Funds Released for Honoapiʻilani Shoreline, Tsunami Repairs

West Maui Honoapiilani erosion, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

An appropriation of $3 million in state funds was released today for shoreline improvements to the Honoapiʻilani Highway on Maui, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced.

That included $1.5 million allocated for tsunami damage in the Ukumehame area of West Maui.

State officials say work involves additional construction, boulder revetments, and retaining structures to restore road shoulders that were damaged in the March 11, 2011 tsunami.

The additional funds are necessary to complete the project due to “high level erosion control measures” required by the EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Hawaii Department of Health Clean Water Branch, the announcement said.

A separate $1.5 million appropriation is earmarked for shoreline improvements near Launiupoko, where high surf and wave action damaged the road shoulder.   According to the announcement, the additional funds were required for a retaining structure that was redesigned to meet water quality and Army Corps of Engineers concerns.

The funding release was part of a larger $14.3 million release announced today that included improvements at Hilo and Kawaihae Harbors on Hawaiʻi Island, and various highway projects across the state.

“These priority investments in state infrastructure add further stimulus and jobs to the economy in order to build upon our state’s $1.1 billion turnaround,” Abercrombie said in a statement.

The governor said the harbor improvements were “long-awaited,” and the highway projects will “heighten safety, mitigate erosion, and address other needed structural enhancements.”