WAIMEA — Kaua‘i Police Department’s Westside hub has moved.
The Waimea substation relocated to the West Kaua‘i Technology Center at 9565 Kaumuali‘i Hwy. from its previous Ola Road locale, which had been used by KPD since 2013.
The new substation is not yet fully operational and lacks internet or phone service, according to the department.
Delays in infrastructure are due to the funding-procurment process, as KPD did not expect the Ola Road lease to not be renewed. The department did not budget for moving expenses this fiscal year, which amounted to around $4,100.
Kaua‘i County Councilmember Felica Cowden, chair of the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, is monitoring the situation, and said on Thursday after meeting with KPD officials that the funds for ground communications are available.
“I am committed to working with KPD leadership to make sure that West Kaua‘i is well represented and that the KPD substation gets the funding they need,” Cowden said Thursday.
The department officially moved at the end of October, but it’s unclear how much notice the department was given to the lease expiring.
Despite infrastructure shortfalls, staff can perform all of their job functions, KPD Public Information Officer Coco Zickos said this week. Officers all have their individual devices with full internet access on them. The substation supports a clerk, lieutenant, shift supervisor and two officers per shift, and covers areas from Hanapepe to Kekaha and Koke‘e.
The new lease at the West Kaua‘i Technology Center is for five years.
At this time, there is no estimate of when the substation will be fully operational.
