Crews completing Punalu'u pipe work

By Will Hoover and Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writers

PUNALU'U — Water was expected to be fully restored and both lanes of Kamehameha Highway reopened near Punalu'u Beach Park by this morning if all went well with last night's plan.

A repair crew worked on fixing a water main yesterday in Punalu'u. The pipe broke Tuesday, forcing the closure of Kamehameha Highway near Punalu'u Beach Park and leaving about 25 homes without water. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It takes six hours to eight hours to refill the whole system," she said. "They've got to fill up the 6 million-gallon tank, and then they've got to refill the pipeline from Kahana all the way to Kailua. And that's a long 20 miles worth of pipe."

The state Department of Education said Ka'a'awa School was expected to be open today. The school was closed yesterday because it had no water.

The water main ruptured Tuesday afternoon, leaving an estimated two dozen customers without water and forcing the closure of Kamehameha Highway.

Residents said it was the third break at the same site since December.

Yesterday afternoon the hole around the broken main was an estimated 60 feet by 20 feet, and about 8 feet deep. A few curious onlookers watched as the work proceeded.

Repairs on the latest break were complicated when roots from a nearby kamani tree got in the way.

Workers said they hope to save the tree, which has sentimental value for nearby residents.

Across the street, dirt, debris and sand cluttered the beach park, flushed out when water gushed from the broken pipe.

Employees from RCI Construction, which was working with city crews to repair the break, was trying to clean up the mess.

Chester Kahapea, who lives two doors from the break, said he appreciates that effort.

"You can tell they're concerned about the neighborhood," he said.