Master Plan Meeting: Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital
Reviewing conceptual plan alternatives with Janet Berriman and Lance Segawa at the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital's Master Plan Meeting on Tuesday, November 19.
Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital Community Visioning Meeting
On behalf of Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, please join us on Tuesday, November 19 from 6pm-8pm for a community visioning meeting. An optional site tour will begin at 5:00pm in the main hospital lobby. For further inquiries, please see attached flyer and map.
Kapaa High School Student Honored by Hawaii Supreme Court
Kapaa High School Student Kyler Arruda-Sukehira was recognized for his writing entry by the Hawaii Supreme Court at their annual Pro Bono Celebration on Thursday, October 24. His award winning essay was on the topic. “How Can We Create and Inspire Change With Fifty Hours of Community Service.” Congratulations Kyler!
Governor David Ige officially releases $1,000,000 in Capital Improvement Project funds for the improvement and construction for the relocation of the Hanalei Valley Lookout.
Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials
Representative Nakamura at the Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials (HCPO), an annual meeting of planners, planning commissioners, and those involved in managing and regulating land use and development in the State of Hawai'i. HCPO is an opportunity to share, learn about, and be inspired by best practice in planning, innovative solutions to complex challenges, and the phenomenal planning projects and initiatives taking place in the State.
State Legislature's Public Access Room Staff to Provide Annual Kauai Outreach
From Monday, September 23rd through Wednesday, September 25th, the State’s Public Access Room staff will give presentations on the legislative process as part of their annual outreach to the Neighbor Islands. The outreach will include, “Your Voice “presentations, which goes over the legislative process but also provides information on using the legislature’s website; providing testimony; tracking legislation; and communicating with legislators. Please find more information attached:
NEW LAW INCREASES PARKING FINES ON STATE HIGHWAYS
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Thousands of people are drawn to the popular scenic areas on Kauai's north shore every day, but one long-standing problem has been too many vehicles illegally parked along state highways. This has caused gridlock, safety concerns, and numerous complaints according to Representative Nadine K. Nakamura (Hanalei, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Kapaʻa, Wailua).
HB 333 HD1 SD2 CD1, a bill introduced by Rep. Nakamura and signed into law July 5 by Gov. David Ige, establishes a new State Highway Enforcement Program. The bill also sets a parking violation surcharge in special no parking zones in addition to other penalties and fines for parking violations on State highways.
“This bill is the direct result of Hāʻena and Wainiha residents raising the concern about illegally parked cars taking over their community and causing health and safety issues," Rep. Nakamura said. "Adding a $200 surcharge to the existing parking fine of $35 will deter visitors from parking in the newly established 'no parking' zone."
Increasing the parking fine is part of a multi-pronged solution to manage tourism at the Hāʻena State Park. To protect cultural and natural resources from overuse, daily visitor counts will be reduced from 3,000 to 900 visitors per day. While resident parking is available, visitors must make advance parking and entrance reservations via www.gohaena.com. Visitors may also access the Hāʻena State Park via the North Shore Shuttle by reserving seats at www.kauainsshuttle.com. Enforcement along the special two-mile 'no parking' zone will be done by State and County of Kauai law enforcement officers.
“This bill acknowledges the hard work of the Kauai Police Department in helping to enforce laws on our State highways," Rep. Nakamura said. "Half of the $200 surcharge will go to the police department where the citation is issued for future enforcement efforts. The other half will go to the State Highway Fund."
Over the past two years, a working group of community, County of Kauai, State of Hawaiʻi, and visitor industry leaders have collaborated and secured the resources to implement this multi-pronged strategy. Since the opening of Kūhiō Highway and Hāʻena State Park on June 16, the group has helped to address additional concerns and logistics during the transition. To ensure the preservation of our cultural and natural resources, and to respect our host community, all visitors are asked to read and follow the Aloha Pledge at www.alohapledge.com.
HB1165 Officially Becomes Law
This legislative session, Representative Nakamura introduced HB1165 that was signed by Governor David Ige today. HB1165 creates a new gender marker "x" on drivers licenses and state identification cards beginning July of next year. This will help transgender and gender non-conforming individuals from discrimination and unfair questioning and treatment. Mahalo for everyone's support!
EXPECT CONSTRUCTION RELATED DELAYS ON KUHIO HIGHWAY AT WAIKOKO BRIDGE AS CREWS DEMOBILIZE
LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises the travelling public of delays on Kuhio Highway (Route 560) related to construction activity at Waipa and Waikoko Bridges.
Contractors will continue to work on Waikoko and Waipa Bridges on a Monday through Saturday basis between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. The majority of work will take place off the highway, but there may be delays as work trucks access the construction sites.
Night work on Waipa Bridge is scheduled for Tuesday, June 25 through Thursday, June 27 between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. Waipa Bridge will close to all vehicular traffic at the start of the night work. Park and Ride sites, pedestrian access, and a shuttle between the Park and Ride and Wainiha is available for residents and authorized TVR guests.
As a reminder, the second full weekend closure of Kuhio Highway at Waipa Bridge is scheduled for July 12-15. This closure was scheduled to avoid the weekends of the Haena to Hanalei Run and the July 4th Holiday weekend. Wainiha and Haena residents and other authorized placard-holders should retain their placards for access during bridge nightwork and the full weekend closure in July. Additional details will be provided when the schedule is finalized.
Additionally, motorists are advised of the following:
The Waipa Park and Ride created to provide access to residents and authorized TVR guests during the Waikoko Bridge night work and full closure is only open for residents and authorized TVR guests. All vehicles remaining at this site when the road reopens for the day should be removed.
All motorists are asked to observe the posted 25 mph speed limits on Kuhio Highway, and to slow down at Waikoko and Waipa Bridges for their safety and the safety of the workers.
HDOT will be installing speed humps leading up to the Waioli, Waipa and Waikoko Bridges on the North Shore as a traffic calming pilot measure. This will be the first time speed humps will be installed on a state highway on Kauai. Should this pilot be successful, HDOT will consider installing the humps (which have a lower profile than speed bumps) in appropriate locations across the island.
A “no parking” zone has been established between Haena Place and Kee Beach. Parking along Kuhio Highway in this zone is a violation of Chapter 291C-111 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and could result in fines of $200.
Access to the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Haena State Park is by reservation. More information is available at https://www.gohaena.com/
Information on the community-run Kauai North Shore Shuttle is available at https://www.hanaleiinitiative.org/
Weekly updates on the Waipa and Waikoko Bridge work are available via newsletter. Anyone may subscribe via this link.
