Waimea Trails and Greenways

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History of the WTG

Beginning as a citizen advocacy group in 1994, WTG recognized the need for a greenway trail in Waimea.  We went to the County government, through our councilman, and got approval - they said "that's a good idea."  A small amount of money was allocated, and the next step was to enroll in  the State Transportation Implementation plan (STIP) which enables the WTG to receive federal matching funding.  County Dept. of Park&Rec put together a request for proposals, with the scope of work being to design the trail.  They got 8 proposals in, and selected Kaz Shigezawa of Landscape Images Inc. (in Kona) as prime consultant.  He put together a team of:

They are paid by contract, though County Dept. of Public Works.  The consulting team is producing designs for the trail, working with the landowners, and along with Clem Lam and the committee, moving the process forward.

Past News

2008

October 24, 2008 - Parker School students pitch in to work on the trail for Make a Difference Day.  We cleaned up plastic debris and spread wood chips to make the trail nicer to walk on.

September 27, 2008 - Big community workday! see story and photos by Keith Wallis on the PATH site.

July 9, 2008 - Imata delivers a wonderful new PDF of the proposed alignment.

July 1, 2008 - Imata and members of WTG and WOC walk the entire Increment One trail alignment, many potential adjustments are studied.  See Meeting Minutes.pdf

March 24, 2008 - Imata & Associates, Inc. is contracted to complete the working drawings for Construction Increment 1.

February 17, 2008 - The Waimea Outdoor Circle Board reports they approved the memorandum of understanding with the County for the easement through the Nature Park.

2007

December 3, 2007 - The GOE (Grant of Easements) appears to have been signed with Parker Ranch.  There are 4 easements areas.

October 26, 2007 - For the third year, Parker School students pitch in to work on the trail for Make a Difference Day!  One team cleared the section around the Carter and Magoon lots, the other cleared rubble to extend the trail through the Ag Land to the west.

September 5, 2007 - Our fearless leader Clem Lam says, "We had a great meeting with the Mayor".  The meeting concluded that our trail simply lacks management, and the solution is to appoint someone to be the manager.

May 19, 2007 - Keoki Magoon has graciously offered the use of a backhoe and dumpster so volunteers could clear out tree debris from the Waikoloa Stream and Waimea Trail that snakes under the eucalyptus trees between his lot (the newly cleared lot across the highway from Waimea Elementary School between Carter Center and Parker Office Center) and the Waikoloa Stream.  We had around 11 people and got a lot done!


before
before
work
after
after
the crew

April, 2007 - Numerous drawings and documents have recently come to light, they have been added to the Resources page.

2006

November 26, 2006 - The Tribune-Herald article Waimea Trails, Greenways Committee scores another victory in trail quest has a nice upbeat summary of the trail and details of the County/Church/Magoon realignment.

October 27, 2006 - 20 Parker School students pitch in to work on the trail for Make a Difference Day!  Photos.

May 6, 2006 - We had a volunteer day, clearing footpath and trimming vegetation along the CFH, Carter and Magoon sections of the trail.

March 21, 2006 - Added County Capital Budget 2006-07 page about WTG.

March 18, 2006 - Research and brush clearing in section E (Ag land), status report.

February 17, 2006 - Updated a lot on the Current Status page for sections E through I.

January 21, 2006 - During a WOC volunteer day, there was a wood chipper and a Kubota tractor available.  The tractor allowed for fast, incredible progress on section E!

parker kidsJanuary 15, 2006 - Volunteer work day to clear trail.  We got a lot done along sections H and I (back of Magoon parcel.)  Ben, Arlene, Ken, Clem and family, Avi, Nino.

October 14, 2005 - 25 Parker School students pitch in to work on the trail for Make a Difference Day!  Photos.

Sept 17, 2005 - Work day to clear trail along section G.  Ben, Arlene, Ken, Clem, Keith Wallis, Jim Fraser.

Timeline

YEAR   DATE   DESCRIPTION
1994 April Waimea Trails Workshop
Oct 25 Proposal Submitted to the County Council
Nov 9 Community Workshop: goals and concerns.
There were maps of the area and residents drew on them where they would like to see trails (where are those maps now?)
1995 Jan 6 County Commits Seed $ for ISTEA
Feb 16 Public Meetings of adjacent property dwellers
Mar 4 Meeting with Peter Laggerway of Seattle
April Letters of Support from Landowners
May-June Trail walks and mapping
Aug Project is put on STIP
Sep-Oct Landowner contacts
    Nov 18   Parker School clearing: Rotary club joins with WTG volunteers for a work day to clear a section of the future trail on Parker School lands.
1996 Feb Petition of Support at Cherry Blossom
Feb 23 Meeting with Parks and Recreation
Feb-Apr Mapping
May Present maps to P & R
June Checking account setup, walk Parker Ranch
    Sept   DOT approves WTG
Selection of consultant process, ISTEA approved
    Nov   Logo contest
Nick Rott Memorial Bike Fest
1997 Jan RFPs to consultants
May Consultant selected
Aug Nick Rott Memorial Bike Fest
Aug 26 Walk trail with consultant team
1998 Jan 10 Marketing Workshop
Jan International Trails Conference in San Diego
Sept 24 Fed & State approval of consultant
Dec 23 County Council votes on release of $
1999 Feb Consultant begins work on trail design
Midyear Meetings with landowners and consultants
Sept Neighborhood meetings
    Nov   Henry Clark donates 8 acres to WTG
Catholic Church, BP Partners and Magoon resubdivision
2000 Surveying of trail corridor
2001 Strategic Planning with Deborah Chang
2002   June   Request for State Lands made to DLNR
Application for subdivision by Magoon
Aug Negotiations with Lalamilo Farmers
Nov 23 Publish Draft EA in OEQC Bulletin
2003   Feb   Carter Center Agreement signed
Cultural Impact Survey
2004 Mar 23 Environmental Assessment Completed
May Request to State DLNR for State lands submitted
    Nov 23   West Hawaii Today reports: "[WTG] got a boost Friday with several key approvals. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved a transfer of a lease of state land for the project. Parts of the 17.6-acre parcel will be used for parking and access to the trail project. Board members meeting in Honolulu also granted the county several easements to allow construction of the trail across portions of state land."
Dec 10 BLNR approves of State land exchange to County for trail
2005 Apr 4 County Notice to Proceed with Design Phase of Increment 1
Sept 8 Informal survey conducted of the trees along the trail route at the back of the Carter lot; this data is used in subsequent meetings between WOC, NRCS, WTG and Carter.
Sept 17 Work day to clear trail along section G, 6 people.
Oct 15 Work day to clear trail along sections F and G, 25 Parker School students for Make a Difference Day, plus 2 faculty and 4 other volunteers
    Dec   BLNR approves trail easement at UH Ag station
2006 Mar 18 Research and brush clearing in section E (Ag land), status report.
  May 6 A volunteer day, clearing footpath and trimming vegetation along the CFH, Carter and Magoon sections of the trail.
  Jun 9 Catholic Church Deed signed
  Aug 7 Delineate trail from Lindsey Road to Church Row
  Sept 26 Magoon signs deed exchange with County
  Oct 3 Meeting with Mayor Kim
  Oct 27 20 Parker School students pitch in to work on the trail for Make a Difference Day!  Photos.
2007 Feb Drawings of the first construction increment finally come to light, they are added to the Resources page.
  May 19 Work day clearing the trail behind Magoon land, with use of a backhoe and dumpster 
  July 2 Grant of Easement for Lalamilo Research Station
  July 7 Green Fest Waimea
  Sept 5 Another meeting with the Mayor
  Oct 26 Parker School students pitch in to work on the trail for Make a Difference Day
  November 18 Parker Ranch Easements signed by Mayor