Bridge from Big Isle to replace Maui span

WAILUKU » Maui County officials plan to bring a portable bridge from the Big Island to temporarily reconnect residents between Kipahulu and Hana.

County executive assistant David De Leon said yesterday that officials are still developing a timetable for when the bridge will be shipped to Maui and installed to replace the damaged Paihi Bridge, located between mile markers 44 and 45 on Hana Highway.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency have determined Paihi Bridge could collapse at any time and have closed the span to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, following the Oct. 15 earthquakes.

While Hana Town is accessible on Hana Highway from Kahului, Piilani Highway, also known as Highway 31 through Kaupo and entering Kipahulu from the south, remains closed to all but the most essential local traffic due to potential rockfalls and landslides.

De Leon said while their telephone service is operating, many residents live without electricity and rely on propane gas or store-bought ice for refrigeration and are having difficulty keeping their food cold.

Haleakala National Park at Kipahulu has been closed since Sunday due to safety worries.

"We value the safety of our visitors and will not place them or staff at such a risk for the sake of a photograph or hike in the forest," Park Superintendent Marilyn Parris said.

The park staff at Kipahulu is preparing to move into a temporary information station next to the Hana Post Office until further notice, park officials said.

Meanwhile, about four employees who live in the area affected by the road closures are maintaining and patrolling the park grounds.

"We have rangers on site protecting the resources of the park and providing security," Parris said.