WAIANAE, Hawaii (Island News) -- Back in March, Leeward Oahu residents experienced a nightmare during the Kona Low storm.Flood waters surrounded properties, trapping families from going in or out of their homes, as the flood rose up to eight feet in some areas."It's frustrating for the residents here. Whenever this roadway is impassable, it makes it difficult for anybody who needs this route to be connected," said Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Director Ed Sniffen.Now the state is stepping in to kee...
WAIANAE, Hawaii (Island News) -- Back in March, Leeward Oahu residents experienced a nightmare during the Kona Low storm.
Flood waters surrounded properties, trapping families from going in or out of their homes, as the flood rose up to eight feet in some areas.
"It's frustrating for the residents here. Whenever this roadway is impassable, it makes it difficult for anybody who needs this route to be connected," said Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Director Ed Sniffen.
Now the state is stepping in to keep this unforgettable experience from happening again.
"The one silver lining is that the state now owns this road, which has allowed us to expedite this under the emergency proclamation, under the fact that we're trying to resolve issues that we've faced for decades," said State Representative House District 44, Darius kila.
HDOT is working to install aqua cells at two major problem areas to help mitigate future floods. Crews will build tanks that will take in the water, which will eventually trickle down in its own time frame.
"We worked with the Navy to block off the pipe that was feeding a lot of the water into this ditch. They were very good partners. They made sure that we can block it off and store a lot of water on their property as well. But any water that gets in this area still has some place to go," said Sniffen.
The work is expected to be complete in September, but HDOT said once it's complete, no one will notice the change.
"We're going to cover all this stuff up, make sure that the shoulders are dressed and can be used if people need to park in those areas or pull off," said Sniffen.
State Representative Darius Kila said these same aqua cells were a success in Maui.
"This is the most modern technology. so this will be copy paste done across the state," continued Kila. "I mean, it brings me joy that finally L??ole and Nanakuli get to lead the way in a pilot instead of doing it after the fact."
This project isn't just protecting homes; it's also fulfilling a long-awaited promise.
"I think the one thing I'm walking away from the Kwanalo is not just the resilience of our community, but the fact that things that have not been paid attention to for forever are finally being addressed now," said Kila.