Officials Hope to Fully Clear Hanalei Landslide in 3 Months

https://www.facebook.com/CountyofKauai/videos/447314326506637

Officials hope to open Kūhiō Highway to single-lane emergency traffic by next week after a landslide covered the roadway at Hanalei Hill on March 11.

On Friday, March 12, Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek SK Kawakami spoke from the incident command center to provide an update regarding weather conditions and urged residents to remain vigilant in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

“We will get through this challenge together as we have before — we are Kaua‘i strong,” Kawakami said.

Ed Sniffen, deputy director of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, provided an update on Kūhiō Highway and the landslide at Hanalei Hill. On Friday, crews did an assessment where they looked at the landslide and the condition of the highway.

“(We) found the roadway to be in pretty good condition from our perspective,” Sniffen said.

Sniffen said HDOT was going to push to get the roadway open to emergency traffic first by Tuesday, March 16.

“That’s the best case scenario,” Sniffen explained, “if everything cooperates with us — the weather, the slope conditions.

Sniffen said HDOT will then focus on the long-term recovery, adding they are targeting a three-month timeframe for the restoration of both lanes on Kūhiō Highway.

“That’s the best case scenario and we’ll get more information as we work through the landslide materials,” Sniffen said.

The Emergency Operations Center will continue to operate seven days a week while Kūhiō Highway remains fully closed, said Kaua‘i Police Department’s Capt. Paul Applegate and incident commander for the severe weather.

“While we continue to have severe weather, we urge you to please stay at home and off the roadways as much as possible,” Applegate said.

Kawakami thanked the community for pulling together to help each other during this weather event.

“Thank you for remaining steadfast, strong and ever vigilant,” he said.