Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release June 20, 2013

PROJECT TO BEGIN TO REPAVE KAUAI RACEWAY PARK 

LIHUE —   A groundbreaking ceremony was held today at the Kauai Raceway Park, also known as Mana Drag Strip, to mark the start of construction of a $1 million capital improvement project to repair the facilities on the site and remove and resurface the pavement. The track was last surfaced in 1972.

The Kauai Raceway Park is over 30 years old and has deteriorated to an unsafe condition, leaving Kauai racers no other location for legal racing.

“The Department of Land and Natural Resources is pleased to join with the Garden Island Racing Association to promote safe motor sports and racing on the track, not the streets,”said William J. Aila, Jr., DLNR chairperson.

This project, set to begin in July,  will repave the asphalt concrete (AC) race track, reconstruct the concrete launch pad and burnout box, and restore pavement markings.  Additional funds allotted to this project will extend the repaving to the AC track shutdown area that will allow vehicles to safety decelerate from high speeds.

The Garden Isle Racing Association (GIRA) has worked with DLNR and its design consultant The Limtiaco Consulting Group to ensure that the track is constructed to NHRA specifications.  Jennings Pacific, LLC is the project contractor.  GIRA will provide labor and technical assistance to install wiring to the completed timing system.  The project is targeting a completion date before the Labor Day Holiday (September 2, 2013) when GIRA plans to conduct a dedication event and race.

Capital improvement funding of  $246,000 was authorized by the Hawaii Legislature for design and construction management, plus $847,000 for construction.

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Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320