County gains right of entry to Kapaia swinging bridge

LIHU‘E — Finally, after four years of meetings, correspondence and other efforts to save the historic Kapaia swinging pedestrian bridge over Hanama‘ulu Stream, organizers said they have some movement to report.

At a meeting with Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. and others Friday, it was announced that the county gained right of entry that will allow an engineering firm, Kai Hawai‘i, to conduct structure and soil surveys before the end of the year, said Laraine Moriguchi in an e-mail.

Moriguchi is one of the landowners on the Lihu‘e side of the stream. The foot bridge used to be the main connection between two sections of Kapaia Valley, when sugar was king, walking was more prevalent than driving, and bustling towns thrived on both sides of the stream.

“The Save Kapaia Swinging Bridge update meeting yesterday (Friday) went well,” she said.

“We are all elated that for the first time in four years, something has been accomplished,” said Moriguchi.

“Mayor Carvalho and his staff appeared sincere and determined in their effort. We all look forward to continued progress,” she said.

Though some in the county question the wisdom of spending lots of taxpayer money on restoration of a bridge they see as mostly symbolic, Moriguchi disagrees.

“Saving the Kapaia swinging bridge is imperative to preserving the rich history of Kapaia Valley,” she said.

“It is the only tangible item left for those who benefited from our immigrant forefathers to see, touch, and feel. Its presence is a powerful reminder of the sacrifice and hard work endured by the men and women who walked over the bridge daily, to and from the sugar plantation fields of Hanama‘ulu,” she said.

“Without it, there is nothing to remind us of why we are here today and why the way we think, the way we act and the decisions we make are directly influenced by the people for whom the Kapaia swinging bridge was built.

“Its value to our heritage is priceless.”