On Friday, March 18, the County’s Department of Public Works, Department of Water Supply, Planning Department’s Disaster Recovery Division and Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz (District 4) held a virtual meeting with 50 community members to report on the status of restoring road and water infrastructure impacted by the 2018 Kīlauea volcanic eruption. Participants also received information on project milestones achieved to date and anticipated timeframes for upcoming construction.

In January 2022, FEMA began the Environmental Assessment for road and waterline restoration along Pohoiki Road and Highway 137. The County is a partner in the Environmental Assessment process, which includes consultation with lineal descendants and assessment and documentation of historical, archaeological, and environmentally sensitive resources, including any impacts and mitigation actions. It is anticipated that the Environmental Assessment will be completed in January 2023. The Environmental Assessment is a requirement of utilizing federal funds and must be completed before any construction can begin.

In addition, the County continues to secure rights-of-entry agreements for properties adjacent to construction areas and identify property needed for right-of-way acquisitions. Findings and conditions of the completed Environmental Assessment will assist Public Works and Water Supply in finalizing engineering and design for road and waterline projects. FEMA will issue a notice to proceed after engineering and design is approved, allowing the County to complete right-of-way acquisitions and prepare bids for construction. The construction procurement process is expected to take six months before construction contracts are awarded. Construction for these road and water line projects is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2023 and will be delivered through four coordinated projects.

Anticipated construction start and completion time frames are detailed below:

Combined Road and Water Line Projects along Pohoiki Road and Highway 137

a. Lava-Inundated Upper Pohoiki Road

• Construction Start: Quarter 4, 2023

• Construction Completion: Quarter 3, 2024

b. Lower Pohoiki Road to Highway 137

•Construction Start: Quarter 3, 2024

• Construction Completion: Quarter 2, 2025

c. Highway 137 from Pohoiki Road to Kapoho Beach Road

• Construction Start: Quarter 2 2025

• Construction Completion: Quarter 4, 2025

Highway 137 from Four Corners to Kapoho Beach Road

• Construction Start: Quarter 4, 2023

• Construction Completion: Quarter 2, 2024

Highway 137 from Mackenzie to Pohoiki Road

• Construction Start: Quarter 4, 2023

• Construction Completion: Quarter 2, 2024 4)

Lighthouse Road

• Construction Start: Quarter 4, 2023

• Construction Completion: Quarter 2, 2024

In a press release Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst said, “Following completion of the Environmental Assessment, currently being conducted by FEMA and slated for conclusion by January 2023, DPW and DWS will complete engineering documents, and DPW will solicit bids for the four projects.  Starting dates above are estimates based on current information available. Durations for each of the four projects are based on current known site conditions and the reasonable availability of equipment, labor, and materials necessary to complete the work scopes. In each case, project work will be performed most efficiently so as to provide water service and roadway access to the community as quickly as possible.”

FEMA approved a $61.5 million grant for impacted County roads and a $30 million grant for affected water infrastructure due to the eruption. The grants are provided on a reimbursement basis and cover 75% of the costs that were estimated in a damage assessment. In addition, the County provides a 25% cost match, which will be paid for using the funds awarded by the Hawai‘i State Legislature in 2019.

Action Steps for Pohoiki Road and Highway 137 to-date Include:

• July 2018 – October 2019: Damage to FEMA-eligible roads documented by County Department of Public Works (DPW), Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), and FEMA.

• October 2019 – February 2020: DPW, HI-EMA, and FEMA work to reach a fixed cost agreement on road restoration, with a third-party review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

• December 2019- DPW submits plans for road restoration to FEMA.

• March 2020- Cost agreement between County and FEMA announced that identified about $82 million worth of damage to public roads from the eruption, not including Highway 132. The Federal share is approximately $61.5 million, or 75%, with the County’s share at 25%, or about $20.5 million. FEMA’s funds are provided on a reimbursement basis.

• March 2020- Cost agreement between the Department of Water Supply and FEMA announced that identified about $40 million worth of damage to public water infrastructure from the eruption. Federal share is approximately $30 million, or 75%, with the Department’s share at 25%, or about $10 million. FEMA’s funds are provided on a reimbursement basis.

• April 2020- DPW requests Scopes of Work for restoration projects be submitted individually as decisions are made. Without this approval, DPW was required to provide FEMA with detailed information on how it would use the entire grant amount before FEMA would begin its environmental review of proposed restoration projects.

• July 2020- FEMA approves DPW’s request.

• October 2020- Final design for road project accepted by FEMA

• December 2020- Road project begins Environmental and Historic Preservation review under FEMA.

• March 2021- Lower Pohoiki Road realignment Scope of Work submitted to FEMA in response to information requests from FEMA team reviewing restoration project.

• August 2021- FEMA confirms that Environmental Assessment needed for upper Pohoiki Road restoration and lower Pohoiki Road realignment.

• September 2021- Department of Water Supply re-commits to restore the water line to Isaac Hale Kepo‘okalani Beach Park along Pohoiki Road. The water line is one among several priority projects identified by the Department for FEMA Public Assistance funds.

• November 2021- Department of Water Supply announces plans to build a water line from Pohoiki to Kapoho Kai Drive along Highway 137. This waterline project will be completed alongside the road restoration along Highway 137.

• January 2022- FEMA, as the responsible entity, initiates Environmental Assessment for combined roads and waterline projects along Pohoiki Road and Highway 137 with the County as a partner.