Communication Number 2019-14 Waikoloa 2nd Access Rd Report

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Waikoloa Subcommittee's Second Access Road Report State development in Waikoloa: Waikoloa School (K-8), Building J Waikoloa Elementary School opened in September of 1994 with 325 students (K-5). The Elementary school's population grew to @560. In 2007, the BoaRoad of Education authorized the expansion of the school to incorporate Middle School students. With that, Waikoloa School's student population has grown to @825 students and @130 staff members. Building J is a two-story 10 classroom building and is the final phase of the original school plan's build -out. It is currently under construction in 2019. 4. Emergency Evacuation out of Waikoloa Village In emergencies prior to 2005, all traffic passed through the Paniolo Avenue-Waikoloa Road intersection. During the August 2005 wildfire in South Kohala that threatened the eastern and southern areas of the Village, this intersection was significantly impacted and at times was completely impassable due to lack of visibility from the smoke. Waikoloa Road was closed and Waikoloa School was not evacuated; rather, it was designated as the evacuation center for the community and students. No decision makers were on location in Waikoloa Village. Communications were poor and it was a frightening experience. The debrief on that fire with the community and County officials afterwards was contentious with the community demanding action. The County responded in 2006 by designating an extension of Hulu Street to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway as an emergency evacuation road. This one-way, single -lane emergency road is for west -bound traffic only by those exiting the Village. It could fulfill its role as an alternate evacuation route out of the Village, albeit slowly, if the Paniolo Avenue/Waikoloa Road intersection is closed due to an emergency. (Hawaii County Police estimated evacuation time: 5 hours.) The distance from Hulu to the Queen Kaahumanu is 2.5 miles. Bumper to bumper, that distance would accommodate @880 vehicles. In case of fire, that timeframe could be too long for a safe evacuation, given the speed with which fires spread in the strong winds. One critical issue about the evacuation of children needs to be addressed: Logistically, how would we safely evacuate Waikoloa School's 825 students (Pre -School — 8th grade) and 130 staff members in an emergency? This is a special population and has unique evacuation challenges. Special consideration should be given to Waikoloa School should a fire occur again during the school day, as it did on August 5, 2005. Evacuation for this largest employer and most dense population in Waikoloa should be carefully planned. From numbers mentioned earlier, the combined number of students and staff needing to be evacuated from Waikoloa School is @955, 85% of those being students from ages 3-14. Vehicles to transport and personnel to supervise the student population out of the Village are the major issues. Only one bus (with a capacity of @60) services Waikoloa School on a daily basis in the morning and afternoon, and it does not park on the campus during the day. That bus drops students off who do not live in Waikoloa Village (coming from Anaehumalu Bay to Puako.) Village students either walk, bike, or are dropped off and picked up by car. Significantly, the June 18, 2019 Page 10 017