Wailuku town infrastructure upgrades to begin in January

Infrastructure improvements in Wailuku town, delayed since September, will get underway in January, the county has announced.

The Department of Management said in a news release that construction of Wailuku town improvements will begin with work on Church and Vineyard streets.

“We plan to begin construction once all permits are approved to ensure compliance with all State and County regulations,” Managing Director Sandy Baz said in the announcement.

Delays in the State Historic Preservation Division review and approval process sidetracked the anticipated September start date. Mayor Michael Victorino also asked the Department to move construction to January in order to avoid affecting local businesses during the holiday season, the county said.

“This is a crucial time for all small businesses and I would hate to see our Wailuku merchants affected by this construction during the holidays,” Victorino said in the news release.

Phase 1-A work will include upgraded water and sewer lines; a new storm drain system; overhead power and telecom lines placed underground; new sidewalks on both sides of Church Street and Lower Vineyard Street; new sidewalks on the Waikapu side of Upper Vineyard Street; Church Street changed from a one-way street to two-way; a traffic signal added at the intersection of Main and Church streets; street trees planted; and a new road surface installed.

Construction on Church Street from Main to Vineyard streets will begin first and will take approximately five to six months to complete. The municipal parking lot will remain open.

Construction on Lower Vineyard Street from Market to Church streets will begin thereafter, followed by work on Upper Vineyard Street from Church to High streets. Work on each will take approximately six months with parking available at Wells Park and portions of the municipal lot.

The contractor is Mira Image Construction. For updates on Wailuku town’s improvement projects, visit www.WailukuLIVE.com.

Public meeting set to discuss digital zoning map

The county’s planning department has scheduled a public meeting for Tuesday to gather input on the proposed digital zoning map for Lanai.

Information on the digital mapping project will be provided by planning department staff, who will discuss converting old paper zoning maps to a digital format and correcting inconsistencies and errors. There will be a presentation of the proposed Lanai digital map that will be reviewed next year by the Lani Planning Commission and the Maui County Council for adoption.

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Lanai Senior Center in Lanai City.

More information is available online at www.mauicounty.gov/Planning (in the “Hot Topics” section). Property owners may also call 270-6272 or email DSSRT@mauicounty.gov to ask specific questions.

Haleakala visitor center to temporarily close

Haleakala National Park’s headquarters visitor center (at 7,000 feet) in the summit district will close from Tuesday through Friday for the installation of new exhibits. National Park Service representatives will be available outside the headquarters visitor center to issue backcountry permits and provide park information. The restrooms and parking lot will remain open. The Haleakala visitor center (at 10,000 feet) and the Kipahulu Visitor Center will remain open.

For more information on Haleakala National Park, visit www.nps.gov/hale.

East Maui Taro Festival gets OHA grant

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has awarded a $10,000 grant in support of the 28th annual East Maui Taro Festival.

The festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the ballpark in Hana.

The aim of the festival is to feature taro/kalo in all its various forms — live plants, dishes, taro-themed merchandise, informational materials and hands-on activities. There will be music and hula from local performers all day.

Admission is free. For more information on the event, or to participate, visit www.tarofestival.org or contact 264-1553 or info@tarofestival.org.

OHA provides ‘Ahahui grants to support eligible organizations hosting community events that benefit the Native Hawaiian community.

Send meeting notices, announcements and other news to maui@staradvertiser.com.