After heavy rains and landslides that damaged more than 30 properties near Tripler Army Medical Center in late 2003, the Corps tagged 13 boulders for removal with bright orange spray paint. Prometheus Construction expects to complete work on the boulder demolition and installation of safety catchment fences in a quarter-mile stretch along Ala Aolani Street and Ala Aoloa Loop by early November.

Prometheus specializes in rockfall mitigation and has completed projects in Makapu'u, Hawai'i Kai and at Waimea Bay.

"A lot of jobs I end up doing are a reaction to something bad that has happened," said Cliff Tillotson, construction manager for Prometheus. "In all these valleys, they built developments right up to the slopes, and a lot of times, there are these boulders just sitting up there."

In this case, he said, "The Army Corps went out and did their own study and are doing the work before anything bad happens. I kind of have a good feeling about it."

Traffic will not be disrupted during the $1.4 million Moanalua project, but a few homes will likely be evacuated for one day while helicopters remove crushed rock, said Dino Bu-chanan, a spokesman for the Corps.

In recent years, boulders have fallen in several residential areas, including Kailua, Nu'uanu and Nanakuli. In 2002, Dara Rei Onishi was killed when a 5-ton boulder crashed through her family's Nu'uanu home.

Rep. Glenn Wakai, D-31st (Salt Lake, Tripler) helped secure federal funding for the Moanalua project — the Corps' first local rockfall mitigation effort — through the office of Sen. Dan Inouye, D-Hawai'i.

"The government in this case is taking a really responsible action," Wakai said. "This is not something they are legally responsible to do, but it's a case where they realize there are boulders precariously above people's homes. Rather than wait for something tragic to happen, they are being really good neighbors in taking those boulders down."

Moanalua resident Janet LeGrande said she is happy that the Corps is removing the hillside boulders. But she still has several boulders in a drainage ditch behind her house from the Dec. 7, 2003, flooding that could step up the potential for drain blockage and flooding on her property during a powerful storm.

"I'd like them to clean out the ditch, clear off the hillside and maybe put up a fence. Whatever they need to do to keep the hillside stable so we don't get anymore slides," LeGrande said.

Last year the Navy spent about $225,000 to secure a 60-ton boulder perched more than 100 feet above Ala Lani Street on the opposite side of the valley.

Don Metzger, whose home is directly below the big rock, said his family sleeps better knowing the problem has been dealt with.

"I went up to check what they did. There is a huge metal cable strapping the rock in. It looks pretty secure to me, and I was satisfied with what I saw in terms of stability to the area," Metzger said. He added, "Chopping them up and taking then out, in the long run, it is a better solution."

Wakai said he is now seeking funds for a third project, which would involve removing or securing boulders on the Navy side of the valley.

"There are fewer homes on the 'Ewa side of the valley that are prone to rockslides," he said. "The need is greater on the Tripler side. That is why we went after the (Corps) funding first."