Posted on: Sunday, October 20, 2002

EDITORIAL
DOT must act now to prevent rockslides

For years, loose rocks have perched precariously along the cliffs overlooking the Kalaniana'ole Highway near Makapu'u Point. Some have tumbled onto the roadway, causing damage and injuries.

In response, the state Department of Transportation has held public meetings on plans to secure the area and reduce the chance of a rockfall. They have commissioned costly studies of the problem and have made all sorts of grand plans.

But nothing, not even a temporary measure, has been taken to stop the rocks from falling.

Now we're told that a project to erect protective mesh over the rocks will probably not begin until Feb. 1, even though there was a rockslide Tuesday that raised serious concerns, although — fortunately — there was no injury or damage.

According to reports, Sea Life Park was concerned that construction work would interfere with traffic during its busy season.

DOT spokeswoman Marilyn Kali says the timing works on several fronts: Sea Life Park won't be inconvenienced. The contractor needs time to garner materials for the job and the DOT doesn't do lane closures anyway during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays because of increased traffic.

Wayne Nielsen, the general manager of Sea Life Park, has since changed his mind about the delay, saying he wants to see the work done sooner than later to avoid renewed threats to human life.

We hope his concerns are met.

Any delay seems awfully risky. February is four months away. A rockslide could easily occur in that time, and someone might be hurt or even killed.

As a reminder, didn't the state just get nailed by a judge who found the state negligent for its failure to warn about potential dangers at Sacred Falls, where a rockslide killed eight people in 1999?

Regardless of whether it's done now or later, the $1.3 million netting project to hold back the rocks will pose an inconvenience to residents and visitors. The job is expected to take three weeks and will shut down that section of the highway each day from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The inconvenience is worth it.