HALONA BLOWHOLE AREA TEMPORARILY CLOSES FOR SAFETY WORK

 The parking lot and viewing area at Halona Blowhole have been closed today so that workers can complete important renovations that will make the area safer and more attractive.

As the City announced one month ago, the project is expected to be completed in September, and the site will then reopen.

 The project schedule was coordinated so that the site will reopen before the next whale watching season begins. The schedule was formulated in consultation with the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Program.

 The project will primarily address safety concerns. A section of the viewing area’s lower level lookout collapsed in 1997 due to weathering, and has been closed since then. The upper viewing level has signs of severe deterioration.

 The project will include:

 ·        Demolition of the lower lookout platform due to safety concerns, and restoration of the area to a natural appearance;

·        Reconstruction of the upper visitor viewing platform;

·        Provision of access for disabled people from the parking lot to the upper viewing area. Such access is not currently available;

·        Reconfiguration of the parking lot to improve pedestrian and motorist safety. The number of parking stalls will remain the same.

Construction cost will be $824,000, and the City’s contractor is Kaikor Construction Company Inc.