The department is responsible for all matters relating to engineering; public and private building construction and inspection; wastewater construction and the operation and maintenance of five wastewater systems; solid waste management and landfill programs; construction, inspection and maintenance of public streets, highways, bridges and drainage facilities; acquisition of public and private properties for public purposes; design, operation and maintenance of traffic signals and traffic control devices; and all other public works projects, except for matters relating to parks and recreation and water supply. Public Works is also a key support agency for Civil Defense emergencies.

• Implement a comprehensive Capital Improvements Program and project listing.
• Maximize departmental revenues with effective fiscal management.
• Encourage professionalism, productivity, and accountability at all levels.

• Improve and encourage public responsiveness and effective public contact.

The department has 455 employee positions to operate the seven divisions and the administration/fiscal section of the Office of the Chief Engineer.

Leslie Botelho, a native of Laupahoehoe, is a graduate of Laupahoehoe High School and Hawaii Community College. He joined the County of Hawaii on September 1, 1983, as a road maintenance worker. He transferred to the Automotive Division as a welder on October 16, 1986, and became the Construction Equipment Repair Supervisor II on March 18, 1991. Since June 2, 1997, Mr. Botelho has served as Acting Automotive Equipment Superintendent.

Building Division Chief

Wayne T. Onomura, P.E., a native of Honokaa, Hawaii, is a registered professional structural engineer. After graduating from Honokaa High School, he continued his education at California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, California, where in 1965 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering. Mr. Onomura was also commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and was honorably discharged as a Captain in the Air Defense Artillery branch. In 1968 Mr. Onomura began his engineering career with the County of Hawaii. His engineering background includes five years as a plans examiner, five years as a code enforcement coordinator, and 15 years as Deputy Chief of the Building Division. Since January 1993, he has served as the Building Division Chief.

Engineering Division Chief

Galen Kuba, P.E., a native of Hilo, graduated from Hilo High School in 1969. He attended the University of Hawaii-Hilo until 1970 and graduated from the University of Hawaii-Manoa in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Mr. Kuba returned to Hilo to work for Inaba Engineering, Inc., until April of 1975 when he began work for the County of Hawaii, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Plans and Surveys. He received his professional civil engineering license on August 5, 1977. On July 1, 1986, Mr. Kuba moved to Wastewater and Solid Waste Division until the creation of a new Solid Waste Division in 1988. He was promoted to Solid Waste Division Chief on June 1, 1989. On August 1, 1995, Mr. Kuba was promoted to Division Chief for the department’s Engineering Division. Mr. Kuba is a member and past president of the Lehua Jaycees and University Heights Community Association and a member of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers, Big Island Chapter.

Highway Maintenance Division Superintendent

Stanley Nakasone is a graduate of Kohala High School and served in the U.S. Army Combat Engineer Division. He was employed by the Atomic Energy Commission and worked for several local construction companies before joining the County of Hawaii in 1968 as a laborer. Mr. Nakasone was promoted to supervisor in 1970, then to District Road Overseer in 1975, and in 1991 promoted to Superintendent of the Highway Maintenance Division. He has served as Public Works Safety Chairman and member of the County of Hawaii Safety Committee. He is a past recipient of an Incentive Award from the County and was nominated for Outstanding Employee of the Year for the Department of Public Works. He has been active in community organizations, coaching basketball and baseball, and served as Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America.

Walter R. Lucas, a native of Hilo, is a graduate from Hilo High School and Hawaii Community College. He joined the County of Hawaii in 1972 as a maintenance mechanic with the Department of Public Works. He transferred to the Automotive Division in 1976 as an automotive mechanic and became a Road Construction Supervisor in 1979 with the Highway Maintenance Division. He later became the first Safety and Driver Improvement Coordinator for the County of Hawaii. In December 1985, Mr. Lucas was promoted to Superintendent of the Automotive Division. In June of 1997, Mr. Lucas was assigned to head the Solid Waste Division.

A native of Hilo, Richard Nishimura graduated from Hilo High School in 1961 and continued his education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1966. After graduation, he served for five years as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force. In 1971 he began his employment with the County of Hawaii as a Civil Engineer with the Department of Public Works. In March 1976, he became the traffic engineer with the department's Division of Traffic Safety and Control. He was promoted to Division Chief of the Traffic Division in September 1985. From June to December 1990, Nishimura served as Deputy Chief Engineer of the Department of Public Works, returning to his post as Traffic Division Chief at the end of his appointment. Mr. Nishimura is a member of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers-Big Island Chapter, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Wastewater Division Chief

Originally from Connecticut, Peter J. Boucher, P.E., has resided in Hawaii since 1984. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji. Prior to joining the Department of Public Works in 1994, Mr. Boucher was employed by Pan Pacific Construction as a project manager and by R. M. Towill Corporation as a resident engineer in Kona. Mr. Boucher is a member of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers, Kona-Kohala Chapter, and the Water Environment Federation.

The department’s operating budget for fiscal year 1997-98 was $34.7 million.

Automotive Division

• Completed fueling system automation upgrade for the Kau Baseyard.

• Built new tool room and records storage room for the Hilo Automotive baseyard.

• Installed improvements at the Hilo, Volcano, Pahala and Honomu Transfer Stations.

• Administered the disposal of 1,282 police reported abandoned or derelict vehicles.

Building Division

• Issued approximately 7,623 building, electrical, plumbing, or sign permits valued at over $256 million and, subsequently, conducted over 17,300inspections.

• Completed or coordinated design and construction of 20 projects valued at $2.8 million.

Engineering Division

• Working with a consultant to develop an ADA curb ramp inventory and improvement schedule by July 2, 1999.

• Hired a land agent consultant to facilitate the acquisition of properties for the Division. Work will include CIP project acquisitions as well as the acquisition of land to resolve existing encroachments such as Kaiwiki Road.

• Worked with the Corps of Engineers to complete a feasibility study for the construction of the Palai Stream Diversion. An agreement will be executed to advance the project to the design stage.

• Completed 58 survey projects and requests.

• Completed 3 fuel tax and/or ISTEA projects valued at over $3.8 million, 3 CIP projects valued at over $355,000, 4 Parks and Recreation projects valued at over $198,000, and a State funded project valued at $2 million.

• Initiated construction of 11 projects funded by ISTEA, fuel tax, CIP, and CDBG funds valued at approximately $16 million.

• Administered 19 consultant contracts valued at over $3.5 million.

• Reviewed, approved, and inspected 455 permits for driveways, work within County rights-of-way, grading, grubbing, and stockpiling.

• Reviewed and approved 130 subdivision applications, 95 construction plans, 9 ohana applications, 3 flood studies for processing to FEMA, and inspected 29 subdivisions.

Highway Maintenance Division

• Resurfaced or paved various County roads islandwide including:

South Hilo - 29 roads; over 7 miles

Hamakua - 8 roads; over 3.6 miles

North and South Kohala – 3 roads; over 3.6 miles

North and South Kona – 8 roads; over 4.2 miles

Kau – 5 roads; over 4.4 miles

Puna – 2 roads; over 2 miles

• Provided major repairs and A.C. patching for Saddle Road, Waipio Valley Road and Hiilawe Stream crossing.

• Widened shoulders and improved safety and sight distance along Donkey Mill road, in Harborview, Tanaka and Keopu Heights subdivisions, along Middle Keei Road, Alii Villa, Maile Loop, Punaluu Beach Road, Wood Valley, Paauau, Moaula, Kamaoa, South Point and Kiolakaa-Keaa Homestead roads.

• Performed major flood control maintenance and repair work along Waiakea Stream, Keopu Channel, Naalehu flood channel, and various streams and culverts in the Waikoloa subdivision.

• Assisted the Civil Defense Agency during major emergencies. Assisted the Fire Department with major brush fires at Leilani Estates, Hawaiian Beaches, Black Sands Beach, Pahala Mauka, Waikoloa, Mahukona, South Point, Punaluu, Honuapo, Upper Moaula and Discovery Harbor Subdivision.

• Performed maintenance and upgrade of the Walua Road Bicycle/Jogging Path.

• Constructed sidewalks and walkways, installed guardrails, constructed retaining walls and headwalls, and installed culverts and other drainage facilities islandwide.

• Assisted the Solid Waste Division and Parks and Recreation Department with various projects islandwide.

Solid Waste Division

• Continued operation, in compliance with RCRA, of the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill under a private/public partnership agreement with Waste Management of Hawaii.

• Initiated construction of major improvements and upgrades to the Keauhou Transfer Station.

• Completed a study for the Hilo Landfill regarding possible conflicts with the proximity of the airport facility and birds, and received concurrence from FAA that the Hilo Landfill could operate safety beyond 1998.

• Retained a consultant and contractor to monitor and control post-closure concerns at the Kailua Landfill.

• Established a greenwaste collection and processing site at the Hilo Landfill.

• Continued with the Diversion Grants program and the Glass Diversion program to expand recycling efforts on our island.

Traffic Division

• Operated and maintained 8,025 street lights. Converted 35 lights to energy efficient low-pressure sodium luminaries.

• Operated and maintained 68 traffic signal systems and 13 flashing light systems.

• Fabricated and installed over 2,142 traffic signs, 6,482 raised pavement markers, and 115 miles of pavement markings.

• Operated and maintained 996 parking meters through February 28, 1998. Operated and maintained 40 parking meters from March 1 through June 30, 1998 due to moratorium.

Wastewater Division

• Completed construction of Alii Drive Sewer Phase III, Waiaha Bay Pump Station, Holualoa Bay Sewage Pump Station, and Hilo Sewer System Rehabilitation.

Projects Completed/Under Construction – Fiscal Year 97-98

Building Division

ProjectsCompleted Contract Cost

SOUTH HILO

HAMAKUA

KAU

PUNA

TOTAL: $ 2,841,721.60