DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

News Release

LINDA LINGLE

GOVERNOR

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LAURA H. THIELEN, CHAIRPERSON

Phone: (808) 587-0401

Fax: (808) 587-0390

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For Immediate Release: September 20, 2007

DLNR Begins Maunalaha Stream Restoration Project
To Ensure Safety of Round Top Drive

HONOLULU— The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has begun restoration work to repair a stream bed, three bridge crossings, and banks of the Maunalaha stream that were damaged by heavy rains in March 2006.

“DLNR, the City and County of Honolulu, State Civil Defense, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are continuing to work together to coordinate planning and repairs for slopes above and below Round Top Drive and restoration of Maunalaha stream that were damaged by heavy rains in March last year,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.

“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we continue to move forward on the sequence of repairs needed to ensure the safety of the hillside and the road,” she said.

Project consultant Manthos Engineering conducted the stream survey and design work and held a community meeting to explain the project to valley residents.

Project contractor is Paradigm Construction. The project will cost approximately $686,000 and is expected to take 150 calendar days for completion.

In addition to DLNR’s remediation project for Maunalaha stream, another project to repair damaged road sections of Round Top Drive is being completed by the City and County so that it can be reopened for public use. The road has been closed since March 2006.

Once the City has completed its repairs of Round Top Drive, anticipated by the end of this year, DLNR will return to implement the final phase of its part of the work, to provide a more permanent slope restoration as well as to re-vegetate/landscape the slope.

Recommendations for these future repairs of the two sections of the hillside (above and beneath the hairpin turn of Round Top Drive) were based on geotechnical investigation by consultant firm Earth Tech.

Last summer, DLNR carried out three projects to:

- remove mud and black sand that covered the roadway between 3 to 6 feet deep;
- remove damaged trees;
- cut back the slope to reduce the potential of future debris slides;
- install an erosion control silt fence, erosion control mat, and apply hydromulch to the slope; and
- install temporary concrete jersey barriers beneath the slope along the roadside as further protection.

Total cost of these three projects was approximately $710,000.

Heavy rains caused a landslide March 22, 2006 in the 2800 block of Round Top Drive. The landslide affected 100 feet of roadway and left a pile of dirt about 6 feet high.

On March 24, thundershowers caused a huge mudslide on Round Top Drive, forcing the closure of the roadway, the fourth in as many days. A week later, on March 31, a severe landslide brought down mud and black sand that covered the roadway more than 3 feet deep

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For more information, media may contact:
Laura Fabrey
Phone: (808) 587-0320