COUNTY PROVIDES UPDATES ON RESTORING PUNA INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTED BY 2018 ERUPTION

COUNTY PROVIDES UPDATES ON RESTORING PUNA INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPACTED BY 2018 ERUPTION
The County of Hawai‘i announces additional decisions regarding restoration of infrastructure in
Puna following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption with the use of Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance grants.
“The County based these decisions for use of federal recovery funding on continued engagement
with communities impacted by the eruption in order to provide the best benefit for the Puna
community in the long-term,” said Douglas Le, County Disaster Recovery Officer. “That
includes addressing important issues such as participation in the County’s Voluntary Housing
Buyout Program (VHBP), traffic circulation, emergency evacuation, and social and economic
needs for the area. FEMA funds not used for restoring particular infrastructure will be used to
support alternate projects in Puna.”
Decisions and updates are presented in the following categories:
Water service
• The water system to Kapoho subdivisions inundated during the eruption will not be
restored. As a next step, the County will work with communities in Puna to deploy
available recovery funds received from FEMA for water infrastructure projects in Puna.
• Use of FEMA funds for restoration of the water line to Isaac Hale Beach Park will be
pursued. This depends on feasibility due to geological decisions and FEMA approval.
Roads
• FEMA funds will not be used to restore Hinalo and Lauone streets, both inundated by the
eruption. Any additional decisions regarding these roads will be based on participation in
the VHBP.
• The County is working with FEMA to commence the review of Highway 137 and
Lighthouse Road based on final designs of the roads. The County anticipates FEMA
requiring an Environmental Assessment for Highway 137 due to the need to design the
roadway to safe standards over the new terrain following the eruption. Updated timelines
are anticipated within a month.
As previously announced, the County plans to restore inundated sections of upper Pohoiki Road,
realign lower Pohoiki Road to provide safe two-way access while preserving historic mango
trees, restore Leilani Avenue from Pohoiki Road to Kahukai Street, and restore Highway 137 and
Lighthouse Road, with the use of FEMA and State recovery funds.
FEMA anticipates starting Environmental Assessments for the Pohoiki Road projects, including
potential restoration of water to Isaac Hale Beach Park, in November, with the review taking
about six months to complete.
“While the Environmental Assessment requirements have been a setback in terms of starting
construction on these road projects, we are pleased that time will be saved by having these
reviews done concurrently,” said County Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst. “This
process also will allow time for construction costs to stabilize, which will help the County get
more for its investments.”
The Environmental Assessments will ensure proper consultation with lineal descendants, and
assessment and documentation of historic, archaeological and environmentally sensitive
resources, including any impacts and mitigation actions.
The eruption damaged about 13 miles of public roads and 14.5 miles of waterlines.
As a result of this damage, FEMA approved Public Assistance grants in the amounts of $61.5
million for FEMA-eligible roads and about $30 million for water systems. Funds are provided on
a reimbursement basis, with a 25% County match.
Highway 132 was restored in 2019 with $5.75 million from the Federal Highway
Administration.