Posted on: Monday, March 21, 2005

Wind extends HECO helicopter work

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

HAWAI'I KAI — Helicopters will continue to fly over homes in upper Haha'ione Valley to carry workers and materials near the top of the Ko'olau Range while Hawaiian Electric Company replaces a 50-foot utility pole.

Barring further bad-weather delays, the helicopters are expected to work daily from 8 a.m. to about 3 p.m. weekdays through mid-April, said Jose Dizon, company spokesman. Crews are replacing an old wooden pole with a steel pole because the new material is more weather-resistant.

"The structure (pole) is used to carry overhead lines from the Ko'olaus to Hawai'i Kai," Dizon said. "It's part of our routine maintenance program."

Work began in mid-February and was expected to be completed by the end of March, but windy weather delayed the project. Helicopters are dropping workers about 40 yards from the site with equipment, and they are hiking up the hill to the pole. In the afternoon, helicopters return to pick up the crews.

There are no roads leading to the site, Dizon said, and homeowners would have trouble seeing the site from their yards.

The electric utility has notified the community by letter and made a presentation to the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board in February.

"I haven't been bothered by the helicopters," said Michael Stewart, a Haha'ione resident. "The way we face, we have a concrete wall between us and the mountains. But I've heard some people complain about the noise."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.