Road damage spurs disaster declaration

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed a disaster declaration that will allow the state to make emergency repairs to a highway on Kauai that was damaged by waves last week.

Waves eroded about 15 feet of Kaumualii Highway’s shoulder from July 16 to 19.

The Governor’s Office said continual wave action will undermine the pavement and sewer force main running beneath the highway.

Abercrombie said Wednesday the health, safety and welfare of Kauai’s people and the local economy would be endangered if the highway were to close or if the sewer force main were lost.

The highway is the only route to the west end of Kauai, the county landfill, the wastewater treatment plant and the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands.

$800,000 OK’d for bus shelters on Valley Isle

The Federal Transit Administration has approved an $800,000 grant for Maui County to build new bus shelters and install solar-powered lighting, bike racks and recycling containers at bus stops, U.S. Sen. Daniel Ino­uye and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono announced Tuesday.

Also, the county will make improvements to 10 bus shelters to comply with standards outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Maui’s bus system is one of the fastest-growing public transit systems in the nation, and I would like to thank the administration for investing in its upkeep and accessibility," said Ino­uye, who announced the grant with Hirono.