HECO’s response to
letter to the editor
I’m writing in response to John Paul Wright’s March 26 letter to the editor regarding Hawaiian Electric’s work to rebuild a section of a transmission line located inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
This project is one of many initiatives the company is undertaking to strengthen the Hawaii Island grid and improve reliability and resilience. It involves relocating and upgrading 56 utility poles and equipment and is expected to take up to six months.
The work will be done in four phases: tree trimming, hole digging, installation and energization.
Some of the work will require a partial road closure of Hawaii Belt Road between mile markers 28-30 when crews are working on or near the highway. One lane will be closed in the area in which work is being performed, not the entire two miles.
As announced in our Feb. 28 news release, the work period is 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Our message boards were updated to reflect the correct times. We apologize for the confusion.
Hawaiian Electric has been working closely with the National Park Service on this project. The Special Use Permit specifically prohibits any night work to “avoid impacts to nocturnal flying animals and to avoid lightscape impacts.”
We realize this work may impact traffic, and our crews will make every effort to lessen the disruption to motorists and the community. We will do our best to safely complete the work as quickly as possible while working within the project parameters.
Kristen Okinaka
Hawaiian Electric
Making public aware
of speed limit change
My other half was cited for speeding on Highway 190 at the intersection with Hamo Street on March 27.
The police officer cited her for driving 52 mph in a 35 mph zone while she was driving to work.
As far as I understand, she mentioned to the officer about her belief the speed limit was still 45 mph. Hamo Street is south of Matsuyama Store and is outside the area the state Department of Transportation decreased the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph.
The police officer told my other half the speed limit signage would be changed in this area that afternoon while he was citing her. She could’ve contested the ticket, since the signage had not been changed yet, but she decided to let it go and pay the $152.00 ticket.
I, on the other hand, can’t let this go. This is why I am writing this letter to the editor to inform people the speed limit has been changed on Highway 190 from Matsuyama Store to Hina Lani Street.
I don’t want other drivers to get pulled over for the same infraction.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona
