Posted on: Thursday, August 5, 2004

Work on bird pond boardwalk resumes

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor

KEALIA, Maui — Nesting season is over for the endangered Hawaiian stilt and Hawaiian coot, and that means construction can start again on a nearly half-mile stretch of raised boardwalk at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge.

Central Construction Inc. of Kahului was able to drive some test piles for the $2.2 million pro-ject last December, but further work was halted from January through July on behalf of the birds.

Unusually high water conditions at the pond, caused by heavy rain, delayed this week's planned restart, said Refuge Manager Glynnis Nakai. Normally the Ma'alaea Flats where the boardwalk will be built are dry by mid-June, she said.

Barring further delays, the work should resume Monday. A temporary fence has been installed at the planned parking area where the boardwalk will begin to create an area for the contractor to use during construction.

A crane will be employed to drive piles for the raised 2,200-foot-long boardwalk. Nakai said she expects the noise from the pile driving to be minimal, but there may be occasional traffic delays on busy North Kihei Road, which cuts through the refuge.

The 700-acre Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on Maui's south shore was established in 1992 and includes some of the last remaining natural wetland habitat in Hawai'i.

Stilts and coots live there year-round and migratory ducks and shorebirds visit in the fall, winter and spring. Kealia Beach, adjacent to the refuge, is a nesting ground for the endangered hawksbill turtle.

Beach users are advised to avoid the construction zone. The beach can be reached through a newly replaced wooden dune fence at two points just east of the construction area, with limited roadside parking available.

Construction of the Kealia Coastal Boardwalk is expected to take four months. In addition to the walkway, the project includes three kiosks, a bridge over the pond outlet and interpretive panels along the route.

The boardwalk decking and handrails will be made from recycled material provided by Aloha Plastics Inc. Maui residents have been asked to recycle 1.5 million plastic gallon jugs to provide raw material for the project.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.