Hilo Harbor Kumau Street Entrance Improvements Project Begins Work

Posted on Jan 16, 2014 in Main, News
State and project officials took part in a blessing ceremony at Hilo Harbor to launch the $3.4 million Kumau Street Entrance Improvements Project. From left to right, Kahu Brian Welsh, Haili Congregational Church; Glenn Okimoto, Director, State DOT; Nami Wong, State Project Manager, Harbors Division; Creighton Chang, Senior Project Manager, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co.; Neal Fukumoto, Senior Engineer, Wesley R. Segawa & Assoc.; Jeff Hood, Harbors District Manager, Harbors Division; and Bill Wilson, Kamaaina Nissan.

State and project officials took part in a blessing ceremony at Hilo Harbor to launch the $3.4 million Kumau Street Entrance Improvements Project. From left to right, Kahu Brian Welsh, Haili Congregational Church; Glenn Okimoto, Director, State DOT; Nami Wong, State Project Manager, Harbors Division; Creighton Chang, Senior Project Manager, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co.; Neal Fukumoto, Senior Engineer, Wesley R. Segawa & Assoc.; Jeff Hood, Harbors District Manager, Harbors Division; and Bill Wilson, Kamaaina Nissan.

HILO – A blessing ceremony was held this morning by the state Department for Transportation (DOT) for the Hilo Harbor Kumau Street Entrance Improvements Project.  

The $3.4 million project will widen Kumau Street from two lanes to four lanes and modify the intersection of Kumau Street and Kalanianaole Street to improve safety and relieve traffic congestion.  Road improvements include new asphaltic concrete pavement, concrete sidewalks, curbs, gutters, drainage systems, water mains and additional street lighting at the intersection of Kumau and Kalanianaole Streets.

“Hilo Harbor is a vital facility for the Big Island’s east side and these improvements will benefit the entire island,” said Glenn Okimoto, DOT Director.  “The on-going projects to improve and expand harbor operations will serve these communities for generations to come.”

The Kumau Street Entrance Improvements will provide an alternate entry and exit point for commercial cargo traffic when cruise ships are in port. Currently, during cruise ship dockings at Pier 1, cargo operations and cruise ship passenger traffic can overload roadway capacity at the Kuhio Street entrance, leading to traffic and pedestrian congestion.  The new improvements will help to separate the passenger traffic from cargo operations to improve safety and overall efficiency. 

Completion of the Kumau Street Entrance Improvements Project is anticipated in late January 2015.