Modified Access to ʻĪao Valley State Monument Expected in Summer

ʻĪao Valley State Monument after flood. PC: Wendy Osher.

The public is invited to an informational meeting on the initial phases of the ʻĪao Valley State Monument flood repair project hosted by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks.

The park has been closed since last fall after a serious flood that occurred on the night of Sept. 13 and early morning on Sept. 14, 2016, which caused extensive damage to state, county and private lands.

The DLNR meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to get updates on the state progress.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku from 5 to 7 p.m. The parking area for the Center is currently closed for improvements, but parking is available at the adjacent Pāpōhaku Community Park.

State officials say the upcoming repair project will stabilize the significantly eroded and now unstable slopes of ʻĪao Valley’s vehicular access road and the parking area facing the Wailuku River.

People attending the meeting will learn about stabilization methods, construction methods and planned best management practices to be employed during the project. There will also be briefings on cultural and archaeological resources and protocols, water quality monitoring, and repairs to further stabilize the bridge over Kinihāpai Stream.

“This is the start of significant repairs required for the park to address safety for access for residents and visitors, said Curt Cottrell, State Parks Administrator. “We appreciate the community’s understanding and cooperation when it was essential to close the Park in September 2016. It is our goal to reopen ʻĪao Valley State Monument to modified public access sometime this summer,” Cottrell added.

The project is scheduled to start on Feb. 13, 2017, and the contractor is Maui Kupono Builders, LLC. The project cost is $1,837,341. It is expected to be completed in 150 days or sooner, however state officials say weather events may cause unexpected delays.