The County of Hawaii announced updates regarding roads and water lines damaged by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and the use of public assistance grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The recent infrastructure update also advised that environmental assessments for road and water projects can occur simultaneously.
“The County based these decisions for use of federal recovery funding on continued engagement with communities impacted by the eruption in order to provide the best benefit for the Puna community in the long-term,” Douglas Le, County Disaster Recovery Officer, told the Kilauea Eruption Recovery Newsletter. “That includes addressing important issues such as participation in the County’s Voluntary Housing Buyout Program (VHBP), traffic circulation, emergency evacuation, and social and economic needs for the area. FEMA funds not used for restoring particular infrastructure will be used to support alternate projects in Puna.”
The water system to Kapoho subdivisions will not be restored. Instead, the county will develop new water infrastructure projects in Puna.
The county will determine the feasibility of restoring the water line to Isaac Hale Beach Park after an environmental assessment and FEMA approval.
Hinalo Street and Lauone Place will not be restored using FEMA funds. Any further decisions concerning these roads will be based on participation in VHBP. The county is also working with FEMA to determine the safety and design of Highway 137 and Lighthouse Road, as well as upper Pohoiki Road and realignment of lower Pohoiki Road after environmental assessments are completed, according to the Kilauea Eruption Recovery Newsletter.