State Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau, wants to use former cane-haul roads between Hanama‘ulu and Wailua for emergency-traffic purposes.
The resolutions he has introduced are also designed to stimulate discussion on using the dirt roads for possible long-term relief from traffic congestion.
A major cane-haul road, which has been opened during emergency situations before and runs from just south of the Wailua River to Hanama‘ulu town mauka of Kuhio Highway, is on land owned by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Lihue Land Company (formerly Lihue Plantation and now owned by Steve Case).
The resolutions, introduced Wednesday, request state Department of Transportation Highways Division officials to evaluate the feasibility of using the roads during emergencies, and possibly for everyday traffic relief in the long term.
Senate Resolution 70 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 132, identical documents, also request DOT-Highways Division leaders to prepare a plan for using the roads.
A Senate resolution states the position of the Senate, and need be approved only by the Senate. The concurrent resolution requires approval of both houses, stating the position of both bodies.
A recent rash of fatal car crashes along the stretch of Kuhio Highway between Wailua and Hanama‘ulu, known to by some as “blood alley” because of the number of fatal and near-fatal accidents that have occurred there and the lack of places to swerve to avoid accidents, were among conditions that prompted introduction of the resolutions.
The resulting traffic delays, some for several hours, pointed out the need for alternative routes in the area, Hooser said in his resolutions. A mauka alternative could also be available if a tsunami inundates the highway, the resolutions state.
“The logical choice really is the cane-haul road,” said Mike Furukawa, a vice president of Grove Farm, which owns half of the cane-haul route that is the subject of the resolutions.
Like the existing Kapa‘a bypass road between Wailua and Kapa‘a, also a former cane-haul road, the Hanama‘ulu-to-Wailua cane-haul road wouldn’t require major improvements to become traffic-worthy, Furukawa said.
“Some of these cane-haul roads would require minimal construction improvements to make them suitable for emergency or as an alternate road use,” the resolutions state.
Grove Farm officials in the past have been agreeable to allowing cane-haul roads to be used for regular traffic during emergency situations, provided liability agreements are inked and a police presence keeps people from speeding down the roads, Furukawa continued.
The roads are bumpy, and lack guardrails in some places, he noted.
Furukawa said fellow Grove Farm Vice President Allan A. Smith has been working with various governmental entities on the cane-haul-road solution.
Since DHHL officials plan to develop their Wailua lands near Kauai Community Correctional Center for homesteading and other purposes, Furukawa thinks DHHL leaders would be happy to have an improved road through their property.
Associate Editor Paul C. Curtis may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
