Ask the Mayor: When Will Ha‘ikū Roads Be Safe?

Kaupakalua. File photo by Wendy Osher.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the questions submitted to his staff.

Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at [email protected], 270-7855 or mail them to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

Aloha Mayor,

Q: This is my third time writing regarding the safety of Ha‘ikū roads, specifically Kaupakalua.

There are so many accidents both reported and unreported near my home.

This week, it was my friend and her three children, including her son, who was taken to O‘ahu for care.

People drive way too fast, the road is in poor condition and there are blind turns.

My 6-year-old has to cross the road getting off the school bus.

Who do we contact about having speed bumps installed and for the road to be repaired, not patched?

A: I agree with you: the repair of this road is high-priority, which is why it is in the lineup for federally-funded repairs.

County Public Works engineers are actively working on the design so that construction can move forward when federal funding is awarded.

Kaupakalua represents a large-scale project, which would need to be split into at least two phases as federal funds are available.

Regarding speed humps, due to a dwindling Highway Fund, the speed hump program is on hold until further notice.

Sidewalk repairs are also currently unfunded and repaving efforts are funded at just 50% of what our needs are, due to the decreasing gas tax and utility revenues being provided by the Highway Fund.