2025-05-27 HRS 6E-8 Determination

Home

DAWN N. S. CHANG, CHAIRPERSON AND STATE HISTORIC HWY-DS 2.20575 PRESERVATION OFFICER May 27, 2025 Page 2 Description of the Project and Updated Project Area The proposed project includes replacing the existing Waiaka Bridge, located at mile marker 58.88 along Kawaihae Road(State Route 19), in accordance with the design guidelines of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, as adopted by the HDOT for our highway projects. The replacement bridge will accommodate two travel lanes, a shoulder/bike lane, and a raised sidewalk. The approaches will be realigned for a smooth transition to the replacement bridge as well as a roundabout reconfiguration at the Kawaihae Road and Kohala Mountain Road(State Route 250) intersection. In all, the undertaking will consist of the following: • Bridge Replacement: The existing 38 feet long by 26 feet wide with a 3-foot pedestrian walkway bridge will be replaced with an approximately 80 feet long by 53 feet wide bridge. The replacement bridge will include two 12-foot-wide travel lanes and a raised concrete shared-use path. • Realignment of Approaches: The realignment of approaches will affect a section of Kawaihae Road and Kohala Mountain Road. The realignment will extend beyond the existing right-of-way and will require land acquisition from adjacent landowners. • Intersection Improvements: The intersection improvements will include a one-lane roundabout. • Temporary Bypass Bridge and Road: A temporary bypass bridge and road will be constructed to ensure continuous vehicular use during construction activities. Identification of Historic Properties Efforts to identify historic properties included the review of previous archaeological, architectural, historical, and cultural studies; archaeological fieldwork; and consultation with Native Hawaiian Organizations and other interested parties. The review of prior archaeological studies, Corbin 2007; Haun et al. 2002, 2003; Sinoto 1998; Thompson and Rosendahl 1992, indicated that within the current Project Area, two historic properties were previously identified. State Inventory of Historic Places (SIHP) Site 50-10-06-23313 is a concrete foundation located in Keanuiomano Stream. Haun et al., 2002, interpreted this site to be the foundation of a water pump and assessed it to be significant under Criterion d for the information it yielded relative to historic land use. SIHP Site 50-10-06-29221 is the Waiaka Bridge, which was assessed to be significant under Criterion c and d as a good example of a modest reinforced concrete slab bridge that embodies "[t]he distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction" and as the first Federal Aid bridge constructed on Hawaii Island, Log No. 2011.2731, Doc.