PO‘IPU — Amidst bright orange detour signs and backhoes sitting empty, cars slowly weaved through the recently reopened section of Po‘ipu Road yesterday from the Koloa fire station to the Kapili Road junction. The road was closed last May when
PO‘IPU — Amidst bright orange detour signs and backhoes sitting empty, cars slowly weaved through the recently reopened section of Po‘ipu Road yesterday from the Koloa fire station to the Kapili Road junction.
The road was closed last May when work on a roundabout intersection began in the area.
Paul Kuribayashi, owner of Kukui‘ula Store on Po‘ipu Road, has felt the impact of the construction.
“The whole complex has been suffering since last June,” Kuribayashi said as he surveyed the half-full parking lot. “It impacted business, and we were losing money by the end of the summer.”
Kuribayashi said the stretch of road in front of his store is supposed to be fixed sometime next month, but he isn’t looking forward to the new asphalt.
“Once they start grinding in front of the store, we might have to close for a few days,” he said. “A lot of the local people don’t want to deal with the road mess and construction.”
At the Poipu Grill, the owners say they’ve yet to realize the snack shop’s potential. The eatery opened when construction began last May.
“We really don’t know any better,” Amanda Ka-ne, cook at the Poipu Grill, said. “We have just heard how good it can be from everyone (in the complex).”
Ka-ne said she hoped business will be better this summer.
The roundabout was added to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic as the South Shore growns.
The biggest development in the area is Kukui‘ula Development Co.’s 1,000-plus-acre community. The company funded $12 million for a county bypass road that circumvents Koloa Town, running from ‘Oma‘o to the fire station.
As the traffic patterns have changed in the area near the roundabout, motorists are advised to drive with caution. Stop signs have been posted at the Lawa‘i Road detour and the Po‘ipu Road intersection.
Motorists on Po‘ipu Road have the right of way at the Lawa‘i Road detour and Po‘ipu Road intersection.
• Rachel Gehrlein, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or rgehrlein@kauaipubco.com.
