The Laupahoehoe Boat Ramp will receive its long-awaited funding for repairs, according to Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina.
“The finance director and the mayor have given approval to fund the boat ramp repair. That is a big, big deal for us,” Messina told a cheering crowd at the Laupahoehoe Point Gym on Thursday night. “The good thing is, the company Sea Engineering, who, maybe a decade ago started a contract with us, are willing to take back up that contract.”
Initial steps will include getting rid of the rebar there, which Messina said will be a “fast-tracked” process.
“The director of finance is working with us for emergency procurement, because we’ve got to get that done as soon as possible,” Messina said. “We will let you know what our progress is and how we’re moving along with that, and then we’re going to come out and talk with the community about what we’re looking to do out there.”
Messina did not say how much the boat ramp repairs would cost.
Roughly 70 community members came to the town hall event hosted by Mayor Mitch Roth, who was joined by 11 county directors and officials from various departments.
“I really want to thank (Department of Finance director) Deanna Sako, because we asked about the boat ramp, and she said we’ll take out some bond funding, we’ll find money,” Roth added.
Messina also announced the reopening of the Laupahoehoe pool, slated for next month.
“We were able to hire a new lifeguard who comes on August 16, and then we are going to have an opening day of Sept. 1,” Messina said, noting the pool’s hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, with an hour break for cleanup during the day.
Additional concerns brought up by residents ranged from housing issues to maintenance requests and assurance that access to Laupahoehoe Point will continue, because the road is in need of repairs.
“It is falling into the ocean, and we really need to pay attention to it,” said longtime resident Lucille Chung. “We’re going to need federal funding, not just county or state money, because this is going to take a lot.”
Director of Public works Steve Pause assured her the county is looking into the situation, but did not have any definitive updates Thursday.
“You folks are aware of the challenges we are going through with Waipio road,” he told the crowd. “We are learning a lot there when it comes to maintenance and what types of practices are important for safety.”
Another community member addressed the ongoing need for affordable housing, both at the low-income level and for the middle class.
Housing Administrator Susan Kunz said that several Big Island projects already are underway, with Roth adding the county has approximately 6,300 housing units in its pipeline.
“This year, we’re going to be managing close to $60 million worth of funds coming to our office,” Kunz said. “In ‘O‘okala, we are working on a county project where we’re looking at 30 lots, probably either to do single-family homes or finished vacant lots. We haven’t really determined what the total strategy is going to be, but that should be coming out next year sometime.”
Kunz also mentioned a private development project, known as Lehua Village, which would create 40 lots out in the Honokaa area, with 20 designated as market housing and 20 as affordable.
“The governor’s housing emergency proclamation is focusing on housing for all, not just low-income affordable housing,” Kunz added. “You see a lot of indicators statewide and from the federal government as well trying to focus on that workforce housing.”
The ongoing fires on Maui also were discussed, and Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno noted a hazard map is available on the county website for updates during emergencies.
The map can be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/3zezwt2w.
Magno added Civil Defense is growing by two more positions this year, which will include a website specialist dedicated to hazard map updates.
Fire Chief Kazuo Todd added the Laupahoehoe area will be getting a new brush fire truck and new uniforms, along with several additional staff members.
“We don’t have great response times, because we’re so spread out,” Todd said of the Hawaii Fire Department. “So, our ability to self-defend by keeping our gutters clear of trash and debris and understanding our local dynamic is more critical than ever.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
