By John Burnett. A community organization has filed a lawsuit against the county, Mayor Mitch Roth and Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst, alleging the closure of Waipi‘o Valley Road to all but a handful of people is unlawful. The civil complaint was filed Friday in Hilo Circuit Court by Hilo attorneys Steven Strauss and Christopher … Read More
By Paula Dobbyn. A decision by the Big Island mayor to abruptly close road access to Waipio Valley for most people is causing major heartburn for various sectors of the public. One lawsuit was filed in late March. Another case is in the works. And a petition demanding that Mayor Mitch Roth lift or amend … Read More
By Chris Yuen. The county has made an emergency order closing Waipi‘o Valley Road to everyone except residents and farmers. It is based on an engineering consultant’s estimate of the risk of rockfalls. That estimate is wrong. It is about 280 times too high for pedestrians and 100 times too high for motorists. I don’t … Read More
By Paula Dobbyn. A decision by Hawaii County’s mayor to close the popular Waipio Valley Road is stirring debate on the Big Island, with some residents saying the decision caught them off guard and others calling it heavy handed. Citing threats to public safety from hazardous road conditions, Mayor Mitch Roth issued an emergency proclamation on Feb. … Read More
Issued by the Mayor’s Office. Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (“HRS”) Section 264-1.5 and due to the hazardous conditions of Waipio Valley Road, which are a threat to public health and safety, I hereby adopt and promulgate the following rules which have the force and effect of law. This … Read More
By Tom Hasslinger. Advocates of a plan to restrict access into one of Hawaii’s most sacred valleys haven’t given up hope that a solution limiting congestion can still be found. Despite the Hawaii County Council’s recent decision to defer Bill 217 — a proposal to ban foot traffic along the county road from Waipio Valley Lookout … Read More
By Ed Johnston. On Wednesday, Dec. 23, (2020) the Hawaii County Council will consider a bill banning most pedestrians from the road into Waipio Valley. This steep, narrow, public county road provides the only access to Waipio’s mile-long beach, as well as the state’s Muliwai hiking trail, its campground in the valley beyond and the … Read More
