Press Releases

Case Announces $2.125 Million In Federal Funding To Repair Major Road Severely Damaged In Record 2021 Kona Low Storm

The FEMA Funding will assist in restoring the Palolo Valley thoroughfare

Honolulu, HI, January 21, 2023

(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), home for his first full district work period of the new 118^th Congress, announced today that the City and County of Honolulu will receive $2,125,395 in federal funds to repair a road severely damaged by the Kona Low storm of December 2021.

“The Kona Low triggered severe flooding and landslides that heavily damaged Waiomao Road, a main thoroughfare of Palolo Valley,” said Case.”

“The $2.125 million will go to the City and County of Honolulu to help restore the central section of the roadway.”

Case said the grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on a 90-10 match with the City through the State, will repair a 107-foot-long by 16-foot-wide section of asphalt roadway, including road shoulder and guardrail, and approximately 60-foot-long section of supporting embankment which collapsed during the landslide.

The Kona Low storm drenched the state in the early days of December 2021. Some of the storm’s heaviest rain hit Honolulu on December 6, dropping close to 8 inches of rain, it’s wettest December day on record and the second-wettest day observed in any month.

Case later toured Hawaiian Electric’s Iwilei power substation, where the storm cut electrical service to residents and businesses in downtown Honolulu and assisted in locating potential federal funding for repairs.

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