Hawaiʻi County and State Officials, alongside private landowners, recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a new emergency egress road in Waikōloa. The road, which will be constructed and funded by a private landowner, will connect Kamakoa Nui Drive with Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway near the 71-mile marker. The route will supplement the existing County-owned Hulu Street emergency exit, providing crucial extra exit points for Waikōloa Village residents during emergencies.

The emergency egress road marks the first phase of a broader development plan. Phase two will create a permanent secondary access point to and from Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Waikōloa Village, further improving connectivity and safety for the area.

In a press release Mayor Roth said, “This roadway has long been promised to the Waikōloa community, and our administration is committed to fulfilling that promise. While our primary goal is to establish a second connector route to the Village, we recognize the urgent need for additional emergency exit points. Therefore, we requested the landowners to divide the project into phases to expedite its completion, ensuring the safety and well-being of Waikōloa Village residents.”

Governor Josh Green, HDOT Director Ed Sniffen, Senator Tim Richards, Representative David Tarnas, and Councilmember Cindy Evans joined Mayor Roth at the groundbreaking. Joel La Pinta, representing Will Morgan, and Charles Somer, who will not only give a portion of his land for the road easement but also fund the project, represented the landowners.

 

Photo credit: Office of Mayor Mitch Roth