• 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.
• Encourage and develop management systems within the department that can accept and respond to changes effectively.

The department has 465 employee positions to operate the seven divisions and the administration/fiscal section of the Office of the Chief Engineer.

Automotive Equipment Superintendent

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 1997, Mr. Lucas was assigned as Acting Division Chief for the Solid Waste Division. Mr. Lucas returned to head the Automotive Division on January 16, 1999.

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 until his retirement from the County of Hawaii in June 1999.

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. In FY97-98, Mr. Nakasone was the recipient of the "County Manager of the Year" award. He has been active in community organizations, coaching basketball and baseball, and served as Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America.

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. On October 16, 1986, Mr. Botelho transferred to the Automotive Division as a welder. He went on to become the Construction Equipment Repair Supervisor II for that division on March 18, 1991. Mr. Botelho became Acting Automotive Equipment Superintendent for the Automotive Division in June 1997, a position he held until March 1, 1999, when he assumed the position of Acting Solid Waste Division Chief.

ard Nishimura graduated from Hilo High School and continued his education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1966. 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, Mr. 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. In FY96-97, Mr. Nishimura was the recipient of the "County Manager of the Year" award. 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 1998-99 was $35.6 million.

Fueling System Upgrades - Automated North Kohala Baseyard fueling facility that included installation of Gasboy Fleetkey System. Department completed its islandwide automation plans.

Computerized Repair Manual System - Purchased additional Mitchell On-Demand programs that included transmission and heavy truck information.

Assisted in the continued rebuild and replacement of windbreakers at transfer station chutes around the island. Structurally fabricated steel that was erected at Hilo Landfill #1 and #4 chutes.

Building Division

Issued approximately 8,303 building, electrical, plumbing, or sign permits valued at over $321 million, and subsequently conducted over 18,600 inspections.

Completed or coordinated design and construction of 36 projects valued at $4.3 million.

Wilson Okamoto & Associates completed the County of Hawaii’s ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan for Curb Ramps.

The division developed a new fuel tax appropriation program that eliminated the use of a formula to distribute revenues among the 9 tax map districts in Hawaii County. Under the new program, tax revenues are equally distributed to the Engineering and Highway Maintenance Divisions. Engineering will use its share of the fuel taxes as a local match to secure federal aid (TEA21) funds. Highway Maintenance will use their revenues to develop an in-house resurfacing program for minor/local streets. Revenues for the in-house resurfacing program will be distributed among the 9 tax map districts according to the amount of miles of minor/local streets found in a district. The County Council adopted this program on May 4, 1999 through ordinance 99-46.

Completed 78 survey projects and requests.

Project activities include completion of 8 construction projects valued at $5.9 million, 10 projects under construction valued at $11.6 million, and the administration of 15 consultant contracts valued at  $2.7 million.

Regulatory Activities – Reviewed, approved, and inspected 600 permits for driveways, work within County rights-of-way, grading, grubbing and stockpiling. Reviewed and approved 143 subdivision applications, 121 construction plans, 7 ohana applications, 5 flood studies for processing to FEMA, and inspected 30 subdivision.

Resurfaced or paved various County roads around the island:

North & South Hilo – 12 roads; over 5.6 miles

Hamakua – 3 roads; over 2.4 miles

North & South Kohala – 26 roads; over 7.3 miles

Kau – 5 roads; over 2.75 miles

Puna – 6 roads; over 6.3 miles

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.

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 Department of Parks and Recreation with various projects around the island.

Solid Waste Division

Completed construction of major improvements and upgrades to the Keauhou Transfer Station. The Puako Transfer Station remodeling project is underway. Remodeling plans are also in place for the Hilo Transfer Station, chutes #2 and #3.

Road improvements completed at the Hilo Landfill in the area of the scale house. A protective covering is being constructed over the scale house.

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

Established a greenwaste collection and processing site at the Kealakehe Transfer Station.

Continued with the Diversion Grants Program and Glass Diversion Program to expand recycling efforts on the island.

Administratively, the Division has reduced Accounts Receivable balance by two percent; established a system for referral of past due accounts to outside collectors; and implemented pay by credit card or check option at the landfills.

Operated and maintained 8,239 streetlights, 71 traffic signal systems, and 9 flashing light systems.

Fabricated and installed over 2,500 traffic signs; 11,523 raised pavement markers; and 151 miles of pavement markings.

Began construction of Paukaa Community Collector Sewer and Waiakea Houselots Collector Sewer, Phase II.

Completed abandonment of West Hawaii Injection wells.

Began process for integrating Accounts Receivable billing with Department of Water Supply.

Initiated regular monthly meetings with Corporation Counsel to improve past due account collections.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

PROJECT ACTIVITIES – FISCAL YEAR 1998-99

SOUTH HILO

KONA

Engineering Division