Hawaii County officials are still trying to salvage the Puna Alternate Route Study after critical state funding quietly lapsed last year.
County Public Works Director Hugh Ono on Thursday reassured a Hawaii County Council committee that a study of possible new traffic routes in and out of Puna can still happen using county funds, despite surprise news last month that state funds allocated in 2023 for that purpose had expired in 2024 without anyone noticing.
Puna Rep. Greggor Ilagan in 2023 helped to secure$1 million in state funds to conduct a study focusing on lands makai of Highway 130. Those funds came with a stipulation that the county contribute another $500,000, bringing the total funding for the study to $1.5 million.
The County Council, however, dallied in accepting those funds in 2023 and 2024, initially rejecting the $1 million out of concern the study was too focused on lands makai of the highway, and could potentially involve Hawaiian home lands. The council eventually passed an amended resolution to accept the state funds, but altered the scope of the project — allowing the study to investigate parcels on both sides of the highway — and increasing the county’s share to $1 million.
That $1 million in county funds is still on the table, even though the state’s $1 million has lapsed, DPW officials assured the council Thursday.
Ono said the loss of the state money is “unforgivable,” and that in all his previous experience with the county, he was unaware of any similar funding lapses.
However, Ono said he is fast-tracking negotiations with a contractor to carry out the study as soon as possible using the county’s $1 million. DPW Engineering Division Chief Keone Thompson said that contract is nearly finalized.
Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz once again pushed back Thursday against blaming the council for the loss of the state funds, where Ilagan had laid the blame when announcing the lapse in February.
She said that in August of 2024 — after the money had already expired — Ilagan had met with then-DPW Director Steve Pause and “didn’t hint about any lapse in funding.”
“But now Greggor points blame solely at the council,” Kierkiewicz said, adding that Ilagan had, during his time on the council between 2012 and 2016, rejected funds for a Puna alternate route study.
Kierkiewicz also noted that both Ilagan and Puna and Ka‘u Rep. Jeanne Kapela, along with state Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen, have signaled their intentions to advocate for amendments in the state budget bill this legislative session to restore the state funds, although those amendments cannot take place until the tail end of the session in May.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
