Hawaii County now owns the northern portion of the Mamalahoa bypass through the Hokulia development — or will, once the Bureau of Conveyances records the transaction.
The Hawaii County Council accepted the road lots from 1250 Oceanside during its regular meeting Wednesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center.
“There’s so much appreciation we can have for moving this forward in a timely manner,” central Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha said.
Brenda Ford, who now represents South Kona and western Ka‘u, agreed.
“I’m really looking forward to the southern half being taken care of quickly,” Ford said.
Deputy Corporation Counsel Joseph Kamelamela reminded council members the county and 1250 Oceanside reached an agreement in March regarding funding for the southern portion of the bypass, from Halekii Street to Napoopoo Road. The county this year also reached an agreement with landowners for that section of the road.
Public Works Director Warren Lee said paving on the road should have been completed as of Wednesday, weather permitting. The county has already taken out a speed hump on the road, and will need to finish striping and putting up road signs before work on the road is finished.
The county won’t be able to officially open the road around-the-clock until the Bureau of Conveyances records the transaction, Lee said. He hopes the county will own the road early next year. For now, the road is open 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. daily.
The council postponed action on amendments to the county’s Cultural Resources Commission, after several council members questioned the commission’s role and how it would operate in relation to the state’s Burial Council.
“State law clearly gives the kuleana to the Burial Council,” Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd said. “We’re also duplicating those functions. I’m a little concerned about that.”
Leithead Todd said the Cultural Resources Commission would be more focused on historic sites than burials.
Council members had a short discussion over whether they should change the word “shall” in several requirements for the commission to “may.” Ford cautioned against that, because shall is legally binding language, while may is not.
Kanuha, a former Burial Council member, said he was concerned about a Cultural Resources Commission making recommendations about burials.
“With this cultural resource commission, I don’t know how many people are going to be on there that have knowledge of burials,” Kanuha said.
The council also amended the agenda, an unusual move, to consider two certificates and a resolution regarding recent news events. The resolution, which passed unanimously, asked Mayor Billy Kenoi to send 26 anthurium plants to the administration in Newtown, Conn., on the county’s behalf, and to fly the flags at half staff for 26 days, one day for each person killed Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School. One of the certificates expressed the council’s condolences to the town and its residents for the shooting.
The second certificate was to offer the council’s condolences to Sen. Daniel Inouye’s family. Inouye died Monday.
