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NOTES FROM SPECIAL WAI`ANAE / MAKAHA MEETING
Date:June 30, 2003
This memo generally summarizes the WCEAR Special Wai`anae/Makaha Meeting, held Wednesday, June 25th at 7:00 pm at the Wai`anae District Park Multi-Purpose Room. Approximately 30 people attended the meeting.
1. Greeting/Opening - Mike Oshiro with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS) opened the meeting and introduced the project team including himself and Darin Mar of DTS, David Bills of Gray, Hong Bills, Nojima & Associates, and Sherri Hiraoka from Townscape, Inc. Mr. Oshiro then provided an update of the entire project. Four roadway segments have already gone out to bid: the Nanakuli Makai Roadway Improvements, Pakeke Street/Hakimo Road Connector, Helelua Place Extension, and Pa`akea Road Improvement.
2. Purpose of the Meeting - Mr. Bills informed the residents that the exact alignment of the Mahina`au Road Extension and the Kaulawaha Road Improvements are still being resolved. There are still archaeological, cultural, and property owner issues that must be settled before the alignment is set. This meeting is to determine whether these roadways will be used only during emergency situations or remain permanently open to traffic once the alignment is determined.
3. Discussion - Facilitated by Mr. Bills
Another resident said that both roadway segments should have the same status (open or emergency only) because of the impact that it would have on side streets.
The makai portion of Makaha Valley Road floods so the Kaulawaha Road Improvements should be kept open to the public.
John White, representing WU-Waianae, one of the landowners that would be affected by these two roadway segments, advocated a permanently open status for both segments to facilitate travel around Farrington Highway and to reduce the potential for dumping, vandalism, and other delinquent acts.
Residents of the area expressed concern that crime and vandalism would increase if traffic is continuous. Also of concern was the safety of the children that play in the residential areas. They do not believe that continuous access will eliminate dumping since Mahina`au Road is currently a through street and dumping still occurs. They do not want to see their quality of life impacted by this project.
One property owner had concerns regarding the current proposed alignment because it will cut into his property more than what was originally proposed. Mr. Bills assured him that the alignment is not definite and that the City will work together with all affected property owners and parties to ensure that an agreeable situation can be worked out.
A citizen asked what other sections of the project will be open permanently. Mr. Bills responded that according to input from the community, only one segment was designated as a permanently open segment so far: the Pa`akea Road Improvement. All of the other segments will be open only during emergency situations. If the Mahina`au Road Extension and the Kaulawaha Road Improvements are determined to be open permanently, they will be equipped with overhead street lighting and will look similar to Makaha Valley Road.
Mr. Bills informed the group that no matter what is decided now, the community could still get together at a later date, evaluate the situation, and change the status of the road. The only problem would be that if the roads are designed to be emergency use only, the City will not install lighting. Lighting would have to be installed if the status of the road is later changed to permanently open.
A resident asked if traffic would increase in the surrounding areas if the new roads were permanently open. Mr. Bills speculated that primary traffic would likely use the new segments because they will be in better condition than the existing streets. The resident suspected that traffic wouldn't increase because Farrington Highway is still the "straightest line" and this road would not generate new traffic.
The Makaha Ahupua`a has discussed this issue and has taken the position that a permanently open road will deter crime because traffic and lighting would increase the likelihood that criminal acts would be observed. Additionally, the new roads could provide a safer route for children to get to Kamaile Elementary School. Some residents disagreed with this position. Lights will not deter all crime; for example, ice addicts will commit crimes regardless of setting. Additionally, even if the roads are permanently open, there are no houses and therefore no one to monitor the road and watch for criminal behavior.
A landowner expressed concern over the time it would take to resolve the archaeology issues in the area. Mr. Oshiro responded that the City is working with the State Historic Preservation Division, as well as local groups, to determine an acceptable alignment. He will contact their lawyer to ensure that this project impacts their private interests as little as possible.
A comment was made that most of the residents believed that the issue of access on these roads was determined already; that's why not many people attended this meeting. Mr. Bills responded that discussions have occurred at previous community meetings regarding the status of these two roadway segments but it was never resolved.
When asked, roughly half of the attendees expressed a desire to keep the roadway segments permanently open, and half wanted to keep the roadways closed except during emergencies. Mr. Bills offered additional options for the residents to consider: Streetlight poles could be installed even if the roadways are not permanently open. In this scenario, the lights would not be connected to power. A future decision to open the road to permanent traffic would then require electrical connections.
A resident raised the point that there is no lighting in the area anyway, so installing street lights may not even be necessary. Mr. Bills responded that he and the City are required to follow certain design and safety guidelines, including lighting for permanently open roads.
The question was raised that if the roads are designated emergency use only, who would
maintain the roads so they would be usable when needed. Also, who would be responsible for
opening the road? Mr. Bills responded that he has been working on an operational plan with the
Police Department, Fire Department, Emergency Services Department, and local Civil Defense
Office. The local Police Department will be responsible for opening the roads when it is necessary.
The residents then asked if the road can be re-aligned to avoid the Mahina`au Road-Kaulawaha Road intersection. Mr. Bills said that this option was explored and rejected during earlier community workshops. It may be difficult to find such an alignment because the likelihood of archaeological sites increases the further mauka the road goes. However, if the community is now agreeable to this possibility, he will try to develop this alternative. The landowner's representative said that while he cannot commit to this option, he would recommend it to his client, especially if it would mean that the community would agree to keep the roadway permanently open.
There was still a concern that this roadway would increase traffic on Kaulawaha Road. Mr. Bills said that although this road could avoid the Mahina`au-Kaulawaha intersection, it would still have to connect to Kaulawaha Road eventually. The meeting participants generally agreed that if this new alignment could be designed to accommodate archaeological, cultural, and landowner concerns, that they would be agreeable to keeping it permanently open.
4. Closing - Mr. Bills reiterated that he would recommend to the DTS that they pursue realigning the Mahina`au-Kaulawaha roadway segments to avoid the Mahina`au-Kaulawaha intersection. If all issues can be worked out, this roadway segment will be kept permanently open. Mr. Bills thanked everyone for attending and participating in this process. The notes from this meeting will be posted on the project website.
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