HomeMy WebLinkAboutWaipio_Valley_Rd_Short_Term_Safety_Improvements_Project_Archaeological_Pedestrian_Survey_ResultsSCS Project # 2858
Janice Marsters
Senior Principal
Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
JMarsters@haleyaldrich.com
(808) 371-8504 (mobile)
February 20, 2023
RE: Waipi‘o Valley Road Short Term Safety Improvements Project Archaeological Pedestrian
Survey Results [TMK: (3) 4-8-004:003 (por.), 006 (por.), (3) 4-9-001:002 (por.), and 4-9-001:003
(por.)]
Aloha e Janice,
Scientific Consultant Services, Inc. (SCS) conducted an archaeological pedestrian survey of the
Waipi‘o Valley Road Short Term Safety Improvements (WVR) project area on January 10, 13 and 17,
2023. The pedestrian survey area was approximately 750 feet long by 50 feet wide and included the
slopes above and below the upper portion of Waipi‘o Valley Road, and a proposed staging area south of
Waipi‘o Scenic Overlook (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Waipi‘o Valley Road and TMK: (3) 4-8-004:006 are
owned by County of Hawai‘i (COH). The remaining parcels are owned by Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate.
The proposed WVR work consists of removing loose soil and rocks from the slopes above the road and
no work will be conducted within the Waipi‘o Valley Road corridor. The road will not be altered or
affected by the proposed work.
Prior to conducting the archaeological pedestrian survey, SCS researched early Historic era
Hawaiian Government Survey maps and modern USGS maps including Registered Map 0859 (Lydgate
1800s), Registered Map 0871 (Emerson 1880), Registered Map 0872 (Lyons 1880s), Registered Map
0912 (Emerson 1881), USGS 1916 Waipio Quadrangle Map, USGS 1957 Kukuihaele Quadrangle Map,
USGS 1982 Kukuihaele Quadrangle Map, and USGS 1995 Kukuihaele Quadrangle Map. Early Historic
era travel accounts of the area were also researched. There were no historic properties identified on maps
or in travel accounts on the slopes of Waipi‘o Road or within the proposed staging area.
The archaeological pedestrian survey was conducted January 10th and 13th, 2023 by SCS Senior
Archaeologist Tomasi Patolo, B.A. There were no historic properties identified upslope or downslope of
the Waipi‘o Valley Road corridor project area or within the proposed staging area. There is a modern
planting area with rock walls, stairs, and a rock mound within COH-owned TMK: (3) 4-8-004:006. The
planting area is currently used to educate students about Native Hawaiian plantings, traditions, and
culture. A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued for the property in 2007 (2007-05-08-
HI-FEA; Rice Property at Waipi‘o Lookout). As part of the Final Environmental Assessment (FEA), an
Archaeological and Cultural Assessment survey of the property was conducted for the 2-acre property and
no historic properties were identified.
SHPD Hawai‘i Island Archaeologist IV Nicole Mello, M.A. conducted a site visit inspection of
the WVR project area on January 18, 2023 that included the road corridor and the proposed staging area.
An online initial consultation meeting was held on January 27, 2023 and was attended by COH
Department of Public Works (DPW) staff Alex Kalawe and Alan Keone Thompson, SHPD Hawaii Island
SCS Project # 2858
Archaeologists IV Sean Naleimaile and Nicole Mello, Haley & Aldrich, Inc. Senior Principal Janice
Marsters, and SCS Senior Archaeologist Glenn Escott. The proposed project details were discussed.
Based on the fact that the proposed work project area is the slopes of above the upper portion of
Waipi‘o Valley Road and the staging area; the fact that the proposed work will not impact, change or
affect Waipi‘o Valley Road; and the fact there were no historic properties identified during the
archaeological pedestrian survey within the upper slopes of the road corridor or the proposed staging area,
the proposed WVR project will cause no-effect to historic properties. Also, as there are no historic
properties within the project area, it is likely that an archaeological inventory survey (AIS) study will not
be required.
With Regards,
Glenn Escott, M.A.
Senior Archaeologist
Scientific Consultant Services, Inc.
ggescott@yahoo.com
808-938-0968
Figure 1: 7.5-Minute USGS Kukuihaele 1995 Quadrangle Map Showing Project Area Limits, Limits of Proposed Slope Excavation
and Proposed Staging/Laydown Areas (Data Sources: ESRI 2013, National Geographic Society and USGS).
NOTES:
1. BACKGROUND PLAN FROM GOOGLE EARTH,IMAGERY DATED 19 JUNE 2019.
2. LOCATION AND DESIGNATION OF ARCHAELOGICALFEATURES BASED ON FIELD SURVEY CONDUCTED INJANUARY 2023 BY SCIENTIFIC CONSULTINGSERVICES, INC.
SCALE: AS SHOWNFEBRUARY 2023 FIGURE 1
SHORT TERM SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FORTHE WAIPIʻO VALLEY ROAD WAIPIʻO, HAWAIʻI, HAWAIʻI0203303-002-02
PROPOSED
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