City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 09/04/14 South Beretania Street rehabilitation project to begin next week

September 04, 2014 Contact:  Mayor Caldwell's press office, 768-5768 (Jesse Broder Van Dyke mobile: 489-0341)   ***TRAFFIC ADVISORY*** South Beretania Street rehabilitation project to begin next week   Honolulu – Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced that the city's Beretania Street resurfacing project will begin Monday and advised drivers to take alternate streets.    This Beretania project is "full-depth reconstruction," meaning crews need to dig deeper than most resurfacing projects to ensure the repairs last.  The project will take longer to complete, but then it will last longer.    The road construction is scheduled to begin this Monday, September 8 and be completed before November 2015.    The project includes pavement milling, removal of underlying concrete pavement, reconstruction of curbs, gutters and driveways, construction of new curb ramps, and the installation of concrete bus pads.   The Department of Design and Construction has contracted Road and Highway Builders, LLC to perform reconstruction and resurfacing of the asphalt roadway of South Beretania Street, from University Avenue to Alapa'i Street.    Work will begin on the University end of Beretania and work towards town. Some lane closures will be in effect 24/7, including the concrete bus pads that need to harden.    The contractor has a noise variance permit from the city and the State Department of Health to work in certain areas between the hours of 7 a.m. and midnight in order to complete the project faster.  Most work will happen Monday to Friday, but some work at major intersections may occur over the weekend.    For any issues or concerns during Beretania Street construction, please call the project hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 945-1000.   On-street parking will be prohibited at times during the project.  Please observe and obey all traffic control devices and special duty officers.    Motorists are advised to take alternate routes, such as Kapiolani Boulevard, Ala Moana Boulevard, Young Street, and other surface streets and allow for extra time.    When resurfacing is completed, a new bike lane will be added onto Beretania Street.   Making Honolulu a bicycle-friendly city through the installation of bike infrastructure and the establishment of a bikeshare program, which is scheduled to be operational late next year, has been a major priority for Mayor Caldwell.  Bike lanes or sharrows were added on both sides of Waialae Avenue when it was resurfaced this year and construction of Oahu's first off-grade bike path on King Street begins next week. The newly reopened Ala Wai Walking Path also features a bike path.   The $9.44 million Beretania Street resurfacing project is part of Mayor Caldwell's ambitious road repaving agenda.  Beretania is among the 1,500 lane miles of city owned roadway that were found to be substandard and cause wear and tear on vehicles in a survey conducted in 2012.    In 2013, Mayor Caldwell's first year in office, the city paved a record 398 lane miles of roads across O'ahu. So far this year, the city has paved 247 lane miles. The Beretania Street project will add an additional 13 lane miles.    The other half of Beretania Street, from Alapa'i Street to King Street, was paved from 2006-2007.    To view the full schedule of upcoming and completed city road paving projects, please visit honolulu.gov and click "Road Repaving Update"   -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 09/03/14 Mayor Caldwell appoints Robert Kroning to be Design and Construction Director

September 3, 2014 Contact: Mayor Caldwell's press office, 768-5768   Mayor Caldwell appoints Robert Kroning to be Design and Construction Director       Honolulu – Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced his nomination of Robert Kroning to serve as the new Director of the Department of Design and Construction. Kroning started today as Director-designate, pending approval of the Honolulu City Council.   "I initially came to Hawaii in 2005 to work for the US Army Corps of Engineers," said Robert Kroning, "I immediately discovered what a special place it is: the aloha spirit, the strong sense of ohana, and of course, the remarkable natural beauty. It's these characteristics that drew me to join the City and County of Honolulu where I am looking forward to working with great people whose goal it is to make Oahu an even better place for all."   Robert Kroning has 24 years of experience working as a US Army Engineer Officer, where he was responsible for leading soldiers, officers and civilians in a wide variety of engineering management and military planning activities. He moved to Hawaii in 2005 where he served as the Chief of Facilities and Construction in the Pacific branch of the US Army, successfully developing the over $1 billion Military Construction Program for the Department of Defense Future Years Defense Program. Kroning also has served as the Deputy District Commander for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Honolulu. After the Kauai dam breach tragedy, Kroning coordinated and oversaw the Corps of Engineers technical inspection of all other dams in Hawaii to ensure their safety.   Kroning earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and has a Masters in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.   - END -

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 09/02/14 Mayor Caldwell names city's Employee and Manager of the Year

Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Contact: Mayor Caldwell's press office, 768-5768   Mayor Caldwell names city's Employee and Manager of the Year   Honolulu – Mayor Kirk Caldwell has announced the individuals selected as Employee of the Year and Manager of the Year for the City and County of Honolulu.  Metropolitan Police Detective Eric Yosemori of the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) was named the city's Employee of the Year for 2014, and Program Administrator Erwin Kawata of the Board of Water Supply (BWS) was named Manager of the Year.   The announcement was made Friday, August 29, as part of the 2014 Mayor's Awards Program, held at the Mission Memorial Auditorium, located at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center.   Yosemori was honored for superior and sustained performance in his position at the Career Center within HPD's Human Resources Division, where he is currently assigned.  Yosemori was recognized for his strong work ethic and selfless attitude, his efforts to support the processing of a large number of new hires, and for his significant contributions to facilitating a reorganization initiative within the Division.  In May 2014, the HPD named Yosemori as its Detective of the Year.   Kawata, the Program Administrator of the BWS's Water Quality Division, was recognized for his long-time leadership, innovation, and comprehensive commitment to ensuring the integrity of Oahu's supply of clean water, and for his championship of transparency related to testing, reporting, and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.  Additionally, Kawata was honored for his leadership in responding to concerns related to a fuel leak from the U.S. Navy's Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility, shutting down nearby water sources and implementing a robust program to sample and test the wells for potential contamination.   Honolulu Police Officers Thomas H. Chang, Pio Faamatau, Kenneth R. Fontes, Jr., Edmund H. K. L. Ho, Stephen J. Kardash, Walter P. Kuper, Jr., Grant T. Mochizuki, Kaimanu J. Pine, William N. Vinton, and Aaron K. Watanabe received the prestigious Valor Award.   Kristilyn K. Kam of the city's Department of Information Technology received the Exceptional Achievement Award.   Ernest H. Nomura was named Outstanding Deputy Corporation Counsel and Scott K. Bell was named Outstanding Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.   The Citizen's Selection Committee, which selects the winners, was composed of Mr. Robert Nobriga, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, The Queens Health Systems, and Mr. Glenn Yamashita, Vice President, Finance, Honolulu Cookie Company.      -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 09/02/14 Emergency Kalia Road and Lewers Street box drain repair

Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Contact: Maeda Timson, Public Information Officer, 768-8445     Emergency Kalia Road and Lewers Street box drain repair   Waikîkî – The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Design and Construction will begin work on an emergency box drain project in mid-September that will impact roadways and traffic in Waikîkî.   A portion of Lewers Street, between Don Ho Street and Kalia Road; and a portion of Kalia Road, between Lewers Street and Saratoga Road, will be closed Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm beginning September 15, 2014.  The project construction schedule is planned to be in four (4) phases starting on Lewers Street (near Don Ho Street) and ending at Kalia Road (near Saratoga Road).  A summary of each construction phase scheduling is provided below and will be updated weekly or as new information becomes available.  Duration of the project is September 2014 to February 2015.   ¨                                   Phase 1 Construction – The Lewers Street right lane will be closed between Don Ho Street and Helumoa Road.  Duration of this phase is anticipated to be from September 15, 2014 to October 27, 2014.    ¨                                   Phase 2 Construction – Lewers Street will be closed entirely between Helumoa Road and Kalia Road. Loading/unloading zones fronting the Imperial Resort will be closed.  Alternative loading/unloading zones can either be used along Beach Walk or at designated areas along Saratoga Road (makai bound).  Duration of this phase is anticipated to be from October 27, 2014 to December 1, 2014.   ¨                                   Phase 3 Construction – The Kalia Road left lane will be closed between Lewers Street and Beach Walk.  Duration of this phase is anticipated to be from December 1, 2014 to January 5, 2015.   ¨                                   Phase 4 Construction – The Kalia Road left lane will be closed between Beach Walk and Saratoga Road.  Duration of this phase is anticipated to be from January 5, 2015 to February 9, 2015.   Motorists are encouraged to avoid these segments of Lewers Street and Kalia Road during construction and to use alternative travel routes to reach their destinations.  Motorist should stay alert for police officers guiding traffic, lane restrictions, detours, changing traffic patterns, and moving construction equipment, vehicles, and personnel.   This is an emergency project that consists of the rehabilitation of approximately 900 linear feet of existing concrete box drain top slab and installation of manholes.  The existing concrete box drain runs along Lewers Street from Do Ho Street to the south and turns west onto Kalia Road.  The rehabilitation of the box drain also involves the construction of new manholes at strategic locations along the existing box drain.       -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 08/29/14 Hanauma Bay winter hours closing at 6 p.m. starting Sept 3

Friday, August 29, 2014 Contact: Jon Hennington, PIO, Department of Parks and Recreation, 768-3046.   Hanauma Bay winter hours closing at 6 p.m. starting September 3   East Honolulu - Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve will shift to winter hours, closing nightly at 6 p.m. beginning Wednesday, September 3.  (It will remain open until 7 p.m. through Labor Day.)   During the winter season, which runs through Memorial Day, Hanauma Bay is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Tuesday. The site is closed to visitors every Tuesday throughout the year.   The 101-acre Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve averages approximately 3,000 visitors daily.    -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 08/29/14 City Recognized for Commitment to Sustainable Waste Disposal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, August 29, 2014 Media Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV PIO, (808) 768-3454     City recognized for commitment to sustainable waste disposal H-POWER wins SWANA 2014 Gold Excellence Award   HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu was named the winner of the SWANA Gold Excellence Award in the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) category for H-POWER by the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).  The award was presented Tuesday at SWANA's annual conference, WASTECON®, in Grapevine, Texas.          "Converting opala to energy, eliminating the need for one million barrels of imported oil every year, and generating revenue through energy sales to HECO make H-POWER a vital part of the city's sustainable future," Mayor Kirk Caldwell said.  "This technology is bringing us closer to eliminating the need for an everyday landfill on Oahu, with the third boiler making it possible for us to burn sludge and car parts that in the past were sent to the landfill."           H-POWER, which provides unique and innovative contributions to the WTE field by having both refuse-derived fuel and mass burn technologies on the same site, allows for comprehensive and strategic management of the island's wastes.  Additionally, H-POWER produces up to 73 megawatts of net renewable baseload power, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.         "H-POWER is a critical component to the City's solid waste management plan and allows for nearly complete diversion of all municipal solid waste from Oahu's only MSW landfill," said Lori Kahikina, director of the Department of Environmental Services.         SWANA's Excellence Awards Program recognizes outstanding solid waste programs and facilities that advance the practice of environmentally and economically sound solid waste management through their commitment to utilizing effective technologies and processes in system design and operations, advancing worker and community health and safety, and implementing successful public education and outreach programs.      -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 08/29/14 Traffic Advisory: Lane closures for Honolulu rail transit project

August 29, 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.   NOTE: There will be no lane closures Sunday evening, August 31 and Monday, September 1 in observance of Labor Day.   EWA (FARRINGTON HIGHWAY)   Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 Kualakai Parkway (North-South Road) to Old Fort Weaver Road Farrington Highway from Kualakai Parkway (North-South Road) in Kapolei to Old Fort Weaver Road near Waipahu will be closed overnight between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. for utility 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, or Kapolei Parkway on the south end. Nightly work is expected to run through September.   Near the Fort Weaver Overpass Left turns from Farrington Highway in Ewa onto Fort Weaver Road northbound will be restricted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Drivers heading eastbound along Farrington Highway are asked to make a detour up Leoku Street to access Fort Weaver Road through either Leolua or Waipahu streets. The inside lanes of Farrington Highway near the Fort Weaver overpass will be closed overnight between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.   H-1 FREEWAY WAIAWA INTERCHANGE   Tuesday, September 2 to Thursday, September 4 H-1/H-2 Freeways near Leeward Community College Two soundbound lanes of the H-2 Freeway approaching the Waiawa Interchange (H-1/H-2 merge) will be closed overnight between 8:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.   WAIPAHU (FARRINGTON HIGHWAY)   Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 Waipahu Depot Road to Mokuola Street Eastbound lanes of Farrington Highway will be closed overnight between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.   Paiwa Street to Kahualii Street Eastbound lanes of Farrington Highway near Waipahu High School will be closed overnight between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Inside lanes of Farrington Highway at Paiwa Street will be closed overnight between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. The westbound left-turn pockets of Farrington Highway at Paiwa and Kahualii streets will be shortened 24 hours a day, seven days a week during construction. Inside lanes of Farrington Highway fronting the high school will be closed Saturday, August 30 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. for concrete work.   Near Pearl Highlands Center One westbound lane of Farrington Highway will be closed overnight between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.   PEARL CITY (KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY)   Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 Various sections along the outside lanes of Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City and Aiea in both directions will be closed for overhead utility work.   Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 Waiawa Road to Waimano Home Road Two westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes of Kamehameha Highway will be closed overnight between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. (Two eastbound lanes of Kamehameha Highway will reopen by 5:30 a.m. the following morning.) The intersection at Acacia Street is closed after 9 p.m. One eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway will be closed 24/7. An additional eastbound lane will be closed between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.   Waimano Home Road to Puu Momi Street Two westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes of Kamehameha Highway will be closed overnight between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. (Two eastbound lanes to reopen by 5:30 a.m.)   Puu Poni Street to Kuleana Road Two westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes of Kamehameha Highway will be closed overnight between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. (Two eastbound lanes to reopen by 5:30 a.m.) Drivers heading westbound along Kamehameha Highway will be contraflowed to the eastbound side of the highway between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. One eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway in the same vicinity will also be closed 24/7   Kuleana Road to Hekaha Street Two westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes of Kamehameha Highway will be closed overnight between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. (Two eastbound lanes to reopen at 5:30 a.m.)   AIEA/ALOHA STADIUM (KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY)   Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 Lipoa Place to Pali Momi Street One eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway will be closed 24/7   Pali Momi Street to Honomanu Street Eastbound drivers along Kamehameha Highway will be contraflowed to the westbound side of the highway between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. The eastbound Moanalua Freeway on-ramp near McGrew Point will be closed overnight between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. for utility relocation work.   Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 Near Aloha Stadium Right eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway from the Moanalua Freeway on-ramp to Salt Lake Boulevard will be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One westbound lane of Kamehameha Highway in the same vicinity will also be closed between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.   DOWNTOWN/KAKAAKO   Tuesday, September 2 to Thursday, September 4 between 8:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. Downtown Honolulu Lane closures will take place in the following areas: One westbound lane of Nimitz Highway from Punchbowl Street to Bethel Street for sewer line work Right lanes of Alakea Street from Nimitz Highway to Queen Street Right-turn lane from Nimitz Highway onto Alakea Street One westbound lane of Queen Street from Fort Street Mall to Nimitz Highway   Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 between 5:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. Downtown Honolulu One westbound lane of Halekauwila Street from Punchbowl Street to Mililani Street will be closed for soil testing.   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.