Transportation Update From Sen. Pres. Hanabusa

Thank you for your interest regarding the status of the alternate road for Leeward O`ahu. While the Wai`anae Coast Emergency Access Route is being planned and implemented by the City and County of Honolulu, I can assure you that your state government is also looking at alternatives to provide some relief, in cases of emergency, for another way off the Wai` anae Coast. The state Department of Defense and the state Department of Transportation, along with a number of observers, including members of my staff, have actually looked at two potential routes, Kolekole Pass and around Ka`ena Point. After a helicopter tour of the terrain and the current conditions of both routes, the state is reviewing what, if anything may be done. With regards to evacuation routes away from the ocean, the City and County of Honolulu , as part of their Civil Defense preparedness, reviews the appropriateness of the routes to evacuation centers. While I agree with you that it might be prudent to construct more routes leading further into the Lualualei valley and the fact that many of the streets in Ma`ili do not go through to Kula`aupuni Street directly (over the canal) to the evacuation center at Ma`ili Elementary School, the question must be asked of the City and County of Honolulu. I hope this answers the questions that you had regarding your traffic concerns.

Sincerely,
Senator Colleen Hanabusa

[Message from Kristin Kline, committee clerk from Rep. Shimabukuro's office: FYI: Below is a link to a photo album of the pictures I took from the helicopter ride I took on Friday the 21st [of December]. We mostly followed the road that runs along the Wai`anae Coast. There is a picture that shows where there was a landslide and the road was washed away. There is a large boulder in the road where it ends right now.
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=211077383/a=117341216_117341216/t_=117341216]