 2011

Last Ane Keohokalole Highway Update

By Aaron Stene

Nan Inc. is slated to start pouring cement for the new Palani Road Ka’u side lanes on November 15th, 2011. They’ve already completed about 50% of the new curb/gutter/sidewalk in this area. This is the last project update I will be able to post for now. I can’t publicly divulge why this is the last update. Please inquire privately through e-mail if you want to know the details.

The manager, who is overseeing the Palani Road water transmission project, provided this update:

“You are correct that there has been another delay with the Palani Project. Due to HELCO running into a delay in getting all of the necessary electrical cables in order to complete the electrical service extension (about 1200 feet) to the upper reservoir, the electrical subcontractor on the project requested an additional 20 working days, which was granted by the Water Board at their monthly meeting last Tuesday. Although technically, the extension resets the completion date for the entire project, the contractor should be moving forward with items such as the fencing that are not affected by the HELCO delay.

I checked with the contractor’s office early Tuesday morning to see if they had gotten re-started on the fencing on Monday like they were supposed to do. Their response was that they had not received the fencing materials but that the fencing materials should arrive by Wednesday and they would send a crew to get started on it as soon as the fencing materials arrived. I’ll check with our inspector tomorrow to see if they have made any progress.”

The Kiholo Bat lookout channelized intersection project is scheduled to be completed by March 6, 2012.

The bid advertisement of the Mamalahoa Highway resurfacing project between Makalei and Palani Junction has been delayed until atleast mid-November. The HDOT’s Hawaii district office submitted the RFQ documents to upper management last Friday. This project will be advertised as soon as they process these documents.

Sports Authority will be opening a new store at Prince Kuhio Plaza by May 2012. I’m absolutely thrilled they’re leasing the old Woolworth’s department store space, which has been largely vacant since 1997.

Related item: Sports Authority Opening A Hilo Store

Lastly, my parents recently switched to Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s digital phone service yesterday. The technician hada difficult time switching us over. The nearest phone jack wasn’t working correctly, so he had to run a new phone line out to the outside network interface.

The Cisco 2203C eMTA/cable modem is a pretty big unit. It’s much larger than a standard cable modem.

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

October 21, 2011

Ane Keohokalole Highway Project Update

By Aaron Stene

The manager overseeing the Ane Keohokalole Highway project provided an update on the upcoming concrete paving on Palani Road.

Nan is slated to start pouring the concrete for the Palani Road sidewalk/curb/gutter next Monday. This phase is slated to take up to four weeks to complete, but may be finished sooner.

The overall Palani Road paving schedule won’t be finalized until the curb/gutter/sidewalk phase is underway (likely in two weeks).

Nan is slated to start pouring cement for the new roadway (on the Ka’u side) on November 15th, 2011.

Please follow the temporary traffic control measures by Kealakehe High School. Several drivers are willfully ignoring these measures, which is causing traffic disruptions on Puohulihuli Street.

I noticed the homeowner by the Ulua’oa Street/ Palani Road intersection recently demolished the rock wall abutting the intersection. This obstruction limited the slight distance for drivers trying to make a left turn on to Palani Road.

I e-mailed Warren Lee, the Hawaii County DPW Director, about this demolition work. He confirmed the county asked the homeowner to demolish the offending rock wall.

Related item: Hawaii County Troubleshooter

HELCO recently energized the HOVE well facility, according to the Ka’u Calender. This one of the last steps before it can be publicly opened.The State of Hawaii Department of Health is also testing the water. This process is slated to take several months.

Lastly, the La’aloa Avenue Extension condemnation resolutions were passed by the council on Wednesday The county is now authorized initiate condemnation proceedings against two holdout landowners.

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

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