A key infrastructure project in Kapaʻa Homesteads is officially underway following a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony. The Department of Water (DOW) and contractor Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company Inc., (HDCC), came together last Friday to mark the beginning of the Kapaʻa Homesteads Tanks Project. According to a press release from the County of Kauaʻi, the project will introduce two new 0.5 million-gallon storage tanks, totaling 1 million gallons, and also will to include improvements to the storm drain systems.
Manager and Chief Engineer Joe Tait conveyed the significance of this development for the local community during the ceremony, "This project has been a long-time coming. These new storage tanks enhance the current on-site storage from the circa 1923 storage tank and will be a tremendous benefit to the surrounding community," as reported by the County of Kauaʻi. Additionally, the project will see the construction of approximately 1,700 linear feet of water lines in various sizes and the necessary accessories.
Funding was another critical factor in pushing the project forward. Contributions from the state budget, which were secured by legislative leaders, cover roughly one-third of the project's $23.3 million costs. During the event, attendees included notable figures such as Speaker of the House Nadine Nakamura and Board of Water Supply Vice-Chair Tom Shigemoto. Nakamura highlighted the project's impact, emphasizing the enhanced fire protection it will provide to local schools, saying, "These storage tanks...will be a tremendous benefit to the surrounding community."
The blessing ceremony was led by Kahu Jade Waialeale Battad and included important community and government stakeholders. Beyond its immediate use, this project also supports the future, as it lays the groundwork necessary to fully realize the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital (SMMH) Master Plan. The initiative aims to substantially uplift water infrastructure necessary to accommodate the master plan's robust requirements. In her remarks, Nakamura pointed to the specific value of these improvements to Kapaʻa Elementary School and Kapaʻa High School, as reported by the County of Kauaʻi.
Service to the community and the successful completion of the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital (SMMH) Master Plan also made the project a priority. All eyes are now on the anticipated finish line, with a completion date set for 2027. To stay informed on its progress or for any inquiries, the Department of Water has made available its contact number, 808-245-5455, and email address, [email protected], to the public.
