The County of Hawai`i Planning Department is organizing the installation of a “Quick Build” project near Keaukaha Elementary School, surrounding the neighborhood’s “piko.” Quick-build street projects are improvements within a community that can be designed and constructed quickly and semi-permanent to improve walkability, bikeability or overall transportation strategies. In partnership with Keaukaha Elementary School, Healthy Eating+Active Living (HEAL) coordinator, County of Hawai`i Council Member, Sue Lee Loy, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), People for Active Transportation Hawai‘i (PATH), Blue Zones and the Keaukaha Community Association, the Keaukaha community will soon have a continuous walking, biking and strolling path around the piko of Keaukaha community which includes: Keaukaha Elementary School, Kawananakoa Gym, DHHL, Kamehameha Preschool, Ke Ana La’a Hana Public Charter School and Hualani Park.
The main goal of this project is to improve the health, safety, and happiness of Keaukaha residents and students through pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, as well as placemaking. Project improvements include a continuous walking and biking path surrounding the community piko, as well as street art within the existing “bulbouts” located at the three roadway intersection corners.
Street murals have been designed by Hilo artist Kawehi Mahi Roberts, whose family is from Keaukaha, and will feature native plants. You can learn more about the project at keaukaha-elementary-quickbuild.konveio.com.
These improvements will be installed in Spring 2022. If you are interested in participating in the project’s street art volunteer events in mid-May, please contact Abbey Seitz at abbey@planningforcommunity.com or Sally Ancheta at sally@hiphi.org . HIPHI HEAL Coordinators work across the state with communities to make transformations and inspire residents to participate in a lifestyle of healthy eating and active living.
