1 - Keahole to Honaunau Regional Circulation Plan (K to H) (County initiated Planning Process):

This plan, initiated to analyze existing regional transportation and propose future transportation corridors in Kona, will study a regional project area including both North and South Kona districts.

The study area will begin in the north at Keahole and extend south until Honaunau.

The objectives of the plan are to:

- Develop a corridor management program to preserve transportation corridors in the face of ongoing development;

- Identify and recommend new corridors and/or expand existing alignments for personal and commercial vehicles, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit systems;

- Develop a corridor preservation program; &

- Develop an official map with descriptions that identifies new corridors and/or expansion of existing alignments in detail.

2 - Mamalahoa Highway Bypass Road (Private development – ultimately, the road will be County owned and maintained):

As part of development requirements, the developers of the Hokulia project, at the North and South Kona districts’ boundary, are required to build a Mamalahoa Highway Bypass Road from the Napoopoo Junction to Keauhou. Construction of the road started in December 2001.

According to the development agreement, the entire road corridor (from the Napoopoo intersection to Keauhou) must be completed within 5-years.

Traffic studies indicate that one-half of the existing mauka traffic along mauka Mamalahoa Highway will use the bypass road when it is completed.

3 - Mamalahoa Highway (Honalo to Captain Cook) (County):

Hawaii County Public Works Department is investigating traffic mitigation measures along Mamalahoa Highway from Honalo to Captain Cook in mauka Kona.

Short-term solutions are expected to include creating left turn pockets for southbound travelers into the Kona Hospital/Courthouse and dual left-turn lanes through Kainaliu and Kealakekua. The intent is to use the existing road corridor and, after minor paving and other improvements, remark the roads with through lanes and turning pockets - this permits turners to get out of the flow of traffic and free movement for the through traffic. Construction will be done "in house."

As part of the long-term solution, the County has requested funding from the legislature to plan and design major road improvements along this corridor. Some of the proposed improvements include right-of-way widening over portions of the road, additional lanes and reconstructing driveways and intersections to improve ingress/egress and the flow of traffic.

The challenge is improving traffic flow without negatively impacting the nature of the rural mauka community. The long-term total cost is approximately $10-million.

4 - Expansion of Pu’uhonua o Honaunau (Federal):

Congress initiated action that calls for the National Park Service to purchase a 238-acre parcel, and another 165-acres of adjacent property if it becomes available to expand the National Park property at the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau. About $500,00 was previously appropriated for the purchase.

The park, sometimes referred to as the City of Refuge, now consists of 182-acres stretching south along the seashore from Honaunau Bay. The land to be added would reach inland from the southern end, giving the park an L-shape.

Although the park is best known for its pu’uhonua, or place of refuge for people who broke ancient kapu or were defeated in war, it also holds numerous archaeological sites outside the pu’uhonua walls.

5 - Hawaii Belt Road Resurfacing, Honokua to Pahoehoe (State):

The State is working on pavement reconstruction, resurfacing and adjusting guardrails. Cost: $3.2-million

6 - Ocean View Solid Waste Transfer Station (County):

The County is investigating the placement, construction and operation of a solid waste transfer station to serve the Ocean View community. The community has identified alternative sites for the transfer station – the County is investigating the feasibility.

7 - South Kona – Ocean View Water Study (County):

The County, using $500,000 in funds released from the state, will investigate water resource and distribution opportunities for the South Kona and Ocean View communities. This area of the island is presently not served with County water.

The water master plan for the southwest portion of the County, from Hookena in South Kona to South Point in Kau, covers an area of approximately 30-miles along the belt hwy.

8 - Expansion of Volcanoes National Park (Federal):

Federal legislation supports the proposed expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, adding 117,000 acres to the existing 229,000-acre site along the slopes of Mauna Loa on the southwest portion of the island.

The property, known as Kahuku Ranch, borders the park's western boundary at the Mauna Loa summit and sweeps down almost to the ocean. In addition to the 1,200 acres currently used for cattle grazing, another 90,000 acres are conservation land.

The acquisition would preserve archaeological sites, such as walled caves, koa forests and habitats for several endangered bird species and such rare plants as the Kau silversword.

9 - Ocean View Volunteer Fire to be Supported by Dual-trained County Fire Personnel (County):

Capital improvement requests are pending for additional fire equipment for Ocean View. When that equipment arrives, the Ocean View Volunteer Fire Station will be manned by a full-time County Fire fighter.

10 - Cooper Center at Volcano (County working with the Community):

Under a cooperative agreement with the County, Cooper Center Council manages the operations of the County-owned Cooper Center park facility. Recently a covered multi-purpose recreational facility (tennis & basketball courts, etc.) was constructed at the site.

The Cooper Center building is being expanded through a cooperative effort of the County, community and Kulani Prison. Further expansion plans call for restrooms and Police substation to be built adjoining the multi-purpose recreation facility.

11 - Volcano Road Intersection Improvements at Huina Road (State):

The purpose of this project is to improve safety and operational efficiency of the Volcano Road/Huina Road intersection.

Three commercial driveways opposite of Huina Road cause a potentially high number of conflicting vehicle movements.

The improvements include widening Volcano Road at the Huina Road Intersection and realigning Huina Road. Cost: $2.5-million

12 - Skate Park at Pahoa Community Park (County working with the Community):

Representatives of the Pahoa community have expressed interest in working with County Parks and Recreation where the community will build, operate and maintain a Skate Park on a portion of the Pahoa Community Park. The parties are investigating this opportunity.

13 - Highway 130 Widening (Keaau-Pahoa Road) (State):

The State Department of Transportation, Highways Division, is improving Highway 130 (Keaau-Pahoa Road – between Hawaiian Paradise Park and Pahoa Village) with increased lane width, shoulders, protected turning pockets, etc.

14 - Kalapana Lava Viewing Area (County): (Closed Due to Lava Flow Change)

The Kalapana Safe Viewing program is the result of a cooperative effort of county, state, federal, private agencies and the local community to develop a safe viewing program for visitors and residents.

A temporary 2.6-mile path to Kilauea's lava flow was carved out of the pahoehoe. The lava-covered road was restored to make it easier and safer for people determined to watch lava that flows from underground tubes into the ocean.

The road, State Highway 130, once allowed motorists to travel through Kalapana and along the Chain of Craters Road to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. It was destroyed by lava in the years after Kilauea erupted in 1983. (This viewing access is closed due to lava flow change.)

15 - Pahoa Property Acquisition (County):

The County negotiated the purchase of approximately 50-acres of vacant Pahoa land, located behind the county's swimming pool and ball field, to eventually build recreational and other public facilities.

The purchase comes out to $2,500 an acre, the same price the county paid several years ago for church land needed for the Pahoa swimming pool.

The property was selected after the community and county reviewed several parcels. Ultimate uses include park expansion and possibly public bathrooms, a police substation, an information kiosk, farmers' market and parking.

The community will be consulted in the planning and design of the ultimate improvements.

16 - Puna Emergency Access Road (County working with the Community):

Using Federal emergency funding, the County constructed an emergency access road by connecting Ainaloa Boulevard with the roads in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision.

The County is working with the Ainaloa Subdivision and Hawaiian Acres Subdivision on the long-term ownership, operation and maintenance of the road.

The County has expressed willingness to assume "edge-to-edge" maintenance and liability of the existing corridor. No improvement or modification to the existing road is planned.

17 - Railroad Right-of-Way for Periodic Running/ Biking Events (County working with the Community):

County representatives have had discussions with WH Shipman personnel about the prospect of periodic running, hiking and biking "events" on the old railroad right-of-way below Keaau. There has been favorable response and various community groups are involved with planning and sponsoring an event.

18 - Community Recycling Center Demonstration Project (County working with the Community):

Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Inc. (HIEDB) received a $400,000 grant to establish and implement a community development model for renewable resource management by upgrading solid waste transfer stations into community recycling centers.

HIEDB will serve as the central resource and coordination point with several other organizations, notably the County's Environmental Management and Public Works Departments, "Clean Hawaii" of the State's DBEDT, the Rural Community Assistance Corporation, UPW, UH Hilo, Recycle Hawaii and big island recycling businesses.

The goal of this project is to facilitate transformation of the County's existing disposal-based solid waste system into a diversion-based system which:

- Maximizes recovery of resources with economic value;

- Stimulates on-island value-added recycling through entrepreneurial activity;

- Creates jobs and income for island residents;

- Complies with the state's waste management hierarchy; and