Kihei high school won’t get underpass, overpass

Based on reported testimony at the Sept. 10 meeting of the state Land Use Commission, Maui residents can be almost certain the state’s departments of education and transportation are never going to approve, fund or construct a pedestrian underpass or overpass for Kihei High School students despite prior “commitments.” It will not happen.

DOT mouthpiece Ed Sniffen made it emphatically clear that the DOT is committed only to a Piilani Highway roundabout for a student crossing which will “slow highway traffic in South Maui to 20 miles per hour or less . . . that’s why the roundabout . . . to make sure we have 15 to 20 mph.”

An ingenious traffic management concept; slow the 44,400 daily vehicle trips on the Piilani Highway to 15 miles per hour so traffic can be permanently gridlocked from Wailea to North Kihei.

His DOE counterpart, Randall Tanaka, stated that his department needed to do a “much better job” in communicating with the public. That’s doublespeak for the DOE will provide no underpass or overpass for Kihei high school: our only regret is not having made that crystal clear earlier. We’ll try to do better when telling you no.

Although the LUC has previously held the DOT and DOE to original commitments, member comments and requests for more input from the two departments signal they will eventually capitulate.

Likely long ago, the die was cast on this matter by political powers on Oahu committed to ensuring that DOE and DOT funds are spent there. All that has followed has been an appeasement charade.

Tom Sams

Kihei