Posted on: Thursday, April 28, 2005

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. When is the state going to fix that rough road heading into Kailua?

A. The good news is that road resurfacing work will start within a few weeks, state transportation officials say.

The bad news? It will likely take six months to complete because most of the resurfacing on Kalaniana'ole Highway — from Castle Junction to Castle Medical Center — will be done during the day, according to state Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

Work is expected to begin in June.

Ishikawa said the state will be looking to reduce any impact to endangered shearwater birds that live in the area. He said May to November is mating season for the birds and there is concern that construction lights could confuse and distract the birds.

Ishikawa said Maunawili residents had objected to night hauling operations during recent construction at Castle Junction because of the noise. But he said the state is requesting some night work to help ease the traffic disruption along that busy corridor.

"Repaving is actually quieter than hauling dirt," he said.

Most of the road will get a new two-inch layer of asphalt, Ishikawa said. Some areas where the road has failed will be dug up for more extensive work.

"The deeper you go underneath the road to fix the foundation, the better the chances are that the road will hold up longer," he said.

Q. The old S. Tanaka store in Kahuku has become a really tacky marketplace. It looks like there are illegal-sized signs for the makeshift shrimp operations, etc. It's gotten worse over the last month and I wonder if the city noticed what's going on with this.

A. City officials have been out to the property at 56-931 Kamehameha Highway, more commonly known as the S. Tanaka Store, and have cited the owners for violations, according to David Tanoue, deputy director of the city Department of Planning and Permitting.

Tanoue said the violations included unlawful additions/alterations, illegal signs, and businesses that are not permitted on the property. He said the owner has until Saturday to correct the violations.

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