STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR KAUAI

Important Information:

STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR KAUAI AND HAWAII ISLAND

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) will be holding its first round of statewide public informational meetings to discuss and solicit comments on the Draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for Fiscal Year 2019-2022 (+2). Participation is encouraged as comments received will help to guide the finalization of the STIP. The STIP is a four-year programming implementation document that identifies state and county transportation projects, statewide, to be funded, in part, with Federal Highway and Transit funds.

The meetings are scheduled at the following locations and times:

Kauai

Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 6 p.m.
HDOT Highways Division Kauai District Office Conference Room
1720 Haleukana St. Lihue, Hawaii 96766

Information on the draft Fiscal Years 2019-2022 (+2) STIP can also be found at http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/…/other-related-links/stip/.

Comments on the DRAFT Fiscal Years 2019-2022 (+2) STIP will be accepted until June 18, 2018 by email, mail, or fax to:

E-mail Address: Hwy.Stip.Projects@hawaii.gov
Mailing Address: Highway Planning Branch
869 Punchbowl Street, Room 301
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
PHONE Number: (808) 587-6355
FAX Number: (808) 587-1787

To request language interpretation, an auxiliary aid or service (i.e., sign language interpreter, accessible parking, or materials in alternative format), contact Highways Division Planning Branch at (808) 587-1831 fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting date, if possible. TTY users may use TRS to contact our office.

Follow the STIP on Twitter and Facebook at:
http://twitter.com/HISTIPnews
https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation

More STIP information can also be found at the following web address:
http://hidot.hawaii.gov/…/ot…/stip/general-stip-information/

4/24/18- Legislature Provides Historic Funding Package of $570 MILLION To Build 25,000 Affordable Rental Housing Units

Today, Senate and House conferees passed a comprehensive housing measure that takes a momentous step forward in addressing Hawai‘i's affordable rental housing crisis on all islands. House Bill 2748 provides a total of $570 million which will generate more than 25,000 affordable units by the year 2030. For more information visit: https://hawaiihouseblog.blogspot.com/

Important Kaua'i Emergency Relief Update!- 4/24/18

Finally visited Haena and Hanalei this past weekend. Heartened by the outpouring of community support and aloha. Thanks to all the volunteers, first responders, farmers, business owners, and families who are helping to clean up and assist with the recovery.

CURRENT UPDATES:

·         The State Department of Transportation expects to open a one-lane route on Kuhio Highway from Wainiha to Haena by MAY 7TH, weather permitting.

·         Residents have power and clean drinking water.

·         Each household in Wainiha and Haena will have access to 5 gallons of fuel per week.

·         FEMA is doing door to door assessments of the damage.

·         The Princeville Public Library is offering free Wi-Fi service to Kaua'i community.

·         A medical clinic is operating at Hanalei Colony resort.

·          Hanalei town is open, but there is no access to Black Pot beach and areas beyond Waipa.

KEMA News Release: Kaua'i Brown Water Advisory

KAUA'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

NEWS RELEASE:

Brown water advisory remains in effect for most of Kaua‘i

A Brown Water Advisory remains in effect for most of Kaua‘i, according to the Hawai‘i Department of Health.
“We are receiving reports of people swimming in Hanalei Bay,” said Administrator for the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency Elton Ushio. “The public is advised to stay out of the water until the brown water advisory is lifted.”
The advisory is not in effect for coastal waters from Keoniloa Bay to Sheraton Beach on the South Shore.
Officials warn that swimming in the water could result in serious illness. If the water is brown, stay out. The public is advised to stay out of floodwaters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas. Continue to practice good personal hygiene by washing off with soap and clean water and washing hands before handling food.
For the latest updates on brown water advisories, visit DOH’s Clean Water Branch website at https://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb/#!/landing.

KEMA News Release: Kuhio Highway (Waikoko and Wainiha) Closed

KAUA'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

NEWS RELEASE:

Police reminding the public Kūhiō Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, is closed to public

The Kaua‘i Police Department is reminding the public that Kūhiō Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, remains closed as crews work to clear multiple landslides.
“Until officials deem the area safe for travel, that area of Kūhiō Highway is closed to the public until further notice, as it is deemed a traffic emergency zone,” said Deputy Police Chief Michael Contrades. “We have officers stationed in the area and are on the lookout for anyone attempting to traverse through the area. This type of activity will only further delay the opening of the highway to the public.”
The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) has announced it expects to open a one-lane route for emergency access only, to the Wainiha and Hā‘ena areas, on or before Monday, May 7, weather permitting.
Current Road Closures and Repairs:
• For residents affected by the Kahiliholo Road closure in Kīlauea, an emergency access road has been opened for local traffic only through the privately owned Common Ground and Wai Koa Guava Plantation properties.
• Kūhiō Highway at the Wailua River Bridge will have temporary lane closures nightly from to 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting Sunday, April 22, to Friday, April 27, in order to remove debris from the river. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) reports this will not be a continuous closure. All traffic will be routed onto the Bryan Baptiste Memorial (Makai) Bridge, where one lane in each direction of traffic will be maintained.
• Lei O Papa Road in Princeville remains closed due to a sinkhole.
• Weke Road in the vicinity of Black Pot Beach remains closed.
• HDOT continues to inspect bridges in the flood-affected areas on Kaua‘i. All inspected bridges were deemed safe by HDOT.
For updates on road conditions and closures, please call 241-1725. Please do not call Kaua‘i police 911 unless you have an emergency. Damage to roads, highways, bridges and other infrastructure may be reported to the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (KEMA) Emergency Operations Center at 241-1800.

Helpful Kaua'i Relief Donation Information

Aloha! Here's more information on how you can help those in need on Kaua'i! Please do anything that you can. Now is the time for our community to come together and be there for one another.

Money Allocated For Kaua'i Relief Effort

Today, the House-Senate conference committee allocated $100 million to help Kauai's relief and rebuilding efforts as well as $25 million for the rest of the State. Aloha to the chairs of the House Finance Commitee and Senate Ways and Means Committee who came together to help Kaua'i and the State in its time of need. I'm honored to stand with my colleagues to give Kaua'i the help it so desperately needs.

Important Information For Those Without National Flood Insurance

This is an announcement for District 14 constituents who do not have a National Flood Insurance Program. Please find this helpful information below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13QcHnh8b16lGSNE-zGNVC_6D9_cj8it3/view?usp=sharing

Important Kaua'i Emergency Relief Information!

Aloha Everyone. With the recent rain and floods causing extreme damage on the North Shore this past weekend, please know much is being done. Currently Governor Ige along with Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr, and the Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency are working to assess the damage. Emergency crews have evacuated 152 people by helicopter, 121 by bus and others by water. 8-10 landslides are blocking roads past Waikoko. The Hawaii Air National Guard has deployed two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, two CH-47 Chinooks, eight Zodiacs and more than 45 soldiers and airmen to support rescue efforts, and to get medical aid and necessary supplies to the area. Mahalo to our first responders and citizens who are helping in so many ways to help those in need.

Emergency Contact Number: Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency: (808)-241-1800

If You Have Emergency Flood Insurance, Please View Flyer Below:

Governor Declares Emergency Proclamation for Kaua'i

My heartfelt prayers go out to all impacted by the devastating flood and rains. Please keep safe. The Governor signed an emergency proclamation for Kaua’i. State, County, and Federal agencies are working to address our needs. Mahalo to our first responders who are working diligently to address the problems. Again my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with all of you.