Current weather
Kaunakakai, HI
- Broken clouds
- Temperature: 73.4 °F
- Wind: East-Northeast, 22.2 km/h, gusts up to 31.5 km/h
- Pressure: 1019 hPa
- Rel. Humidity: 78 %
- Visibility: 16.1 km
Sat, 2010-07-31 21:54
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Transportation
The Road Home
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Newly-paved East Mo`omomi Road in Ho`olehuaFor the six years that Irene Kaahanui has lived on East Mo`omomi Road in Ho`olehua, she has had to maneuver winding ravines carved out from years of flooding just to drive to her house. She dreaded the rain, which would turn the dirt road into a mud pit. “You’d slip and slide,” she remembered.This spring, after decades of lobbying from residents, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) had East Mo`omomi Road paved, replacing its deep ravines with sleek, even pavement. “It’s a joy to drive on the road now,” Kaahanui said.
Add your commentWharf Plans Spark Controversy
Community questions renovations.
The state is moving forward with plans to renovate ferry facilities on Kaunakakai Wharf with a new waiting area, restrooms, sewer main and two water lines to supply water in case of fire, detailed in a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) released last month.According to a Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) spokesperson, the existing facilities are “inadequate to support current and future ferry service operations.” The $4 million project will be paid for with state and federal funds. Construction on the wharf is expected to start in September and last nine months, according to the EA.
Know the Signs
Regulation of campaign signs along the highway.
Department of Transportation News Release With election season coming up, Molokai residents should know the sign rules. Handheld campaign signs or posting within the rights–of-way of freeways is prohibited. Highway maintenance crew will remove without notification any sign other than approved traffic control devices that are erected within a public highway. The signs will be held at the state highways district office. Call the office on each island to make arrangements to pick up the signs.
Kaluapapa Trail Repair Lingering
Mule rides to be closed for several months.
A footbridge damaged by a mudslide on the Kalaupapa pali trail two weeks ago could take up to three months to be permanently fixed – causing further disruption to the settlement’s tourism industry.While switchback bridge No. 3 has been temporarily repaired to provide emergency access for residents and employees, it will remain closed to visitors, hikers and mule rides until a permanent bridge is erected, said National Park Service (NPS) Superintendent Steve Prokop.“We’re working really quickly on getting the permanent bridge installed,” Prokop said. “[It will take] about three months, hopefully less.”NPS closed the trail April 13 after the partially-collapsed bridge was discovered by hikers and rangers.
Bankruptcy won't stop go!Mokulele
Inter-island flyers breathed a sigh of relief last week when they learned that none of go!Mokulele’s regular flights would be grounded after a major shareholder filed for bankruptcy. Last Tuesday, Mesa Air Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New York court. Mesa Chairman and Chief Executive Jonathon Ornstein said it was a move to unload over one-third of their fleet that is currently unused by the company. Chapter 11 filings allow companies to restructure and eliminate debt without liquidating assets.
Off to the Capitol
Washington D.C. is a day of traveling away, but worlds apart from what most Molokai High School students are used to. It has stoplights, an area population in the millions, and museums with artifacts documenting the birth of our nation. But, as these students said, they will have the opportunity to use the nation’s capitol as their classroom to better understand their country.This year, a record number 23 students from Molokai High School are signed up to participate in Close Up, a nonprofit organization that brings U.S. and international students to visit and study in our nation’s capitol. The week-long excursion will be over spring break in 2010.