Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR

SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release January 27, 2017

COMMUNITY MEETING SET ON IAO VALLEY STATE MONUMENT REPAIRS
Scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 1 in Wailuku

(Wailuku, Maui) – Interested people are invited to an informational meeting on the initial phases of the Iao Valley State Monument flood repair project by the DLNR Division of State Parks.

The park has been closed since last fall after a serious flood and this meeting is an opportunity for people to get updates.

It will be at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.  The parking area for the Center is currently closed for improvements, but parking is available at the adjacent Papohaku Community Park.

The upcoming repair project will stabilize the significantly eroded and now unstable slopes of Iao Valley’s vehicular access road and the parking area facing the Wailuku River. People attending the meeting will learn about stabilization methods, construction methods and planned best management practices to be employed during the project. There will also be briefings on cultural and archaeological resources and protocols, water quality monitoring, and repairs to further stabilize the bridge over Kinihapai Stream. 

“This is the start of significant repairs required for the park to address safety for access for residents and visitors, said Curt Cottrell, State Parks Administrator.  “We appreciate the community’s understanding and cooperation when it was essential to close the Park in September 2016. It is our goal to reopen Iao Valley State Monument to modified public access sometime this summer,” Cottrell added.

The project is scheduled to start on February 13, 2017, and the contractor is Maui Kupono Builders, LLC.  The project cost is $1,837,341. It is expected to be completed in 150 days or sooner, however weather events may cause unexpected delays.

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Media Contact:

Dan Dennison 
Senior Communications Manager
Hawaii Dept. of Land & Natural Resources
Communications Office
(808) 587-0407