City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 06/13/14 Traffic Advisory: Lane closures for Honolulu rail transit project

June 13, 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 will be closed overnight for one month Mondays through Fridays between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following morning for utility relocation work. Drivers traveling between East Kapolei and the Ewa/Waipahu region during the overnight closures 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.   Left turns from Farrington Highway in Ewa onto Fort Weaver Road heading northbound will be restricted 24/7 through July for column construction. Eastbound drivers using Farrington Highway will be asked to make a detour up Leoku Street to access Fort Weaver Road through either Leolua or Waipahu streets.   H-1 FREEWAY WAIAWA INTERCHANGE   The two left southbound lanes of the H-2 Freeway near the Waiawa Interchange (H-1/H-2 merge) will be closed overnight from Sunday, June 15 to Thursday, June 19 between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. for column pre-construction work.   WAIPAHU   The westbound lanes of Farrington Highway near Mokuola Street will be closed overnight from Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning for utility work. One westbound lane of Farrington Highway will be closed between Waipahu Depot Road and Aniani Place from Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning for utility work.   PEARL CITY   Two westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes along Kamehameha Highway will be closed between Kuala Street and Puu Poni Street from Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20 between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. for utility relocation and excavation work: Left turns at Puu Momi Street will be restricted after 8 p.m. Lanes along Kamehameha Highway will also be closed during the daytime between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. between Puu Poni Street and Kuleana Road   Two westbound lanes and the eastbound left-turn lanes along Kamehameha Highway between Acacia Road and Waimano Home Road will be closed from Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20 between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. for utility relocation work.   AIEA/ALOHA STADIUM   The left eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway between Hekaha and Kanuku streets near Best Buy will be closed 24 hours a day for test shaft work.   The left eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway between Lipoa Place and Pali Momi Street will be closed 24 hours a day for test shaft work.   The right eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway between the Moanalua Freeway on-ramp and Salt Lake Boulevard will be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week for roadway widening and installation of utility lines for traffic signals. One westbound lane of Kamehameha Highway in the vicinity will be closed from Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20 between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open at all times.   The right southbound shoulder of Aiea Access Road between Moanalua Road and Kamehameha Highway will be closed from Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20 between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. as part of utility work.   AIRPORT/PEARL HARBOR   Overnight lane closures will take place at the Honolulu International Airport from Sunday, June 15 to Thursday, June 19 between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for soil testing: Left eastbound lane of Aolele Street between the Airport Post Office and Aopoko Place   KALIHI   Intermittent lane closures will take place in Kalihi from Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for soil testing: Left lanes of Dillingham Boulevard in both the eastbound and westbound directions between Kalihi Street and Mokauea Street   DOWNTOWN/KAKAAKO   Overnight lane closures will take place in downtown Honolulu at the following locations from Sunday, June 15 to Thursday, June 19 between 8:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. for soil testing: Left lanes of Nimitz Highway in both the eastbound and westbound direction between Sumner Street and Nuuanu Avenue Right westbound lane of Nimitz Highway between Punchbowl Street and the Iwilei exit road   Overnight lane closures will take place at the following locations in Kaka'ako from Sunday, June 15 to Thursday, June 19 between 8:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. for soil testing: Halekauwila Street in both the eastbound and westbound directions between Richards Street and South Street Right westbound lane of Waimanu Street between Pensacola Street and Queen Street Right westbound lane of Kona Street between Piikoi Street and Pensacola Street   Overnight lane closures will take place at the following location in Kaka'ako from Sunday, June 15 to Thursday, June 19 between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. for soil testing: Kona Street in the eastbound or westbound directions between Piikoi Street and Keeaumoku Street   Daytime lane closures will take place at the following location in Kaka'ako from Sunday, June 15 to Thursday, June 19 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for soil testing: Halekauwila Street will be closed to traffic in both the eastbound and westbound directions between Coral Street and Cooke Street   For updates on work days and times, visit the project website at www.honolulutransit.org or contact our hotline at 566-2299.   -END-   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 / 06/13/14 10th anniversary of Honolulu-Uwajima sister-city relationship ceremony

June 13, 2014 Mayor Caldwell's press office: 768-5768   ***TODAY*** 10th anniversary of Honolulu-Uwajima sister-city relationship ceremony   Honolulu – Mayor Kirk Caldwell will host Uwajima Mayor Hirohisa Ishibashi for a ceremony commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Honolulu-Uwajima sister-city relationship.   The ceremony takes place at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Jun 13, 2014, at Mission Memorial Auditorium next to Honolulu Hale.  The public is invited to attend the ceremony and asked to wear aloha attire.    Honolulu became Uwajima's first international sister-city on June 15, 2004, just over three years after the tragic sinking of the Japanese fishing boat the Ehime Maru after it was inadvertently struck by a US Navy submarine.   The sister city program was established in Honolulu more than fifty years ago as a way to establish relationships with international cities based on shared historical and cultural ties and geographic and economic similarities.   -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 06/13/14 Three street events to affect Waikiki and Downtown traffic this weekend

June 13, 2014 Mayor Caldwell's press office: 768-5768   Three street events to affect Waikiki and Downtown traffic this weekend   Honolulu – The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) would like to inform the public about three street events that will affect traffic in Waikiki and Downtown this weekend, Friday evening through Sunday.  Motorists are asked to avoid affected areas at the times indicated below.  Transit riders should contact TheBus website (www.thebus.org) for detours.   Friday: Pan-Pacific Matsuri Waikiki Ho'olaulea   Tomorrow, Friday, June 13, 2014, Kalakaua Avenue from Lewers Street to Kaiulani Avenue will be partially closed beginning at 4:30 p.m. and completely closed from 5:30 p.m. through midnight for the Pan-Pacific Matsuri Waikiki block party.   Saturday: King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade   On Saturday, June 14, 2014, the following streets will be closed for the King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.:   South King Street from Bishop Street to Punchbowl Street. Punchbowl Street from South King Street to Ala Moana Boulevard. Ala Moana Boulevard, makai lanes from Punchbowl Street to Kalakaua Avenue. Kalakaua Avenue from Ala Moana Boulevard to Queen Kapiolani Park.   Intersecting streets along the parade route will also be closed as the parade passes.  Roads will reopen as the parade units clear the area.    Sunday: Pan-Pacific Matsuri Waikiki Parade   On Sunday, June 15, 2014, Kalakaua Avenue from Saratoga Road/Fort DeRussy to Queen Kapiolani Park will be closed from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the Pan-Pacific Matsuri Waikiki Parade.  Intersecting streets along the parade route will also be closed as the parade passes.  Roads will reopen as parade units clear the area.   -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 06/13/14 Traffic Advisory: Sewer Work June 13-17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, June 13, 2014 Media Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV PIO, 768-3454     TRAFFIC ADVISORY:  SEWER WORK IN HONOLULU NEXT WEEK   KAPOLEI – The City's Department of Environmental Services said traffic will be affected next week as construction crews rehabilitate wastewater pipes in and around the Honolulu area.               City contractors will conduct sewer pipe work on the following dates and locations:   June 16 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1813 Republican St / 284 Kokokahi Pl. June 17 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1721 Republican St / 1921 Pacific Heights Rd / 108 Olomana Ln. June 18 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 125 Mokauea St / 1194 Mikole St / 1812 McKinley St. June 19 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1738 Silva St / 755 McNeil St / 1849 Vancouver Pl. June 20 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1904 Kanakanui St. June 16 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  1917 Republican St / 2295 N. King St. June 16-17 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  Kanakanui St & Mokauea St. June 16-18 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  7th Ave & Maunaloa Ave. June 17-20 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  1515-1531 Evelyn St / 1519-1529 Oliver St. June 18-20 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  1804-1824 Kanakanui St. June 19-20 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  629-633 8th Ave. June 16 (Cleaning/CCTV) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  33-39 Holowai Pl / Marques St & Metcalf St / 2235-2271 Halekoa Dr / 1636-1664 Halekoa Pl / 1552-1556 Halekoa Dr. June 17 (Cleaning/CCTV) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  1341 Hoakoa Pl / 3002-3024 Diamond Head Rd / 2969-2987 Kalakaua Ave. June 17-20 (Cleaning/CCTV) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  950-970 Farrington Hwy / 984 Mill St / 910 Niihau St / 114-128 Leihoku St / 345 Kauaopuu St / 356 Hale Elua St / 26 Ala Poko St.   URL:  Sewer Projects Construction Map     -30-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 06/12/14 HART completes 100th column along rail route

June 12, 2014   HART completes 100th column along rail route         The Honolulu rail transit project has completed the first 100 support columns of the planned elevated rail system, HART announced today.   Crews finished work on the 100th column along Kualakai Parkway in East Kapolei this morning. HART expects to have 220 columns up by the end of this year that will support the elevated guideway for the first 10 miles of the rail route.   "The fact that we've gone from 16 completed columns to 100 in less than nine months shows tremendous progress for rail," said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. "We're moving forward and are well on our way to providing a safe, reliable transportation system that will improve the quality of life for our island residents."   "It is good to see construction moving forward and the progress being made," said Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernest Martin. "The ongoing work brings us one step closer to the day when rail will bring much needed traffic relief for our residents and families islandwide."   HART Board Chairman Ivan Lui-Kwan said, "This is a sign of how well we have been working together. Together, we have built 100 columns, about 130 foundations and have just put up the first segments of our guideway. Working together, we will create a rail transit system to better the lives of residents by having them spend less time in traffic and more quality time at home with their families."   Other rail work already underway includes construction of the train maintenance and operations center in Waipahu, and production at a Kalaeloa concrete casting yard of the guideway segments. Guideway installation work is also underway in East Kapolei.   "We're also scheduled to award several major construction contracts later this year, including one for the second half of the rail guideway from Aloha Stadium to Ala Moana Center," HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas said. "Our goal remains to build the highest quality system. And we are on the right path to get the job done."   The first 10 miles of the rail system from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium is expected to open in 2017, with the full 20-mile line ready for service in 2019.   -END-   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 / 06/12/14 People's Open Market expands SNAP/EBT access

June 12, 2014 Contact: Jesse Broder Van Dyke, 768-6928     People's Open Market expands SNAP/EBT access   Honolulu – The City and County of Honolulu's People's Open Market (POM) are accepting SNAP/EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program / Electronic Benefit Transfer) as a method of payment at selected sites on Oahu.   This change will allow SNAP/EBT program participants to conveniently purchase low-cost fresh, locally grown produce using their EBT cards at POM sites located in Waipahu District Park, Wahiawâ District Park, Ewa Beach Community Park, and Kaumuali'i Street.   Department of Parks and Recreation personnel and city officials, including Councilmember Breene Harimoto, who introduced the resolution calling for the new SNAP/EBT system, hosted a launch celebration earlier today at the Waipahu District Park POM.  The event featured giveaways, refreshments, entertainment, and a cooking demonstration.   "The People's Open Market provides residents and visitors with access to fresh, local fruits and vegetables at an affordable price," said Mayor Kirk Caldwell.  "Making it easier for people participating in SNAP/EBT to use their benefits at the market further expands this access to low-cost, nutritious, locally grown produce for 55,000 families in need while supporting Oahu farmers."   Certain POM vendors have accepted SNAP/EBT in the past, but this will be the first time that the market will centrally process EBT transactions, making the process easier for vendors and customers alike.  The time spent processing individual transactions led vendors to not participate in SNAP and discouraged potential customers from buying affordable, nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables.  Similar systems have been successfully implemented at other local farmer's markets.   "This new approach to processing EBT benefits at our People's Open Markets now makes it even easier for low-income families to purchase a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables right in their own neighborhoods," Councilmember Harimoto noted.  "I commend the Department of Parks & Recreation for working collaboratively with state agencies and our health-oriented partners to implement this important program."   For more information, please visit: honolulu.gov/parks/dprpom.    SNAP/EBT customers can now purchase their fresh produce at the following POM locations: Waipahu District Park 94-230 Paiwa Street Tuesdays 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. Wahiawa District Park North Crane & California Avenue Tuesdays 10 – 11 a.m. Ewa Beach Community Park 91-955 North Road Fridays 9 – 10 a.m. Kaumualii Street 700 Kalihi Street Saturdays 8:15 – 9:30 a.m.   -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 06/09/14 Traffic Advisory: Sewer Work June 9-13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, June 9, 2014 Media Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV PIO, 768-3454     TRAFFIC ADVISORY:  SEWER WORK IN HONOLULU NEXT WEEK   KAPOLEI – The City's Department of Environmental Services said traffic will be affected next week as construction crews rehabilitate wastewater pipes in and around the Honolulu area.               City contractors will conduct sewer pipe work on the following dates and locations:   June 9 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 45-279 Kokokahi Pl / 45-202 Kokokahi Pl. June 10 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 125 Puuhale Rd / 803 Kam Hwy (Offstreet) / 120 Sand Island Access Rd / 45-033 Holowai St. June 12 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 180 Sand Island Access Rd / 274 Puuhale Rd. June 13 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1819 Democrat St / 1818 Republican St / 2006 9th Ave. June 9 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  1717 Republican St / Kalihi St & Fernandez St / 1534 Kalihi St. June 9-10 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  200 N. Vineyard Blvd / 260-284 Kalihi St. June 10 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  1913 Republican St / 2295 N. King St. June 12-13 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  1913 Republican St / 2295 N. King St / 4149 Malapua Pl / 1804-1824 Kanakanui St. June 12-13 (Cleaning/CCTV) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  950-970 Farrington Hwy / 984 Mills Blvd / 910 Niihau St / 114-128 Leihoku St / 345 Kauaopuu St / 356 Hale Elua St / 86-026 Ala Poko St.   URL:  Sewer Projects Construction Map     -30-