Bridges: Kolekole Bridge on the Belt Highway is Now ​Designated a Traffic Emergency Zone...Why?What Does that Mean?

Kolekole Bridge on the Belt Highway (Highway 19). Photo taken from Kolekole Beach Park, courtesy of Susan Forbes

The Hakalau Kuleana and the entire coast north of Hilo has many gulches and few or no alternate routes for commerce, emergencies, or carrying on daily life should bridges be closed.  The potential for being stranded, cut off from access to either Hilo and/or Waimea is real. Bridges close, sometimes for years and sometimes without much notice.

Highway 19 bridges over the Hakalau Gulch and the Kolekole Gulch are considered to be in poor condition, based on the National Bridge Inventory. We are now facing an emergency with the Kolekole Bridge on the Belt Highway (Highway 19). This bridge is listed as the State's 37th priority [for repairs], not to be addressed in the near future.  However, the Kolekole Bridge was designated a traffic emergency zone by the State Department of Transportation on September 15 due to bridge inspection findings. The good news is that this designation facilitates quick action to make the repairs needed to ensure continued access. 

The Hawaii Tribune Herald article published September 20th provides a good overview of the current situation.
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On September 27th, the State Department of Transportation posted its plans for repair of 3 Hamakau Coast bridges including both Kolekole and Hakalau Bridges. 

​NOTE: Official updates are available from the State Department of Transportation under the headings of What's New? and Roadwork. Social media updates can be found on the Hakalau Neighborhood FaceBook Group.

ISSUES TODAY

HISTORY OF OUR BRIDGES

Updates:
​October 4, 2021

Upcoming Events: 

• 10/4/21 - Updated events. 
•  Classes at the Hakalau Jodo Mission continue in October, with the exception of Bon Dance Practice (resuming later). Face masks are required for all classes. 

​Yesterday:​

• 9/27/21 - Expanded information about community leader and former member of the Hakalau Jodo Mission, Satoru Kurisu
• 9/3/21 - Redeveloped and expanded Wailea Spanish Camp
• 8/5/21 - Redeveloped and expanded Wailea Mill Camp
• 6/11/21 - Expanded the overview of Camps to include development of Kulaimano Subdivision built to house sugar workers who were being moved out of old plantation housing.[The next step is redeveloping and expanding the content for each camp.]
• 6/11/21 - Expanded information about early member of the Hakalau Jodo Mission, Kikujiro Yokoyama.
• 6/1/21 - Redeveloped and expanded Wailea Milling Company 

Today: ​​​​

• 9/27/21 - Added the October Newsletter to the Hakalau Jodo Mission Today. 
• 9/19/21 - Updated Issues Today to include the emergency status of the Kolekole Bridge on the Belt Highway, effective 9/15/21.

Overall:

• Redesigned to support better viewing on phones and tablets. This new design makes text easier to read and photos larger and easier to see detail. 
• Redesign and reorganization will both support adding new information. Changes will be released over the coming months. 
• It's time to take all we've learned about the Hakalau Kuleana and convert it to a narrative that is easier to understand and navigate--with pictures, of course!

Aerial view of Hakalau taken circa 2009-2010, courtesy of Julie Goettsch