FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              January 27, 2006

Release M-8-06

CITY TO BEGIN CLEARING STREAM IN WAIKANE

            Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced today that work is scheduled to begin Tuesday (January 31^st) to clear an unnamed Waikane Valley stream that has had a history of flooding onto Kamehameha Highway during heavy rains.

            “I am happy to be able to report that the contractor has secured the necessary permits and has rearranged the schedule to begin work more quickly that initially anticipated,” said Hannemann.  “We will now be able to work toward removing the debris and branches that clog the no-name stream so that it doesn’t overflow its banks and spills onto the highway.”

            The City and the state Housing and Community Development Corporation share ownership of the stream.  After the city budgeted $250,000 for the project, the Hannemann administration was able to gain the cooperation of the state to share in the cost of the project.

            “At the end of the day, the people who live and travel around that beautiful part of our island don’t really care what the City owns and what the state owns,” said Hannemann.  “Kamehameha Highway is the key artery for the people on the Windward coast, and I’m just glad we’re going to be able to help them.”

            Hannemann also credited Council Chair Donovan Dela Cruz for making the project a priority for his district.

            The contractor for the stream-clearing project is Glad’s Landscaping and Tree Trimming, Inc., Dba The Tree People.

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Contact:

              Bill Brennan, 527-6928

              Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767