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Hana Highway HAIKU, Maui -- State and county government officials vowed to preserve the rural beauty of Hana Highway as they spoke at a dedication recognizing the road as the "Hana Millennium Legacy Trail."
gains new status
It is recognized under
Celebration continues until Sunday
a national program to
preserve historic pathwaysBy Gary T. Kubota
Maui correspondentThe national program promoted by first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton has selected one trail in each state as a historic pathway linking communities and a diversity of cultures. Hana Highway was selected in Hawaii.
"To me, it's more than a roadway," Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana told a group of 50 people yesterday. "It's a pathway to our soul."
Apana said whenever he drives on Hana Highway, he enjoys the scenery and meditates. The mayor said his goal was to maintain the ocean views along the highway.
State transportation director Kazu Hayashida said the highway would remain a winding road to slow traffic and expressed his hope to keep the bridges as one lane.
Residents have been critical in the past of government plans to replace and widen rural bridges and expressed fear it will increase the speed of traffic in their neighborhoods.
Hana Highway has been improved and widened to two lanes with drainage shoulders in some places. But as it winds along sections of cliffs in Keanae and over bridges, the highway sometimes narrows to a lane and a half or less.
The ceremony, including the unveiling of a trail monument made of stones from various communities, was mainly an occasion for recognizing the links provided by the highway, once a bumpy dirt road that rattled people's teeth and gave many riders a backache.
"I remember it was all dirt road and we had to stop at Huelo to dust off," said Keanae resident Pearl Pahukoa, 54.
Al Fujishiro, 74, recalled his reluctance to ride on the road with his parents to visit his uncle and aunt in Keanae.
"The road was just like a washboard," he said.
Dolly Strazer, an official with the state Foundation on Culture and the Arts, said parts of the road followed the path of the Maui King Piilani, developed some 500 years ago.
The path served as the main route for celebrating the Makahiki or harvest festival, and collecting taxes.
It remains the main route linking the seaport town of Kahului with the sugar plantation town of Paia and rural communities including Haiku, Keanae, Nahiku, Hana town and Kaupo.
Strazer said some $10,000 has been allotted to each state for millennium trails.
She said before deciding how to spend the money, the millennium committee will hold discussions with various communities along Hana Highway.
U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, who grew up in Hamakuapoko near Paia, called the Hana Highway one of Hawaii's historic treasures.
Apana said some residents express sympathy when they hear people live in these rural communities and have to commute every weekday to work in central Maui.
"Actually, they are the lucky ones," Apana said.
The celebration of the Hana Millennium Legacy Trail moves today to the Keanae-Wailua community, with a Hoolaulea at the Keanae peninsula from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebration continues
until SundayStar-Bulletin staff
From 7:30 to 11 p.m., there will be a country dance at Hana Bay with music by the Silver Spurs.
The National Park Service will be conducting hikes on the old King's Highway. Reservations are required. Call 248-7375.
On Sunday, the Coors 2000 Hana Millennium Legacy Trail Rodeo takes place from noon to 3 p.m. at the Hana Ranch Arena, after a parade at 11 a.m.