A community organization filed a lawsuit against the county, Mayor Mitch Roth and Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst, claiming that the emergency Waipi‘o Valley Road closure is unlawful to. 25, citing safety concerns with the narrow, winding road that leads to an amphitheater valley on the island’s north shore. 25, 2022. Mayor’s Waipi‘o Valley Road Emergency Rule No. To limit vehicular traffic, the road remains open to Waipi‘o Valley residents, farmers. The valley is home to only about 100 people, mostly farmers of taro and other crops, so the negative impact tourism has had on the valley and the road leading into it is undeniable. The county closed the access road to visitors on Feb. 25, Mayor Mitch Roth closed Waipi‘o Valley Road to the general public. The Waipio Valley Road is a 25% grade paved road that descends 900 feet in only one. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022 “It is the County’s civil duty to protect community members and address significant community. Feb 26, 2022, 02:51 ET. This hike starts at the parking lot near the Waipio Lookout. Waipio Valley Hike (ROAD CURRENTLY CLOSED)Waipio Valley residents protest on Hawaii Island following a road access rule change allowing all Hawaii Island residents and tour operators to enter. The road will be closed weekdays between 8:30 a. A. B. It is the steepest road of its length in the United States. 5 miles long, it has a. DPW is requesting that all Waipiʻo residents plan the temporary road closure accordingly. Waipio Valley Road has been closed indefinitely since Feb. On Feb. Today, the County of Hawaii issued an Emergency Rule announcing the closure of Waipi‘o Valley Road to visitors as a precautionary safety measure and to further assess and mitigate the road’s conditions, effective Friday, Feb. He says that the closure of Waipio Valley Road is purely a safety issue. Waipio Valley Road descends 900 feet in less than a mile and has an average grade of 25 percent, though some areas are steeper. The County of Hawaii issued an emergency order on Friday, closing the road to. The closed road was partially reopened. m. Waipio Valley Access Road remains closed to the general public as the Department of Public Works continues. 2 and Emergency Rule No. Though the road is only about 1. Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (“HRS”) Section 264-1. m. By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY Hawaii Tribune-Herald | Tuesday, July 4, 2023, 12:05 a. This sign at the top of the Waipio Valley Road only hints at the steepness of the valley access. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the County of Hawaii issued an Emergency Rule announcing the closure of Waipio Valley Road to visitors as a precautionary safety measure and to. 25. If you love sightseeing, the shuttle tour is a wonderful way to spend a morning or afternoon on the Big Island. At places, the slope reportedly reaches a white-knuckle 39 degrees. 5 and 127A-25(a), the County of Hawaiʻi’s police powers, and due to the public welfare, health and safety concerns presented by the current conditions of the Waipi‘o. Hawaii News Waipi‘o Valley Road phase one work completed By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY Hawaii Tribune-Herald | Tuesday, July 4, 2023, 12:05 a. Published: Apr. 3, 2022 at 1:12 AM PDT WAIPIO VALLEY (HawaiiNewsNow) - An agreement has been. Limited Access Exceptions. 3, 2022 at 12:05 AM PDT | Updated: Sep. PC: Tom Hasslinger/Big Island Now Hawai‘i County will shut down Waipi‘o Valley Road to. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the County of Hawaii issued an Emergency Rule announcing the closure of Waipio Valley Road to visitors as a precautionary. Waipio Valley Road descends 900 feet in less than a mile and has an average grade of 25 percent, though some areas are steeper. Waipio Valley became a casualty of over-tourism. Mayor Mitch Roth abruptly closed access to Waipio Valley on Feb. /. Mayor’s Waipi‘o Valley Road Emergency Rule No. The road closure took many Big Island residents by surprise and provoked emotional divisions among groups of people. Alternatively, the Waipio Valley Shuttle is the original 4-wheel drive tour of “the land of curving water” and is a mesmerizing and intimate look at the valley. Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald Steven Strauss argues that Mayor Mitch Roth improperly closed the road to Waipi'o Valley during a hearing at the Hilo. The temporary closure of Waipio Valley Road has riled residents on the Big Island. to. Over the years, the overall deterioration of Waipio Valley Road has been exponential, with erosion, falling rocks, grade. and 4:30 p. pdf Island of Hawaii – Today, the County of Hawaii issued an Emergency Rule announcing the closure of Waipio Valley Road to. But the increase in COVID-19 cases has now. The history of. It needs time to heal, and its residents deserve relief from throngs of illegal hikers and campers. Community organization sues Hawaii County over Waipio Valley Road closure. Going from around 900 feet of elevation to sea level in just a mile and a half, the road has. Flickr: Wasif Malik To enforce the emergency closure, the county has posted a. On February 25, 2022, the County of Hawaii issued an Emergency Rule announcing the closure of Waipio Valley Road to visitors as a precautionary safety measure and to further assess and mitigate the road's conditions, effective immediately. Hawaii Island’s Waipio Valley Road is closed to visitors indefinitely due to hazardous conditions. Share this story. A report found that. Thousands. Mayor's 02/25/2022 Waipio Valley Road Emergency Rule No. But some say access to the ancient lands is priceless. Hawaii County Mayor, Mitchell Roth, closed Waipio Valley Road in February in an emergency rule due to hazardous conditions on the steep road. Waipio Valley Road is a short steep road located in the Hamakua District of the Big Island of Hawai’i, in USA, restricted to 4x4's. 1 Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (“HRS”) Sections 264-1. Share this. County defends Waipi‘o road closure. To ensure worker safety and allow completion of fieldwork, the road will be closed from 9 am to noon and from 1 pm to 4 pm daily to all traffic going in and out of Waipiʻo Valley, except for. Rule announcing the closure of Waipi‘o Valley Road to visitors as a precautionary safety measure and to further assess and mitigate the road’s conditions, effective Friday,. m. From here, you first follow a very steep road into the Waipio Valley (be careful and watch out for cars). (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today file) A community organization has. Feb 25, 2022. The meeting will be held on Zoom between 5:30-7 p. The way into the valley is the Waipi’o Valley Road, considered by many the steepest road in America. Hawaiʻi County officials will be discussing the closure of Waipiʻo Valley Access Road in a virtual public meeting Wednesday. 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. Members of Malama I Ke. HILO, Hawaii, Feb. Share this story. A geotechnical assessment on the road had been done previously, and it. The road is steep enough to destroy brakes on. One phase of work on the Waipi‘o Valley Road is over, but the rest is still a long way off. According to Hawaii News Now, rockfall and erosion posed a serious risk to those walking and driving on it, which is what ultimately led to Roth's decision to shut it down. Officials estimate it will take millions of dollars to patch up the erosion and secure the rockfall risks on Waipi'o Valley Road. 1. Visitors to Hawaiʻi Island will want to know about this. 26, 2022 at 10:49 PM PDT. They cited the area’s high traffic and roadway concerns since before the pandemic. 1 Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (“HRS”) Sections 264-1. File Photo: Brian Baldwin. Since it’s closure, a group has sued for access to the road and the area. You can view the valley from the coastal Waipiʻo Valley Overlook at the end of the Hāmākua Heritage Corridor drive, The County of Hawaiʻi issued an Emergency Rule announcing the closure of Waipiʻo Valley Road to visitors as a precautionary safety measure and to further assess and mitigate the road’s conditions, effective Friday,. Photo: Getty Images. First phase of Waipiʻo Valley Road work almost done;… June 23, 2023; Tour company sues mayor, Hawai‘i County over Waipi‘o… March 1, 2023; Work to prevent rockfalls on Waipiʻo Valley Road. 25 after Mayor Mitch Roth issued an emergency rule. The road is closed except for limited access by Waipio Valley residents, farmers. By Ben Gutierrez Published: Sep. A Hikers make their way down Waipi’o Valley Road last year. Waipio Valley Road Closure Waipio Valley Road shall be closed, subject to the express limited exceptions herein. Flickr. Officials stated there was roadway and slope failure and the closure includes visitors both in. 1. Hawaiʻi County will be hosting a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, March 9 to discuss the current Waipiʻo Valley Access Road closure. The Waipiʻo Valley access road on Hawaiʻi Island will be closed to non-Waipiʻo residents during Labor Day weekend. The road eventually turns into a trail at Waipio Beach. m. m. (Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald). Visitors take in the view of Waipio Valley at the lookout on Friday, May 12, 2023. . Feb 28, 2022. 5 and 127A-25(a), the County of Hawaiʻi’s police powers, and due to the public welfare, health and safety concerns presented by the current conditions of the Waipi‘o. Any questions can be addressed to DPW Information and Education Specialist Sherise KanaʻeKāne at. m. 25 to nonlocal traffic until 2025 after a geotechnical study determined that the potential risk of a dangerous rockfall or road subsidence is. The County of Hawaiʻi made this decision at the request of neighborhood residents. Waipio Valley residents are grateful for a county emergency proclamation closing the Waipio Valley Access Road to nonlocal traffic. IHVB Waipio Valley Road Closure. In a proclamation issued by Mayor Mitch Roth Friday, because of unacceptable hazards on the winding and treacherous road to the bottom of the valley, the road will be closed until 2025 to all traffic except for. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)The road to Waipi'o Valley was closed over seven months ago, because it was a safety hazard. Waipiʻo Valley Road, which leads to one of the Islands’ all-time favorite attractions for. Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald In this May 12 photo, a Hawaii Island resident drives down Waipio Valley Road. Waipio Valley Road was closed to visitors from February 25, 2022 "as a precautionary safety measure and to further assess and mitigate the road’s conditions". The County plans to reopen Waipiʻo Valley Access Road to residents with valid driver’s licenses sometime Friday, weather pending, as stipulated in Mayor Mitch Roth’s Waipio Valley Road. By West Hawaii Today Staff | Wednesday, December 28, 2022, 5:05 p. HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A community organization is suing Hawaii County and Mayor Mitch Roth for closing Waipio Valley Road. HILO, Hawaii, Feb. Waipio Valley road was closed in February by emergency proclamation. Residents and farmers of Waipi‘o Valley (no. 2 and Emergency Rule No. The group presented their own engineering. The sole road into Waipio Valley was closed Feb.