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For Immediate Release
July 18, 2022

Kamehameha Hwy (Near Kahana Bay Beach Park) 30-Inch Main Break Update

HONOLULU – Board of Water Supply (BWS) crews continue working on repairs to the road and a 30-inch main break near Kahana Bay Beach Park.  The resulting break has closed Kamehameha Hwy in both directions.  Motorists should avoid driving in this area and will be turned around.

The 30” main break at Kahana Bay, is expected to have an impact on water resources from Waimanalo to Kahana.  The system lost about 60% of the water supply with this disruption.

Potential low pressure/no water impacts would be in the upper elevations from Kailua to Waimanalo.  The first area impacted should be the lower Maunawili Valley area from Auloa Rd to the end of Lunaai St.  The next impacted neighborhood would be from Maunawili Neighborhood Park along Ulupii St down to Uluoa St. 

We are working to make adjustments to the system and hope this will address some of the low-pressure areas, but we are urgently requesting conservation and to only use water for cooking and personal hygiene. Please do not use water for any lawn or garden irrigation, car washing, or other outdoor use such as filling swimming pools or water slides. These conservation measures will help us maintain some level of water in the reservoirs serving these areas. We will continue monitor the system and provide updates as needed.

The BWS apologizes for this inconvenience and will be working 24/7 to repair the road and water main as quickly as possible. The good news, the bridge is safe and requires no work; however, the road on the Kahuku side of the bridge was undermined when the main broke and it needs to be restored. Pedestrian access will be available throughout the job.  A BWS employee will escort pedestrians across as long as it is safe.  There may be instances where pedestrians may have to wait while vehicles are being moved or other work is being finished up to ensure their safety.

TheBus will operate two shuttles at the road closure site in Kahana.  These two shuttles will connect passengers to regular Route 60 services currently turning around near Keneke’s at Punaluu to Haleiwa and the Kaaawa Fire Station to Kaneohe and Honolulu.

TheBus emergency shuttles will operate during regular operations hours on Route 60 on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays until further notice.

A bypass has restored water service to the families on Trout Farm Rd and along Kamehameha Hwy.

Work on the road and main will run in parallel and it is hoped to have the road opened for the contra-flow by the end of this week and water restored by next Sunday. Schedule is subject to change depending on conditions that occur during the repairs. Again, the BWS deeply regrets the inconvenience and appreciates everyone’s kokua as we work to restore the road and water main.

Frequent updates will be posted on www.boardofwatersupply.com and all of our social media platforms:  Facebook, Twitter & Nextdoor.

About the Board of Water Supply

The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system.  As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oahu.  The BWS embraces its mission of “Water for Life – Ka Wai Ola” – to provide a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply, now and into the future.  Uwē  ka lani, ola ka honua – “When the heavens weep, the earth lives.”  For more information, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com, follow @BWSHonolulu or like the BWS’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BWSHonolulu.

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Contact:

Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319