November 17, 2010 – WAIMEA< Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Karin Stanton

Mayor Billy Kenoi and Parker Ranch officials untied the maile lei Tuesday in Waimea to formally open Ala Ohia Road.

The approximately 1 mile roadway links Mamalahoa Highway with an extension of Pukalani Road, providing increased access on this rural roadway. The new road will ease congestion around Parker Ranch Shopping Center and the two schools at the center of town.

Features of the two-lane roadway include a 10 foot wide multi-purpose corridor for recreational cyclists, walkers and runners.

After the opening, Kenoi and People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawaii executive director Laura Dierenfield took off on bicycles to christen the road.

Parker Ranch was solely responsible for funding the $7 million road project.

The connector road was part of a vision of sixth-generation Parker descendant and the last owner of Parker Ranch, Richard Smart. Smart’s intent was to set aside sufficient lands to allow for uncongested growth and community development. Planning for growth, he felt, would allow the Waimea community to maintain its rural “village” character yet provide for business, employment and housing.

Mayor Billy Kenoi said the bypass is just a small step in creating an island-wide transportation system that gets people where they need to go.

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