Political, Civic Leaders View Damage Along Kolekole Pass

By Grace Hew Len, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

WAIANAE, Hawaii (NNS) -- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Commander Capt. Richard Kitchens, hosted a group of political and civic leaders on a tour of Kolekole Pass Road in Waianae, Hawaii, April 9 to initiate talks of reopening the thoroughfare only months after weather caused extensive damage.

The Navy closed Kolekole Pass Road in January when significant road damage after heavy rains, and further pavement deterioration of the roadway, rendered the road unsafe for vehicular travel.

The tour group included state representatives, council members and neighborhood board representatives from the Leeward Coast, and representatives from State Civil Defense and the City Department of Transportation Services.

Kitchens hosted the tour in efforts to work with community and state government to discuss the issues and possibilities surrounding the reopening of Kolekole Pass as a state evacuation route. Kolekole Pass has served as an alternate route to Farrington Highway.

"There is no short-term solution to safely open the road due to the additional damage caused by the slide," said Kitchens, referring to the damage to an existing slide area on the road. "The roadway and embankment at the slide area requires major repair for it to be safely used."

Longitudinal cracks forming on the existing pavement require further monitoring. Kitchens said an in-depth assessment of the rockfall and roadway slope failure was completed in March. The engineering study provided recommendations for repairs to the landslide area and erosion control measures.

"The Navy is committed to being good neighbors and good stewards, and understands the compelling need to restore the road as an emergency egress," said Kitchens. "We are ready to partner with other government agencies and the community to find the funds to restore this important emergency evacuation route for civil emergencies."