City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 01/24/14 Traffic Advisory: Lane closures for Honolulu rail transit project

January 24, 2014   Traffic Advisory: Lane closures for Honolulu rail transit project   The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) would like to inform drivers about lane closures next week related to design and construction work for the Honolulu rail transit project. Motorists are advised that work along the 20-mile rail route from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center will require lane closures during non-peak traffic hours.   For the safety of both the work crews and motorists, the public is advised to proceed with caution through these areas. Drivers should anticipate possible traffic delays or use alternate routes during work hours, and provide a safe distance between their vehicles and workers and equipment:   EWA   Farrington Highway between Kualakai Parkway (North-South Road) and Old Fort Weaver Road is closed in both directions until April for utility relocation and column work for the elevated rail guideway. The 24/7 road closure allows work crews to safely relocate major utility lines along a narrow two-lane stretch of Farrington Highway, just west of the Kahi Mohala Behavioral Center. Drivers traveling between East Kapolei and the Ewa/Waipahu region will still be able to use either the H-1 Freeway on the north end of Kualakai Parkway, or Kapolei Parkway on the south end.   The inside east- and westbound lanes of Farrington Highway near the Kunia Road overpass will be closed from Sunday, January 26 to Thursday, January 30 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. for utility relocation work.   The westbound left-turn lane of Farrington Highway onto the Fort Weaver Road southbound ramp will be closed overnight from Sunday, January 26 to Thursday, January 30 between 7 p.m. and 3 p.m. the following afternoon. Special duty police officers will direct motorists along a short detour to Fort Weaver Road.   WAIPAHU   One eastbound lane of Farrington Highway fronting Waipahu High School near Kahualii Street will be closed overnight from Sunday, January 26 to Thursday, January 30 between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.   PEARL CITY   Overnight lane closures will take place along Kamehameha Highway between Waimano Home Road and Kuala Street from Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31 between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for utility relocation work: Two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway, including the left-turn lane into Home Depot, will be closed during those hours.   Overnight lane closures will take place along Kamehameha Highway between Kuleana Road and Puu Poni Street near the HECO-Waiau power plant from Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31 between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. for utility relocation work: One westbound lane of Kamehameha Highway will be open during the work. Westbound traffic will be diverted to a temporary lane along Kamehameha Highway during the closure. Westbound left turns from Kamehameha Highway into the HECO Waiau power plant, along with U-turns, will also be restricted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.   AIEA   Lane closures will take place at the following locations near Aloha Stadium for drill shaft test work: The inside lane of the H-1/Moanalua Freeway on-ramp along Kamehameha Highway from Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31 between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., and between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. The Moanalua Freeway on-ramp will also be closed overnight from Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31 between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.   Lane closures will take place along Kamehameha Highway between Hekaha and Kanuku streets near Best Buy for drill shaft test work: The inside eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway between Hekaha and Kanuku streets and the eastbound left-turn lane at the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and Kanuku Street will be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week until mid-March: Two westbound lanes and an additional eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway in the same vicinity will be closed overnight from Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31 between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. One westbound lane of Kamehameha Highway in the same area will also be closed during the day from Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31 between 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.   KALIHI   Lane closures will take place at the following locations from Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for soil testing: Left lanes of Kamehameha Highway in both the eastbound and westbound directions between Middle Street and Mokauea Street Right eastbound lanes of Kaaahi Street between Dillingham Boulevard and Kaaahi Place   KAKA'AKO Lane closures will take place at the following locations from Monday, January 27 to Friday, January 31 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for soil testing: Shoulder/parking lanes on both sides of Halekauwila Street between Richards Street and South Street Right westbound shoulder/parking lane of Halekauwila Street between Coral Street and South Street   For updates on work days and times, visit the project website at www.honolulutransit.org or contact our hotline at 566-2299.   ###   Media Contact: Scott Ishikawa. (808) 768-6172. cell: (808) 227-2350.

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 01/24/14 Koko Head Shooting Complex to reopen following rifle range remediation

Friday, January 24, 2014 Contact:  Toni Robinson, 768-3001               Jay Parasco, Mayor Caldwell's Office, 768-4370   Koko Head Shooting Complex to reopen following rifle range remediation   Hawaii Kai – The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced today that remediation work performed at the Koko Head Shooting Complex rifle range is nearing completion and the facility will reopen at 8 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, January 25.  Total closure of the shooting complex was required in order to safely perform the construction work on the rifle range.   The rifle range was closed on December 7, 2013 after reports of stray bullets in the surrounding community.  The entire shooting complex was closed on January 13, 2014 to safely complete the remediation work at the rifle range.   Mayor Kirk Caldwell expedited construction in order to reopen the complex as soon as safely possible.  The remediation measures included rebuilding of the "backstop" behind the targets and the construction of an "eyebrow" to address ricochets and inadvertent shots.   To rebuild the backstop, the city used sand which had previously been dredged from under a bridge over the Ka'elepulu Stream in Kailua Beach Park.  The remediation work cost the city a total of $94,140.00 and took 10 working days to complete.   On April 3, 2013, Mayor Caldwell extended hours at the shooting complex to Wednesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m., and weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The range is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, unless that day is a holiday.   "We'd like to thank the shooting community for their understanding, patience and support while the facility was closed for construction," said Toni Robinson, DPR Director.  "The remediation provides them with a safer, cleaner facility to enjoy for years to come."   -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 01/24/14 Honolulu Affordable Housing Preservation Initiative sale terminated

January 24, 2014 Contact: Georgette Deemer – 782-9228   Honolulu Affordable Housing Preservation Initiative sale terminated   Honolulu - City Managing Director Ember Shinn tonight announced that the transaction between the City and County of Honolulu and Honolulu Affordable Housing Partners, LLC (HAHP LLC) for the leasehold sale of 12 affordable housing properties included in the Honolulu Affordable Housing Preservation Initiative (HAHPI) has been terminated. In an email to the Honolulu City Council sent this evening, Managing Director Shinn advised that HAHP LLC, the proposed buyer of the HAHPI properties, terminated the transaction by letter dated and received today, January 23rd. "We are extremely disappointed that Honolulu Affordable Housing Partners LLC was unable to satisfy the City's requirements for the seller-financing requested by HAHP LLC, and to develop a workable solution in order to close by the deadline," said Shinn.  "The City is most concerned about the impact to its Housing First initiative, which would develop much needed housing for the chronic homeless population, and to the housing properties included in the HAHPI, which would have benefitted from improvements at those properties." Yesterday, the administration filed a proposed ordinance seeking approval for a new Request for Proposals (RFP) to lease the HAHPI properties.  The City intends to move forward as expeditiously as possible to secure a buyer for these properties.   Letter dated January 23, 2014 terminating the transaction here Letter dated January 16, 2014 outlining the City's specific terms for inclusion in the buyer's proposal for seller financing here Email from MD Shinn to Honolulu City Council here  - END -

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 01/22/14 High surf hazard continues for Oahu

January 22, 2014 Contact: John M Cummings III, Public Information Officer - 808-723-8938   High surf hazard continues for Oahu   Honolulu — The long duration hazardous high surf anticipated by the National Weather Service began impacting Oahu this morning.  Surf along north and west shores remain hazardous to swimmers, beach goers and residents living on the shoreline.   As of noon today all coastal roads were open and passable.  Waimea Bay will remain closed today as Ocean Safety lifeguards have reported that the surf has run up onto the beach and into the parking lot and has undermined several large trees.  The closure at Waimea Bay will likely extend through Thursday.   The National Weather Service advised the Department of Emergency Management that the largest swells are building and impacting now.  Those effects will continue throughout the afternoon and extend into the next rising tide later this evening.  No significant change in the swell has been seen and high wave heights are still expected to reach the 40-50 foot range on the North Shore.   Meanwhile, lifeguards at Makaha reported wave heights in the 12-15 foot range and that Waianae Boat Harbor is impassable at this time. Lifeguards also reported that Haleiwa Boat Harbor and Ali'i Beach Park are also closed.   Residents and visitors transiting along coastal roads and highways should be careful of sand and seawater that may wash across the road.  All beachgoers along affected shorelines need to exercise extreme caution, do not enter the water or go near the ocean and heed all warnings from Ocean Safety Lifeguards and emergency personnel.  If you have a high surf related emergency call 9-1-1 immediately.   To receive emergency information by email or cell phone text message from the Department of Emergency Management, Honolulu Police Department and the Board of Water Supply sign up for Nixle alerts at www.nixle.com/dem.   -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 01/22/14 Hazardous Oahu high surf expected tomorrow thru Friday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 21, 2014 Contact: John M Cummings III, Public Information Officer - 808-723-8938   Hazardous Oahu high surf expected tomorrow thru Friday Honolulu — The National Weather Service has issued a High Surf Warning effective midnight tonight thru 6:00 a.m. Friday.  The largest swells of this event are expected to arrive tomorrow mid-morning with 40-50 foot wave heights on the North Shore and 20-30 foot on Leeward coast areas. "The National Weather Service has told us that this is a once in a ten-year period high surf event.  What increases the hazard is the forecasted wave heights in combination with the long duration these swells will be impacting our shorelines." said Melvin Kaku, director for the Department of Emergency Management.  "The long duration means that ocean waters will pile up in the surf zone allowing the larger waves to impact further into beach areas. This battering effect can cause increased shoreline erosion and damage to homes and infrastructure as well as blocking coastal highways with sand, debris and water." said Kaku. The department will be conducting a meeting with city administration, first responders, and city departments as well as the American Red Cross to coordinate emergency response activities.  In addition Emergency Management Reserve Corps Volunteers will be alerting residents as well as homeless families along affected shorelines later this afternoon.  Homeless service providers active on the Leeward and North Shore have also been notified. Residents and visitors transiting along coastal roads and highways should be careful of sand and seawater that may wash across the road.  All beachgoers along affected shorelines need to exercise extreme caution, do not enter the water or go near the ocean and heed all warnings from Ocean Safety Lifeguards and emergency personnel.  If you have a high surf related emergency call 9-1-1 immediately. To receive emergency information by email or cell phone text message from the Department of Emergency Management sign up for Nixle alerts at www.nixle.com/dem.  -END-