NOTICE OF CONSULTATION
SECTION 106 OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT OF 1966
AS AMENDED (2006)
KUHIO HIGHWAY EMERENCY SHORELINE MITIGATION
AHUPUAA OF WAILUA, DISTRICT (MOKU) OF PUNA, ISLAND OF KAUAI, STATE OF HAWAII
FEDERAL-AID PROJECT NUMBER: ER-24(004)
TAX MAP KEYS: 3 9 006:012; 4-1-004:001; 4-1-004:020; 4-1-004:999; 4 1 005:004; 4-1-005:014, 4-1-005-017, 4-1-005:999
Notice is hereby given that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Division (HDOT) propose the roadway preservation project. This federally funded HDOT project is considered a federal action and undertaking, as defined by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended (2006).
The Wailua Beach area on Kauai was impacted by a large storm in March 2021. The storm surge removed much of the protective beach sand dunes along with large sections of naupaka vegetation and large iron-wood trees and ultimately caused severe undermining of the highway infrastructure. On March 9, 2021, Governor David Ige issued an emergency proclamation to provide relief for disaster damages, losses, and suffering, as well as to protect the health, safety, and welfare of people. This project addresses the permanent repairs to prevent further damage to vulnerable assets.
HDOT is proposing an ungrouted rock revetment to protect the highway infrastructure from extreme events such as storm surges, wave run-up and hurricane force waves. In addition to the ungrouted rock revetment, HDOT, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii, is proposing to use Sandsaver, a new, patented beach nourishment technology, to restore the beach to protect the highway infrastructure from daily ocean forces. Sandsaver works by using the energy of breaking waves to thrust suspended sand particles up the beach at the same time breaking down the energy of the waves, thereby building sand dunes back and reducing erosion to the beach and ultimately protecting the roadway.
Along with the installation of the Sandsaver, HDOT will be regrading the sand on the beach to its previous condition lost by previous storm events and wave action. HDOT will be removing a concrete slab, sandbags, concrete column, trees and debris. Signs, traffic delineators, a concrete slab, and boulders will be installed and new naupaka plants will be planted.
To study the wave action along Wailua Beach, HDOT, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii, is proposing the placement of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) at various locations along the ocean floor. ADCPs gather the full wave spectrum and current velocity of the water column and will assist in identifying the appropriate location and configuration of the Sandsaver.
Pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA, Native Hawaiian Organizations and Native Hawaiian descendants with ancestral, lineal or cultural ties to, cultural and historical property knowledge of and/or concerns for, and cultural or religious attachment to the proposed project area are requested to contact HDOT. Other individuals and organizations with demonstrated legal, economic or historic preservation interest in the undertaking are asked to contact HDOT and share information you may have on historical and cultural sites that you may have knowledge of within the proposed APE. We welcome any information within 30 days of notice.
Interested participants are requested to contact Mr. Lawrence J. Dill via email at Lawrence.J.Dill@hawaii.gov, or by U.S. Postal Service to 1720 Haleukana Street, Lihue, HI, 96766. Please respond within 30 days of this notice.
