Ask the Mayor: Should We Do Roadwork During Day or Night?

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q: Does the county have any plans to install a traffic light at the intersection of Maui Lani Parkway and Kamehameha Avenue? Both roads are heavily traveled and the intersection is often congested due to the current four-way stop. Thank you.

A: Yes, a traffic signal is in the works. I asked our Public Works Director, David Goode, about this and he said that Maui Lani has initiated design of a traffic signal system for this intersection in accordance with the traffic master plan agreement the county has with them. The intersection is still privately owned, but Maui Lani just dedicated the portion of Maui Lani Parkway from the intersection to Kuikahi to the county. Maui Lani is also in the process of dedicating the remaining portion of Maui Lani Parkway and Kamehameha to the county, so the intersection will be under full county control.

Kuau traffic. File photo by Madeline Ziecker.

Q: I live in Kuau and hear all kinds of noise at night from the work they’re doing on our waterline. Wouldn’t this have been a better project to do while people were at work during the day?

A: This is a question that our county departments consider all the time. “Should we conduct the project in the day and cause traffic delays, or work at night and risk noise complaints?” If there was a third option that involved neither consequence, believe me, we would choose that option. But whether we are putting in a new waterline, new wastewater pipes or other projects, most of the time they cause either one or the other. In this case, Hana Highway is a well-traveled road during the day and there are no paved roads to use to detour traffic around the work area— besides going past Old Maui High School on an unpaved road— so work must be done at night. Earlier this month there was a waterline break in Paia that left residents, stores and restaurants without water for several hours. If we are to avoid more of these types of service interruptions, we must continue to upgrade our aging water infrastructure. Mahalo for your patience as we complete this much-needed project.

Q: Maui is my home, specifically Lahaina, and I run 4-5 times a week on Front Street in the early mornings. I enjoy the quietness of Front Street in the morning as well as the cleanliness of the sidewalks and street before the merchants open up. I noticed that there are no recycling bins on the street next to the trash barrels. I would like to know if recycling receptacles could be placed next to these barrels. Lahaina is a global destination as well as declared a National Historic Landmark. How we deal with our waste can reflect how we deal with our lives. I believe that the importance of protecting our environment is crucial for the survival and existence of our beautiful island and earth and for the future of our children. Please let me know how I can assist in anyway in obtaining recycling bins, as I will be the first to get these on Front Street, if I have to sponsor one or get a group of people involved to start a campaign. Mahalo for your time.

A: The trash receptacles on Front Street are managed by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, which receives a grant from the county to coordinate trash collection from the public receptacles. However, the current funding levels do not allow for a separate recycling program. One way to request recycling on Front Street would be to attend the West Maui Budget Hearing that will be held by the County Council this Spring. I will also share your inquiry with the grantee and with our Department of Environmental Management so we can review how much a recycling program might cost and how it could be managed.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email: [email protected], phone: 270-7855 or mail: 200 S. High Street, 9th Floor, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.