Crosswalks, no-parking updates discussed at council

LIHU‘E — Roads and recycling were up for discussion at the Wednesday Kauai County Council meeting.

Councilmembers approved four of the five resolutions relating to speed limits, parking and crosswalks. The county Department of Public Works is required to bring any proposed changes to these things before the council to be approved before implementing changes.

Wednesday, the council approved the establishment of a 15-=mph school zone on portions of Kekaha Road and Kala Road; a new crosswalk at the Hokua Road / Pu‘u Road intersection in Kalaheo; reducing the speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph along Alahula Road in Waimea; and the establishment of turn lanes on Hanamaulu Road at the Kuhio Highway intersection.

The council deferred the last road-project resolution until Feb. 19 to give DPW a chance to connect with local residents about establishing a no-parking zone at the intersection of Mano Street and Hanalima Street in Puhi.

“Check in with them (the neighbors), all those neighbors in the corner area,” said Councilmember Felicia Cowden. “It’s important that there is agreement.”

County Managing Director Mike Dahilig stopped by the meeting to testify in support of the no-parking zone, as a private citizen who lives on Hanalima Street. He made sure to be clear that he was not the one who requested the item be on the agenda and said the intersection is tricky to navigate without people parked alongside the street.

“One thing to take into consideration is that Hanalima Street is a hill. If you’re trying to make a left, you’re at a disadvantage,” Dahilig said. “I purposefully don’t use that street.”

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Jessica Else, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.