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| Nīnole Bridge will be replaced on Hwy 11 on the Nā‘ālehu side of Punalu‘u. It will be dismantled. Photo from state Department of Transportation |
REPLACEMENT OF NĪNOLE AND HĪLEA VINTAGE TIMBER BRIDGES on Hwy. 11 near Punalu‘u is expected sometime in 2018. The two wooden bridges, built in 1940, will be demolished and two longer, wider single span bridges will replace them, keeping the existing highway alignment. The funding comes from the Federal Highway Administration and state Department of Transportation.
During the bridge building period, temporary two-way bypass bridges will be constructed alongside the old bridges to keep Hwy. 11 traffic going. Once the old bridges are replaced, temporary bridges will be removed, according to the Final Environmental Assessment written for the project.
Nīnole Bridge is a three-span, wooden timber bridge 60 feet long and 24 feet wide. It straddles Nīnole Stream which runs through Sea Mountain Golf Course. A golf cart path goes under the bridge and the bridge is near residential homes mauka of Punalu‘u and the intersection to both the residential neighborhood and Sea Mountain Resort.
Hīlea Bridge is a two-span, wooden-timber bridge, 41 feet long and 24 feet wide. It is located 1.2 miles southwest of the Alahaki Road and Nīnole Loop road closer to Kāwā and is surrounded by ranch and conservation lands.
The new Hīlea Bridge will be 100 feet long and Nīnole Bridge will be 65 feet long. They will both accommodate two 11-foot travel lanes, with nine-foot shoulders on each side and one-foot, two-inch wide metal guardrails on the approaches.
The EA says both new bridges will improve mobility for highway users and address existing structural deficiencies by strengthening the bridges' foundations and designing their approaches, decks and railings to meet current standards.
According to the EA, the existing bridges fail to meet structural and design standards on state and federal levels. Their carrying capacity is 27 to 28 tons, while the minimum standard is 36 tons. They are also deficient in meeting seismic requirements, says the EA. The railings do not meet standards for "barrier crashworthiness," to withstand a car or light truck traveling 62 mph, the EA reports.
The EA also says there will be a minimum and temporary affect on wildlife.
Read the Environmental Assessment at
flh.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/hi/hilea/files/hilea-ninole-ea.pdf.
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| Nīnole Bridge replacement will be at the existing old timber bridge site. A temporary bridge on the side will handle traffic during construction. Photo from state Department of Transportation |
Nīnole Bridge is a three-span, wooden timber bridge 60 feet long and 24 feet wide. It straddles Nīnole Stream which runs through Sea Mountain Golf Course. A golf cart path goes under the bridge and the bridge is near residential homes mauka of Punalu‘u and the intersection to both the residential neighborhood and Sea Mountain Resort.
Hīlea Bridge is a two-span, wooden-timber bridge, 41 feet long and 24 feet wide. It is located 1.2 miles southwest of the Alahaki Road and Nīnole Loop road closer to Kāwā and is surrounded by ranch and conservation lands.
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| Hīlea Bridge replacement will be at the existing old timber bridge site. A temporary bridge on the side will handle traffic during construction. Photo from state Department of Transportation |
The EA says both new bridges will improve mobility for highway users and address existing structural deficiencies by strengthening the bridges' foundations and designing their approaches, decks and railings to meet current standards.
According to the EA, the existing bridges fail to meet structural and design standards on state and federal levels. Their carrying capacity is 27 to 28 tons, while the minimum standard is 36 tons. They are also deficient in meeting seismic requirements, says the EA. The railings do not meet standards for "barrier crashworthiness," to withstand a car or light truck traveling 62 mph, the EA reports.
The EA also says there will be a minimum and temporary affect on wildlife.
Read the Environmental Assessment at
flh.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/hi/hilea/files/hilea-ninole-ea.pdf.
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FILIPINO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND GOV. DAVID IGE left today for Manila and other provinces. The goodwill and trade mission from Oct. 14 through the 22 includes about 50 Hawai‘i business and community leaders who will tour Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Cebu.
Philippines Counsul General to Honolulu Gina Jamoralin said, “The Governor’s visit to the Philippines, and his signing into law of HB 604, Sakada Day Bill in 2015, which commemorates the arrival of the first Filipino sakadas in Hawai‘i on 20 December 1906, is indicative of Hawai‘i’s recognition of the Filipinos’ significant contribution to the development of Hawai‘i, and the special kind of friendship that the Philippines and Hawai‘i share.”
While in the Philippines, Ige will lead a variety of meetings with local government, business and community members, as well as participate in cultural events, tours, activities and ceremonies. Among the events is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the State of Hawai‘i and the League of Provinces, establishing Sister State relationships with several provinces in the Philippines. The governor will also take part in a wreath laying ceremony at Rizal Park and visit the University of the Philippines.
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| Gov. David Ige, First Lady of Hawai‘i Dawn Amano Ige, Philippine Consul general to Honolulu Gina A. Jamoralin and President of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce Brandon Dele Cruz left today for a trade mission to the Philippines. Photos from the Philippines Consulate General in Honolulu |
First Lady Dawn Amano Ige will join the governor for various events and ceremonies. She will also visit Pitogo Elementary School and a Consuelo Foundation orphanage.
One staff member will be traveling with the governor and first lady. The total cost of the trip is estimated at $8,900, reports the governor's office.
Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will serve as acting governor until Ige returns to Hawai‘i on Oct. 22.
KA‘Ū HIGH SCHOOL TROJANS varsity girls volleyball hosted Honoka‘a Friday night at the Ka‘ū District Gym. Trojans scored more total points than Honoka‘a, under coach Josh Ortega, but Honoka‘a won three of the four sets to take the match. Scores for the Trojans versus the Dragons were 21-25, 22-25, 25-13 and 23-25. There was no jayvee match.
KA‘Ū HIGH SCHOOL TROJANS varsity girls volleyball hosted Honoka‘a Friday night at the Ka‘ū District Gym. Trojans scored more total points than Honoka‘a, under coach Josh Ortega, but Honoka‘a won three of the four sets to take the match. Scores for the Trojans versus the Dragons were 21-25, 22-25, 25-13 and 23-25. There was no jayvee match.
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| Pick up the October edition of The Ka'ū Calendar delivered free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka'ū, from Miloli'i through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout the district. See it online now at kaucalendar.com |
UPCOMING FALL TROJAN SPORTS:
Cheerleading
Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Kamehameha.
Eight-Man Football
Saturday, Oct. 21, Ka'ū vs. Pāhoa, home.
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EXPLORE HUMAN HISTORY on a three-hour guided moderate two-mile hike called People and Land of Kahuku. It loops through varied landscapes in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Sunday, Oct. 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Emerging native forests, pastures, lava fields, and other sites hold clues about ways people have lived and worked on the vast Kahuku lands– from the earliest Hawaiians, through generations of ranching families, to the current staff and volunteers of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The hike is also offered on Nov. 19 and Dec. 17.
LEARN ABOUT KA‘Ū DESERT’S FOOTPRINTS IN THE ASH with Park Ranger Jay Robinson during Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium.
Hawaiians traversed Kīlauea on foot between Puna and Ka‘ū. During the 18th century, explosions from the volcano rained volcanic ash down on the people, preserving their footprints in the sands of “Keonehelelei.” Robinson will discuss new interpretive displays in the Ka‘ū Desert and explain what is known today about the impact of these explosive eruptions on native society. The event is free, park entrance fees apply.
A FREE CONCERT FEATURING NĀ HŌKŪ HANOHANO WINNER MARK YAMANAKA will be at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Yamanaka has been awarded multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards since his first album, Lei Puakenikeni. His Lei Maile also received critical acclaim. This event is part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing Nā Leo Manu “Heavenly Voices” presentations. Park entrance fees may apply.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD meets Wednesday, Oct. 18, starting at noon, in the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033.
INPUT FOR THE FUTURE OF HAWAI‘I COUNTY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, including the Hele On Bus that takes many Ka‘ū residents to work, school and shopping, is invited at meetings outside Ka‘ū. Those unable to attend may contact Ka‘ū's County Council member Maile David at maile.david@hawaiicounty.gov or email the consultants at heleonsuggestions@ssfm.com.
Meetings are 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 19, at Waimea Elementary School and Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Lu‘au Hale in Hilo.
Fr more, call 808-356-1260.
HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū MEETS THURSDAY, Oct. 19, at 5:30 p.m. For more, call 929-9731 or 936-7262.
TROPICAL FRUIT YIELDS will be discussed at a co-meeting of Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers and Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, Thursday, Oct. 19, at 81-6393 Mamalahoa Hwy in Captain Cook. Guest speaker Peter Salleras, of Queensland, Australia, will discuss Tatura trellis in Hawai‘i and Bush Tucker native fruits of Australia. Hawai‘i Farmers United state President Vince Mina reports on the recent state convention and legislative outlook. The potluck dinner meeting starts at 5 p.m. For more, contact Brian Lievens, President West Hawai‘i Chapter, 808-895-8753, greenwizard@hawaii.rr.com; or Ken Love, Executive Director, 808-323-2417, kenlove@hawaiiantel.net. Learn more about Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers at: facebook.com/group.phpgid=127197321932&ref=mf, hawaiitropicalfruitgrowers.org and hawaiifruit.net.
TAI CHI FOR HEALTH will be presented this Friday, Oct. 20, at the Ka‘ū District Gym, with Dr. Myrtle Miyamera, from 10 a.m. to noon, sponsored by Ka‘ū Resource Center and Pāhala Parks & Recreation.
EXPERIENCE THE SKILLFUL WORK, ‘IKE HANA NO‘EAU, Hawaiian cultural demonstrations will be given the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the third Friday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. The upcoming event will be Friday, Oct. 20, with programs also scheduled for Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. This event is free.
CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION IS OFFERING EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.
The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.
