Senator Mazie Hirono's office issued the following:
April 21, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the Hawaii County Department of Public Works $61 million to repair roads damaged during the 2018 Kilauea eruption.
A portion of the funds will go to repair Highway 137, Pohoiki Road, Leilani Avenue, Hinalo Street, Lauone Street, Honuaula Street, and Lighthouse Road. FEMA and the County of Hawaii are engaged in additional discussions with the community to determine which other roads will be repaired using these funds.
“As we approach the two year anniversary of the 2018 Kilauea eruption, this federal funding will support ongoing recovery efforts on Hawaii Island,” Senator Hirono said. “Even as we confront the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, I will continue to advocate for federal assistance that will help those impacted by the eruption work to rebuild their lives and communities.”
Senator Hirono has been a consistent advocate to support Hawaii Island’s recovery from the 2018 Kilauea eruption. In March 2019, Senator Hirono pressed then-Acting Secretary Bernhardt for a commitment to rebuild Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) on Hawaii Island. Two months later, Senator Hirono secured $72.3 million in the 2019 Disaster Supplemental Bill to fund both the continuation of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operations in a temporary space as well as money to construct the new HVO facility. That same month she announced that USGS Director Jim Reilly committed to rebuilding HVO on Hawaii Island. Senator Hirono also secured $21 million in additional funding to build a separate HVO field station in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
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