If you’re a land-based tour operator, learn more about Hawaii’s unique natural environment and the threats posed by invasive pests, plants, and diseases. Please see flyer for more details and register with the link below.
April 30, 2019: Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs Status Update
LIHUE – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is pleased to announce that emergency repairs to the section of Kuhio Highway (Route 560) between Waikoko and Wainiha damaged in the historic April 2018 flood are nearing completion. Since the large-scale emergency repair project began, HDOT and its contractors completed twenty-two major tasks including the stabilization of the slope at Wainiha Bay and the rebuilding of sections where the embankment below the road was washed away in the disaster. A full list of those tasks and status as of April 30 are available at Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs.
On April 29 Mayor Derek Kawakami, HDOT Deputy Director for Highways Ed Sniffen, and representatives from the Federal Highway Administration conducted a site visit to the work areas on Kuhio Highway. This site visit was prompted by community concerns brought to HDOT by Senate President Ronald Kouchi, Representative Nadine Nakamura, and Mayor Kawakami and identified safety concerns over opening the roadway near Waikoko Bridge. Based on these concerns, Kuhio Highway will not be reopened until the work at the bridge progresses sufficiently to ensure the safety of the traveling public and our workers. Weather permitting, HDOT now anticipates the safety concerns will be resolved and the full opening Kuhio Highway will occur the week of May 20.
“So many people have worked so hard to not only repair Kuhio Highway, but make it more resilient against future events,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Deputy Director for Highways Ed Sniffen. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to work to ensure the road is safe.”
Convoy access to Kuhio Highway past Waikoko will continue on the schedule published on March 27, 2019 (available here) until further notice. HDOT is considering adjustments to the schedule to accommodate the community and to reduce potential conflicts between drivers and the workers at Waikoko Bridge.
The schedules for work on the bridges are:
Waipa Bridge Night Work
The current bridge work on Waipa Bridge will continue nightly through Thursday, May 2
Work to take place nightly from 7 p.m. (after the last car passes through the convoy) to 5:50 a.m.
Parking areas on either side of Waipa Bridge and pedestrian access will be available for those wanting to cross the bridge during night work hours
Parking areas will be secured at all timesThe convoys will run on the regular schedule between Wainiha and Waikoko
The bridge will close to all vehicular traffic after 7 p.m., so any vehicles utilizing the convoy after 7 p.m. will not be able to travel over the Waipa Bridge
HDOT is coordinating with Hanalei Colony Resort to provide a shuttle for residents between the West Waipa Bridge Park and Ride and Wainiha.
Night work at both Waipa and Waikoko Bridges will resume Monday, May 6 and continue through Thursday, May 16. There will be no night work on Friday, May 10 (Kauai Community College graduation) and Sunday, May 12 (Mother’s Day).
To provide mobility during the night time closures, the State will continue shuttle service between the Park and Ride and Wainiha with the Hanalei Colony Resort.
HDOT anticipates the first of two full weekend bridge closures to take place from 9 p.m. Friday, May 17 through 6 a.m. Monday, May 20. Additional releases on the weekend bridge closures will be sent prior to the scheduled closure.
All work is weather permitting. First responders have been notified and have planned staging and procedures in the event of an emergency requiring them to access the work zones. Arrangements have also been made to ensure the Akita school bus will be able to cross Waipa Bridge at the scheduled time.
The public is still able to sign up for email updates on the Kuhio Highway emergency repairs by clicking here.
Photos of the bridges and completed work on Kuhio Highway are available at the links below:
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/guardrail.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/site-5.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/waikoko-wall-2.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/waikoko-wall.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wainiha-upper-slope-1.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wainiha-upper-slope-2.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wainiha-wall-2.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wainiha-wall.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/limahuli-crossing.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/manoa-stream.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/waikoko-bridge.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/waioli-bridge.jpg
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/waipa-bridge.jpg
Update on Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs for the Weekend of April 26
HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) reminds the residents of Wainiha and Hā‘ena that Phase II of night work on the Waipā Bridge on Kūhiō Highway (Route 560) continues through this weekend and into next week. The weekend schedule was updated to account for the closures during the Easter weekend.
Limahuli Stream Crossing also remains closed to vehicles through April 30.
The convoy will run on the regular schedule on Friday, April 26, with the bridge closing after the 7 p.m. convoy is completed.
The convoy will run on the regular schedule on Saturday, April 27, with no bridge closures that evening.
The convoy will run on the Sunday / holiday schedule on Sunday, April 28, with the bridge closing after the 7 p.m. convoy is completed.
Phase II of night work on the Waipa Bridge will continue on Monday, April 29 and continue through Tuesday, April 30. (ending before 5:50 a.m. on May 1).
Convoys will run according to the Monday thru Saturday regular schedule posted at Hawaii Department of Transportation Convey Schedule with no vehicle access over Waipā Bridge after the 7 p.m. convoy. Local residents will be escorted into Wainiha via the night shuttle service.
The Passing of HB 330, Relating to Suicide Prevention
Yay! The House fully supported my bill, HB330, Relating to Suicide Prevention. House bill 330 distributes $150,000 throughout the State of Hawaii for youth suicide prevention, intervention, and education.
Please see attached links for Legislature Funds Suicide Prevention Bills, KITV and Live with the Legislature’s coverage regarding HB 330.
April 17, 2019 Update on the Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs
NIGHT WORK / BRIDGE CLOSURE UPDATE AND NOTICE
The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation reminds the residents of Wainiha and Hā‘ena that Phase I of night work on the Waipā Bridge on Kūhiō Highway (Route 560) continues through this week and will end as scheduled with the shift that begins after the Friday, April 19 7:00 p.m. convoy and ends before the Saturday, April 20 5:50 a.m. convoy.
The convoy will run on the holiday schedule on Friday, April 19, in observance of Good Friday, with the bridge closing after the 7 p.m. convoy is completed.
The convoy will run on the regular schedule on Saturday, April 20, with no bridge closures that evening.
The convoy will run on the holiday schedule on Sunday, April 21 (Easter Sunday), with no bridge closures that evening.
Phase II of the night work will begin on Monday, April 22 and continue through Thursday, April 25 (ending before the 5:50 a.m. convoy on Friday, April 26).
There will be no closures occurring on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 to accommodate the community events taking place those evenings.
The Project will maintain the regular convoy schedule, with modifications as noted below, for the upcoming night work activities and is working with the Hanalei Colony Resort to provide a shuttle for residents from the West Waipā Park and Ride into Wainiha.
The night shuttle service is available for residents only.
The upcoming night work at Waipa is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 22, 2019 and will continue through Thursday, April 25, 2019 according to the following schedule:
Waipa Bridge Night Work (Phase II)
Monday, April 22 – Thursday, April 25
Work to take place nightly from 7 p.m. (after the last car passes through the convoy) to 5:50 a.m.
Parking areas on either side of Waipā Bridge and pedestrian access will be available for those wanting to cross the bridge during night work hours
Parking areas will be secured at all times
The convoys will run on the regular schedule between Wainiha and Waikoko
The bridge will close to all vehicular traffic after 7 p.m., so any vehicles utilizing the convoy after 7 p.m. will not be able to travel over the Waipā Bridge
HDOT is coordinating with Hanalei Colony Resort to provide a shuttle for residents between the West Waipā Bridge Park and Ride and Wainiha.
Convoys will run according to the Monday thru Saturday regular schedule posted at Hawaii Department of Transportation Kuhio Highway Covey Schedule with no vehicle access over Waipā Bridge after the 7 p.m. convoy.
The convoy schedule for Monday, April 22 - Thursday, April 25 in its entirety is:
5:50 AM Wainiha to Waikoko
6:20 AM Waikoko to Wainiha
6:50 AM Wainiha to Waikoko
7:20 AM Waikoko to Wainiha
7:50 AM Wainiha to Waikoko
8:20 AM Waikoko to Wainiha
12:45 PM Wainiha to Waikoko
1:15 PM Waikokoto Wainiha
1:45 PM Wainiha to Waikoko
2:15 PM Waikoko to Wainiha
5:00 PM Wainiha to Waikoko
5:30 PM Waikoko to Wainiha
6:00 PM Wainiha to Waikoko
6:30 PM Waikoko to Wainiha (NOTE: This is the LAST CONVOY where you can drive all the way to Wainiha until the next morning at 6:20 a.m. After this convoy, you will need to leave your car at the Waipa Bridge Park and Ride from where a shuttle will take you to the Waipa Bridge pedestrian bridge overpass.)
7:00 PM Wainiha to Hanalei (NOTE: This is the LAST CONVOY where you can drive all the way to Hanalei until the next morning at 5:50 a.m. Residents needing to go to Hanalei will need to leave their cars at the Waipa Bridge Park and Ride then cross the pedestrian bridge where a shuttle will transport you to the Waipa Bridge Park and Ride.)
7:30 PM Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge Waikoko to Wainiha
8:00 PM Wainiha to Waikoko Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge
8:30 PM Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge Waikoko to Wainiha
9:00 PM Wainiha to Waikoko Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge
9:30 PM Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge Waikoko to Wainiha
10:15 PM Wainiha to Waikoko Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge
11:00 PM Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge Waikoko to Wainiha
Parking will be available on both the East and West sides of Waipā Bridge. Residents wanting to cross the bridge will need to leave their vehicles in the parking lots and cross Waipā Bridge using the pedestrian overpass. The East Park and Ride lot is located at the contractor's staging area as you approach Waipā on the mauka side of Kuhio Highway. A shuttle will be provided to transport residents from the Park and Ride area to the bridge. The West Park and Ride lot is located immediately adjacent to the bridge. Residents will be able to easily walk from the Park and Ride lot to the pedestrian overpass.
All work is weather permitting. First responders have been notified and have planned staging and procedures in the event of an emergency requiring them to access the work zones.
Please note that the Project is aware of the Akita school bus that heads to Wainiha at 5:20 a.m. Crews will ensure that the bus will be able to cross Waipa Bridge at that time.
More information on the Waipa Bridge and other Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs can be found on the HDOT website at Hawaii Department of Transportation Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs .
Catholic Charities Hawaii Kauai Flood and Disaster Relief
Catholic Charities Hawaii has a Kauai Flood Recovery Program which offers assistance to households struggling to return to sustainability after the April 2018 floods. The deadline to apply is June 7, 2019.
To Apply for Services: Contact Kauai Office at Catholic Charities Hawaii
Triana Baclayon
Phone Number: (808)632-6954
4373 Rice Street, Suite 1 Lihue, HI 96766
Email: triana.baclayon@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
Once again the deadline to apply is June 7, for more information please see attached links below.
Update on the Kūhiō Highway Emergency Repairs
NIGHT WORK AND BRIDGE CLOSURE REMINDER
The Hawaii Department of Transportation reminds the residents of Wainiha and Haena of upcoming night work on the Waipa Bridge on Kuhio Highway (Route 560).
The Project has modified the originally planned convoy schedule for the upcoming night work activities and is working with the Hanalei Colony Resort to provide a shuttle for residents from the West Waipā Park and Ride into Wainiha. Please see updated details below.
The night shuttle service will be available to residents only.
The upcoming night work at Waipa is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 and will continue through Friday, April 19, 2019 according to the following schedule:
Waipa Bridge Night Work (Phase I) – Future phases TBA
Wednesday, April 10 – Friday, April 19 (No work Sunday, April 14)
Work to take place nightly from 7 p.m. (after the last car passes through the convoy) to 5:50 a.m.
Parking areas on either side of Waipa Bridge and pedestrian access will be available for those wanting to cross the bridge during night work hours
Parking areas will be secured at all times
The convoys will run on the regular schedule between Wainiha and Waikoko
The bridge will close to all vehicular traffic after 7 p.m., so any vehicles utilizing the convoy after 7 p.m. will not be able to travel over the Waipā Bridge
Hanalei Colony Resort will run a shuttle for residents between the West Waipā Bridge Park and Ride and Wainiha. Those shuttles will run hourly with the regular convoy schedule.
Convoys will run according to the Monday thru Saturday regular schedule posted at Hawaii Department of Transportation of Convey Schedule with no vehicle access over Waipā Bridge after the 7 p.m. convoy.
The convoy schedule for April 10-13 and April 15-19 in its entirety is:
5:50 AM Wainiha to Waikoko
6:20 AM Waikoko to Wainiha
6:50 AM Wainiha to Waikoko
7:20 AM Waikoko to Wainiha
7:50 AM Wainiha to Waikoko
8:20 AM Waikoko to Wainiha
12:45 PM Wainiha to Waikoko
1:15 PM Waikokoto Wainiha
1:45 PM Wainiha to Waikoko
2:15 PM Waikoko to Wainiha
5:00 PM Wainiha to Waikoko
5:30 PM Waikoko to Wainiha
6:00 PM Wainiha to Waikoko
6:30 PM Waikoko to Wainiha (NOTE: This is the LAST CONVOY where you can drive all the way to Wainiha until the next morning at 6:20 a.m. After this convoy, you will need to leave your car at the Waipa Bridge Park and Ride from where a shuttle will take you to the Waipa Bridge pedestrian bridge overpass.)
7:00 PM Wainiha to Hanalei (NOTE: This is the LAST CONVOY where you can drive all the way to Hanalei until the next morning at 5:50 a.m. Residents needing to go to Hanalei will need to leave their cars at the Waipa Bridge Park and Ride then cross the pedestrian bridge where a shuttle will transport you to the Waipa Bridge Park and Ride.)
7:30 PM Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge Waikoko to Wainiha
8:00 PM Wainiha to Waikoko Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge
8:30 PM Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge Waikoko to Wainiha
9:00 PM Wainiha to Waikoko Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge
9:30 PM Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge Waikoko to Wainiha
10:15 PM Wainiha to Waikoko Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge
11:00 PM Waipa Bridge Park and Ride / Pedestrian Bridge Waikoko to Wainiha
Parking will be available on both the East and West sides of Waipā Bridge. Residents wanting to cross the bridge will need to leave their vehicles in the parking lots and cross Waipā Bridge using the pedestrian overpass. The East Park and Ride lot is located at the contractor's staging area as you approach Waipā on the mauka side of Kuhio Highway. A shuttle will be provided to transport residents from the Park and Ride area to the bridge. The West Park and Ride lot is located immediately adjacent to the bridge. Residents will be able to easily walk from the Park and Ride lot to the pedestrian overpass.
All work is weather permitting. First responders have been notified and have planned staging and procedures in the event of an emergency requiring them to access the work zones.
Please note that the Project is aware of the Akita school bus that heads to Wainiha at 5:20 a.m. Crews will ensure that the bus will be able to cross Waipa Bridge at that time.
More information on the Waipa Bridge and other Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs can be found on the HDOT website at Kuhio Highway Emergency Repairs
Alzheimer's Awareness Day
Thank you to the Alzheimer’s Association for joining us at the State Capitol today to spread awareness.
Left to right: Kathy Wyatt, Sean Verahaagen and Humberto Blanco.
Alzheimer's Association Family Caregiver Training
We are happy to announce that Humberto Blanco, Kauai Program Specialist for the Alzheimer’s Association and Dr. Dennis Pezzato will be offering a new Family Caregiver Training, starting March 22nd and running through June 14th, with two optional bonus workshops, June 21st and 28th. Classes will be held in the Piikoi Building in Lihue on Fridays, 2:00-3:30pm.
“Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia is perhaps one of the biggest challenges a person can face, yet it can be a meaningful and rewarding experience. The Alzheimer’’s Association Family Caregiver Training is designed for non-professional family caregivers. Over the course of 12 sessions and 2 bonus workshops, participants will learn caregiving essentials and participate in guided group discussion and sharing.“
Opening Day - January 16th, 2019
