HomeMy WebLinkAboutMayor's Waipio Executed Waipio Valley Road Emergency Rule No. 1 02/25/2022Mitchell D. Roth
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Gee E. Lord
Managing Direclor
Robert H. Command
Depwy Man aging Director
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25 Aupun i Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 . (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740
(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440
Mayor's Waipiio Valley Road Emergency Rule No. 1
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Hawaii Revised Statutes ("FiRS")
Section 264-1.5 and due to the hazardous conditions of Waipio Valley Road, which are
a threat to public health and safety, 1 hereby adopt and promulgate the following rules
which have the force and effect of law.
This Emergency Rule is based upon scientific information and expertise available,
Waipio Valley Road is in imminent threat of slope and roadway failure threatening the
health, safety and welfare of the people; and
WHEREAS, the danger of disaster is of such magnitude to warrant preemptive and
protective action in order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the people; and
I, Mitchell D. Roth, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, hereby authorize the
following:
A. Waipio Valley Road Closure
Waipio Valley Road shall be closed, subject to the express limited
exceptions herein.
B. Limited Access Exceptions
1. Residents and farmers of Waipio Valley (no visitors);
2. Property Owners or Leaseholders of Waipio Valley with verified agricultural
----activity, limited to crop cultivation, or animal husbandry (including essE:ntial farm
workers) (n❑ visitors) ;
3. County/State/Federal governmental employees, verified governmental
contractors, and Non -Government Organization ("NGO")'s authorized to respond
to the emergency;
4. Those permitted Limited Access Exceptions pursuant to sections 1-4 above,shall
be by:
a) Four-wheel drive vehicles only;
County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Mayor's Waipio Valley Road Emergency Rule No. 1
Page 2 of 3
b) Vehicle shall be engaged in four-wheel drive mode;
c) Vehicles with a GVWR of up to 10,000 lbs.;
d) Exceptions for emergency response vehicles;
5. Exceptions expressly authorized by the Mayor.
C. Further Restrictions and Prohibitions on Businesses, Opera tion�s_and
Activities in the Waipio Valley Area that require access via Waipio
Valley Road
Regardless of Limited Access Exceptions pursuant to section B, the
operation of the following Businesses and Activities are prohibited:
a) Tourism activities; -
b) Voluntary stewardship programs;
c) Transient Vacation Rentals' ("TVRs");
d) Camping, including but not limited to State of Hawaii permitted
camping sites.
D. Prohibition on Pedestrian and Non -Covered Vehicles
a) Prohibition of all pedestrian access to Waipio Valley Road;
b) Prohibition of all uncovered vehicular access to Waipio Valley Road,
including but not limited to ATVs,-
c) Prohibition of horseback access to Waipio Valley Road;
E. Regardless of Limited Access Exceptions pursuant to section B,
Complete Closure During Significant and Prolonged Rain Events
All access is to Waipio Valley Road is prohibited during Significant and
Prolonged Rain Events, which shall be defined as:
a) 1.5 inches or more of rain predicted in a 1-hour period; or
b) 9 inches or more of rain predicted in a 24-hour period.
All vehicular access to enter Waipio Valley via Waipio Valley Road shell be
prohibited and exiting Waipio Valley via Waipio Valley Road shall be limited to
emergency usage only. In the event of a natural disaster during which evacuation on the
valley is required, the prohibitions shall be lifted only for the purpose of exiting the
valley.
Transient Vacation Rental: Bed and breakfast establishment, Short Term Vacation Rental, Hosted
Vacation Rental or other rental for a period of 30 days or less.
County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Mayor's Waipio Valley Road Emergency Rule No. 1
Page 3 of 3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of
the County of Hawaii to be affixed. Done this 25t" day of February, 2022 in Hilo,
Hawaii,
7----\. 2!:!9
Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
County of Haw-ai'i
I HUM CERTIFY that move Is a
true and colaW copy of tine original
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County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employcr. County c