A ceremony was held yesterday to mark the groundbreaking for the next phase of the county’s multi-use path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae. The one-mile segment will connect with the existing path at Lihi Park, run partly along the coast and partly along the highway, and end at the footbridge between Kaua'i Village and Waipouli Plaza.
By Staff Reports
(Kapa‘a )– A blessing and groundbreaking for the next segment of Ke Ala Hele Makalae, the multi-use path, was held in Kapa‘a.
The new section will connect with the existing path at Lihi Park, run along the coast towards Lîhu’e on Moanakai Road, jog down Keaka Road, turn left on Niulani Road, and right on Wana Road. From there, the segment will head south on the makai side of Kûhi‘ô Highway and then cross the street to Kaua’i Village Shopping Center, where it will end at the footbridge that connects Kaua’i Village to Waipouli Plaza.
Earthworks Construction was awarded a $3.4 million contract for the one-mile segment and is expected to complete the project by next spring.
Currently in progress is the Kawaihau spur, an offshoot of the main path, which spans approximately one-half mile from the intersection of Kawaihau Road and Kûhi‘ô Highway and ending at the top of the hill at Gore Park. Also underway is a section of the path that runs along Papaloa Road in Wailua. The general contractor for both of these segments is Kaikor Construction.
“We are very pleased to begin work on the Lihi to Safeway segment of the multi-use path, and I’d like to acknowledge everyone who has helped to move this project forward over the years,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., noting that collaboration among all levels of government – federal, state, and county – along with private citizens is key to the path becoming a reality.
Building Division Chief Doug Haigh, who has served as manager of the multi-use path project since the beginning, is looking forward to the construction of the remaining segments.
“We’re working on the other phases simultaneously,” said Haigh. “It’ll be a few years before it’s all completed, but the view afforded by Ke Ala Hele Makalae will be unsurpassed.”
Phase IV, which will run from Lydgate Park to Ahukini Landing, and Phase VI, Nâwiliwili to Ahukini Landing, are going through the environmental assessment process. After the final EA is completed, the next step will be the special management area (SMA) and Conservation District Use (CDU) permitting process.
Planning for Phase V, from Kuna Bay to Anahola, is currently on hold.
When the entire path is finished, it will cover roughly 30 miles from Anahola to Nâwiliwili, mostly along the coast. So far, 6.8 miles of the path have been completed.
During his inaugural speech titled Holo Holo 2020, Mayor Carvalho spoke about his vision for Kaua’i in the year 2020, which includes constructing as many segments of Ke Ala Hele Makalae as possible.
The multi-use path is one of 38 projects that are part of the mayor’s Holo Holo 2020 vision for Kaua’i, which calls for all organizations, businesses, residents and visitors on Kaua’i to be part of creating an island that is sustainable, values the native culture, has a thriving and healthy economy, cares for all – keiki to kupuna – and has a responsible and user-friendly local government.
County Engineer Larry Dill; Jeff Fisher with Earthworks Construction; Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.; Council Vice-Chair JoAnn Yukimura; and Steve Kyono with SSFM International took part in yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the next phase of the county’s multi-use path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae.