Tag Archives: Reed Flickinger

December 30, 2010

Hawaii County Should Complete The Rest Of The Mamalahoa (Hokuli’a) Bypass

By Aaron Stene

I’ve recently submitted two letters to the editor to Reed Flickinger (here, and here). However, he hasn’t published either one as of today. So, it seems his rationale against publishing my letters was not truthful.

I sent this e-mail to the Hawaii County Council urging the council to fund the completion of the Mamalahoa (Hokuli’a) Bypass.

Aloha,

Hawaii County should explore completing the Mamalahoa (Hokulia) bypass and seek reimbursement from American Motorist Insurance Company later. This would be a win-win for American Motorist and Hawaii County. AMIC would gain financial flexibility by spreading out the reimbursement payments and the county would be able to complete this much needed roadway.

The council could add this to the delayed 56 million dollar bond float by removing the La’aloa Avenue Extension project. I wouldn’t have a problem if the council took this action.

The completion of the Mamalahoa (Hokuli’a) Bypass would benefit the community far more than extending La’aloa Avenue to Kuakini Highway.

Aloha,

Aaron Stene

HDCC has started to remove non-essential equipment from their Kealakehe Parkway baseyard. They’ve staged two Young Brothers flatbed trailers to start this process.

State Representative Bob Herkes is continuing his assault on the HOVE water facility. Mr. Herkes now asserts that DWS is overpaying for materials. The legislature’s special investigative report should be released by the next legislative session. I’m willing to bet this report will show Mr. Herkers allegations were unfounded.

Lastly, Queen Liliuokalani Trust‘s petition for declaratory order regarding the recent land reclassification for the proposed Forest City project is scheduled to be heard by the LUC on January 6th and 7th, 2011.

Race Randle, Forest City’s Hawaii development manager, sent me this e-mail regarding this upcoming hearing.

“Aaron,

Thank you for the message. The LUC has to address a Petition for Declaratory action within 90 days of receipt, so that’s what they will likely do on Thursday.

Forest City Hawaii and our partner, the State of Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, are pleased to have received favorable approvals by both the State Land Use Commission (LUC) and the Hawaii County Council for the Kamakana Villages Community. We salute the County and LUC for their dedication to affordable housing and vision in approving this new community.

With these approvals, our private/public partnership will continue with the design of a quality, affordable and sustainable community that fulfills the needs and wishes of what so many kama’aina, families, business owners, and civic leaders from this special area have said they want in a new North Kona community.

We remain highly motivated to foster a good relationship with all of our neighbors as we move this important project towards its much anticipated construction start.

Mahalo and Hau’oli Makahiki Hou,

Race A. Randle
Forest City Hawaii”

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

December 23, 2010

Makalei Fire Station Bid Solicitation Was Advertised Today

By Aaron Stene

I won’t be celebrating Christmas with my parents and family in Ka’u this weekend. My girlfriend recently got sick . So I’ll be staying up in Kona for Christmas by myself.

The bid solicitation for the future Makalei Fire Station was advertised today. The Kalaoa community has been waiting for years for enhanced fire protection. So, this bid solicitation is a significant step towards achieving the latter.

I’m not surprised that Young Brothers is seeking a 24% rate hike. PASHA‘s entry into the Hawaiian market is the driving force for YB’s petition. PASHA won’t be serving ports that YB is obligated to service, such as Lanai and Molokai. So, PASHA won’t be encumbered with providing service to areas that are not profitable. This puts Young Brothers at a competitive disadvantage.

I’ve read the comments regarding Young Brothers plans. These individuals unfairly criticize Young Brothers as a big bad monopoly. However, they are a State regulated utility. So, Young Brothers obligated to provide statewide service and have the Hawaii PUC approve any rate increases. PASHA isn’t obligated to provide  statewide service.

This is the latest update regarding Hawaii County’s lawsuit against 1250 Oceanside Partners and American Motorist Insurance Company.

The recent heavy rains has produced severe flooding. Andrew Cooper filmed the raging waters crossing Mamalahoa Highway by West Hawaii Concrete’s Kamuela batch plant on Wednesday.

Lastly, Reed Flickinger, WHT’s editor, replied to my e-mail regarding his refusal to publish my recent letter to the editor.


“Mr. Stene,

Your letters have gone directly into a junk mail folder since a series of them was an attempt by you to direct traffic to your website. Should you wish to contribute letters to this newspaper that express an opinion and not such an attempt to redirect readership, I would be glad to entertain them. Despite your suspicions, your submissions were not “blackballed” because of criticism of my commentary. I’m a grown up and am not averse to criticism of my commentary, which I freely publish.”

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

December 20, 2010

Reed Flickinger Refuses To Publish My Letter To The Editor

By Aaron Stene

The excess fill material stored at HDCC‘s old baseyard next to Kealakehe Parkway should be removed by March 2011. However, all their non-essential equipment (except the crusher) will be removed by the end of the month.

Bolton Inc. has made tremendous progress on the Holu Street Connector Road. They’ve graded most of the project, installed the dry well, and nearly completed the masonry work. So, they’re well on their way to start paving in early January.

I’ve noticed WHT has published a slew of letters to the editor from Tom Liberty as of late. Nevertheless, Reed Flickinger, WHT’s editor, refused to publish a this recent letter from me. I suspect Reed is still angry because I criticized his op-ed regarding the Ane Keohokalole Highway over a year ago.

I sent this e-mail to Reed and Tracey Fosso over the weekend regarding this issue:


Aloha Mr. Flickinger,

I’ve noticed you’ve published several letters from Tom Liberty as of late. However, you’ve refused to publish one letter from me regarding the proposed La’aloa Avenue Extension project.

I suspect you are still angry that I criticized your mid-level road commentary about a year ago.

Thankfully I have other avenues to publish them. Nevertheless, your conscious decision to blackball me is deeply frustrating.

Aloha,

Aaron Stene

Lastly, the minutes from the Hawaii DWS Water Board meetings on November 24th, 2009,May 25th, 2010, August 24th, 2010, November 23rd, 2010 were certainly enlightening. CTS Earthmoving Inc., the Palani Road Water Transmission contractor, has evidently done a very poor job thus far. In addition, they’ve refocused their attention from completing this waterline to their other projects, such as the Ane Keohokalole Highway. The residents of Tomi Tomi Drive and Kuni Road are currently suffering due to this decision.

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

December 3, 2010

Kevin Dayton Responds To Reed Flickinger’s Recent Editorial

By Aaron Stene

(WHT editor Reed Flickinger’s recent editorial regarding the council delaying the county’s 56 million dollar bond float elicited this rebuttal from Kevin Dayton, Mayor Billy Kenoi’s Executive Assistant)

Thank you for Reed Flickinger’s rather confused editorial of December 2:

After advocating for years for mauka-to-makai connector roads, and complaining that the county doesn’t do enough to build such roads, today Reed writes that he opposes Mayor Billy Kenoi’s proposed bond float that includes the $20 million mauka-to-makai Laaloa Avenue Extension connector road.

The reason for Reed’s sudden change of heart is pretty clear: Reed is inclined to oppose anything proposed by my boss, Mayor Kenoi.

Reed pretends to know a great deal about county government, suggesting the projects the mayor has proposed will do nothing to improve the local economy because they require years of planning. What Reed obviously doesn’t know is the planning and design for Laaloa Extension is nearly complete, the county is acquiring land for the project, and the county plans to bid out the construction work for the project in the first quarter of 2011.

This project would quickly create jobs and would soon help the flow of Kona traffic, but Reed applauds the council members who vote against it. (Surprisingly, Councilmember Brenda Ford is one of those voting against the project. Perhaps her constituents should have a chat with her about that).

Reed even suggests that the Ane Keohokalole Highway, also known as the Mid-Level Road, is “questionable” as a job creator. He stubbornly closes his eyes to the bulldozers already at work on this project, and overlooks the fact that the Mid-Level Road will help to create jobs by opening Hawaiian Home Lands and other lands for affordable housing.

I could go on, but Kona residents need to decide for themselves: Who is looking out for your best interests? Is it the mayor who is building Kona roads, or the newspaper editor who applauds the council that blocks the mayor’s efforts?

Kevin Dayton
Executive Assistant
Office of the Mayor

4 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Transportation

November 26, 2010

Hawaii County Did A Bait And Switch To The Residents Of South Kona

By Aaron Stene

Reed Flickinger’s recent commentary about Sen. Josh Green was way off base. There has been a lot of rumors implying Sen. Green may vacate his Senate seat. However, Sen. Green sent me this e-mail on November 9th, 2010 refuting this rumor.

I called up Sen. Green today to make sure he hasn’t changed his mind since then. Sen. Green reiterated that he loves working for the people of Kona. So, I hope these persistent rumors regarding his possible departure will cease.

Dennis Moresco has apparently filed a petition urging the State LUC to reconsider reclassifying O’oma from conservation to urban. This new petition will be heard by the State LUC at their next meeting in Honolulu on December 2nd and 3rd, 2010.

Armstrong Builders has pulled the first batch of building permits for the soon to be built homes in Laiopua Village five subdivision.

The resurfacing of Keanalehu Drive and Puohulihuli Street may start as early as next week, according to the latest update I received from DHHL.

The Makalei Fire Station project consultant should be submitting the final bid specifications and designs to the county within the next two weeks.

I was a bit miffed that Hawaii Reporter used one of my photographs without my authorization. I’d love some suggestions to prevent this from happening again.

Lastly, I sent this e-mail to the HCPD and the county regarding the enormous cost increase for the proposed South Kona police station.

Aloha,

I’m very perplexed why the cost to build the proposed South Kona police station suddenly doubled overnight. The increase is apparently attributed to excavating the uneven topography of the property. However, I believe this issue should’ve been determined earlier in the engineering process.

The community was lead to believe the cost of constructing this facility was between 15-17 million dollars. Then the cost magically doubles to between 35 million and 40 million dollars. So, I believe the original estimate (which was even included in the FEA) was based on incomplete engineering data.

This is akin to a store doing a bait and switch on customers. Those customers are the residents of South Kona.

I urge the county to reexamine the plans for this police station and remove unneeded features. This will likely bring the cost of this facility back in line with the original estimate.

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

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