From the Hanalei Valley overlook, residents and visitors enjoy views of taro patches in Hanalei Valley, a federal Hawaiian waterbird refuge and mountain ranges lined with waterfalls as the heart of Kauai’s North Shore spreads out before them. Now, they
From the Hanalei Valley overlook, residents and visitors enjoy views of taro patches in Hanalei Valley, a federal Hawaiian waterbird refuge and mountain ranges lined with waterfalls as the heart of Kauai’s North Shore spreads out before them.
Now, they could be treated to an even more panoramic view of the valley through a combined government and private sector project.
The state Office of Environmental Quality Control has issued a finding of no significant impact for a proposal by the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state Department of Transportation and Princeville Corporation to build a new scenic stop about half mile east of the existing one.
The project would be built at a cost of between $3 and $4 million from federal and state sources, and construction could start as early as 2005, although the time schedule could change depending on the availability of funds, according to DOT spokesperson Scott Ishikawa .The new site would boast displays that tell the story of the area.
In recent years, DOT officials have pushed for the relocation of the Hanalei Lookout because it presents potential traffic hazards. Hanalei-bound motorists cross the highway to get to the scenic overlook, chronically raising the risk for vehicle accidents on that section of Kuhio Highway.
DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said the aim behind the proposal is to provide a “safer place for people to stop off at.”
“We know it is a popular, scenic stop,” Ishikawa said. “It would provide a facility for Fish and Wildlife, parking and a bookstore.”
The current overlook offers a view of taro fields where up to 60 percent of the state’s taro is grown, along with and a 917-acre wildlife refuge operated in Hanalei Valley on lands along the Hanalei River by Fish and Wildlife.
The federal wildlife refuge is home to the endangered Hawaiian duck, stilt, coot and moorhen. The valley also is home to endangered Hawaiian hoary bats.
Hanalei Valley is touted by state and visitor industry officials as among the state’s best natural and visual resources.
Princeville Corp. has agreed to donate six acres to Fish and Wildlife for the new overlook, according to state Office of Environmental Quality Control representatives.
Three acres would be home to an educational pavilion, maintenance shed, a visitor information center with offices, public restrooms and a parking lot for 60 vehicles.
The other three acres consist of “remnant pieces and steep side slopes,” and will be contiguous to the federal refuge, Office of Environmental Quality Control officials said.
In addition, a new intersection is proposed to be built on Kuhio Highway by the new, proposed overlook.
Funds have been allotted for the planning and design of the project, Ishikawa said.
Before work can start, approval must be given by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the land division of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the clean water branch of the state Department of Health.
Approval also must be given by the Kauai County Public Works Department and the Kauai County Planning Commission, according to Pat Fong, a spokesman with the Federal Highway Administration.
The project is being questioned by North Shore residents.
Barbara Robeson and Susan Wilson of the Hanalei Roads Committee, said they want more answers from the government before the project moves farther along.
“We are not happy with some of the DOT responses to our concerns. The responses seem to be incomplete,” Wilson said.
Wilson also said a final environmental assessment should address various impacts before the project is approved.
Robeson said the committee she co-chairs with Brian Hennessy has concerns about “secondary impacts, cumulative impacts, whether the project is being segmented.”
“The issue with us (committee members) is the environmental assessment, because it is supposed to fully disclose the impact of the project and we don’t know if it did yet,” Robeson said.
Robeson said the committee is concerned the drafters of an environmental assessment follow government guidelines.
State law says the government, through the environmental assessment, has to look, study and evaluate the project in its entirety, Robeson said.
“We don’t know if the environmental assessment addressees this, because we don’t have the final environmental assessment,” Robeson said.
She said the answer will be known when she gets her copy of the environmental study by mail, presumably soon.
Robeson help found the North Shore Belt Road Citizens Advisory Committee in the early 1970s. Wilson also helped carry on the work of the committee in the early days.
The group is now known as the Hanalei Roads Committee, which pushed for the restoration of the Hanalei Bridge and the inclusion of 10 miles of rural roadway on Kuhio Highway from Princeville to Kee Beach onto the state Historic Register.
The group also has nominated the road segment to be included onto the National Historic Register.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
