HANAPEPE — It’s been a long time coming. “This might just be a small parking lot, but it’s huge for Hanapepe,” said Randy Francisco, president of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce. “I’ve been sitting in on the meetings of the
HANAPEPE — It’s been a long time coming.
“This might just be a small parking lot, but it’s huge for Hanapepe,” said Randy Francisco, president of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce. “I’ve been sitting in on the meetings of the Hanapepe Economic Alliance for more than a year, and they’ve spoken of this parking lot.”
Francisco said Hanapepe has waited for decades for this lot which provides another space the town can use to generate excitement. The parking lot was dedicated and blessed Friday, its spaces already occupied by vehicles carrying visitors and shoppers to the east end of Hanapepe town.
“This project has been in the works for six years,” said Kimberly Busch-French, marketing coordinator for the Hanapepe Economic Alliance. “Public Works officials went above and beyond to ensure the preservation of trees in the area.”
The parking lot holds 20 cars as well as allows access under the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Kimo Aiu, the project engineer and designer.
The $100,000 project includes lights installed by Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.
James Hasenyager, project engineer for Cushnie Construction, the general contractor, said once they got the green light, the construction took just a couple of weeks, including the installation of the light and the striping.
Angela Headley of Island Art Gallery worked with County Engineer Larry Dill and Aiu to save the row of palms which grace the eastern end of the parking row.
“This has been an interesting learning experience of what it takes for an issue to germinate into an idea, an idea to become a request, and a request to become an action,” Headley said. “It has taken the actions of many people to bring this parking lot and lighting the lot to fruition. We have all seen the project go from idea to completion. The process does work.”
