The Mess That Is Maluhia Road

on January 7, 2015 at 11:36 am

Calvin Murashige. Photo from KIUC

Has anyone else seen the recent attempt at re-striping parts of Maluhia Road? All I can say is, yikes! I am a regular Lihue-to-South Shore driver, and I’ve noticed how the roads continue to degrade and how dangerous some of them can be, especially to people unfamiliar with the twists and turns. Heading toward Poipu, just after the Tree Tunnel, there is no distinct center line and things can get a wee bit sketchy, particularly for visitors. Recently, some new yellow stripes were “painted” in spots that I had high hopes for, but they started blowing away in tiny pieces just days later, with some of them so tangled that if an unsuspecting driver were to actually follow them, they would be led straight into the bushes. I know I write about the roads a lot, but my goodness, you’d think basic safety would be a given …

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative‘s board of directors recently voted to appoint incumbent director Calvin Murashige to finish the term of former director Allan Smith, who resigned in November. Murashige was one of three directors whose terms expire in March, but by appointing him to a term that expires in 2016, only two will be up for election instead. Murashige is a retired Circuit Court judge who was elected in 2012 …

Kirk Saiki was appointed recently as manager and chief engineer for Department of Water. Originally from Oahu, he has more than 30 years of experience directing engineering teams, departments and offices through projects within the construction, water and wastewater industries. Prior to accepting his current position, he was deputy manager-engineer for Kauai DOW, and also held the position of principal engineer for Lee & Ro Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from University of Hawaii at Manoa, and is a member of American Water Works Association and a board member for Hawaii Rural Water Association …

Kirk Saiki, Department of Water’s newly appointed manager and chief engineer (in lei), with staff members (from left) Val Reyna, Kim Tamaoka, Debra Peay, Dustin Moises, Saiki, Mary-jane Akuna, Marites Yano, Eddie Doi, Carl Arume and Keith Aoki. Photo from DOW

Kauai RSVP is sponsoring a collection drive for school supplies as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The supplies will be donated to students in need at Kekaha Elementary School. The following items can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Agency on Elderly Affairs office in Lihue Civic Center: wide-ruled composition tablets, No. 2 pencils, crayons and washable markers. Contact Grace Domingo-Delos Reyes at 241-4479 or Celia Melchor-Questin at 241-4478 for more information …

Kauai Community Players opens its new season Friday (Jan. 9) with The Last Five Years, a two-character musical that chronicles the complete cycle of a relationship. The show will run Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. through Jan. 25 at Puhi Theatrical Warehouse. Visit kauaicommunityplayers.org for tickets and more information or call 245-7700.

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The Mess That Is Maluhia Road

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