Page 2 - MidWeek - March 9, 2022

2 MIDWEEK MARCH 9, 2022
waits for no one, and it won’t wait for me.” Yes, it’s traffic congestion redux, with serene, pandemic-va- cated roadways fading in the headlights of yesterday. You got the left lane closed, you got the right lane closed. Sing it to the tune of The Hokey Pokey and yes, some people actually do turn themselves around.
I had no idea that the famed Duke Kahanamoku was a superstar fundrais- er for the American Red Cross. The Red Cross add- ed drowning prevention to its mission and launched a national swimming tour in 1917, which featured the Olympian performing swimming demonstrations and promoting water. He crisscrossed the country, at- tracting over 100,000 wildly enthusiastic fans in 30 cities. Through the events, the Red Cross raised money for war
Townside Pali Highway, for one, has been under con- struction, or destruction, for four years now. Four years. It’s not that long (I mean the road)! Ever-informative Ha- wai‘i Department of Transportation deputy director for highways Ed Sniffen says this multiphase project should be done by next January. I appreciate the honesty, but I’ll believe it when I can drive it. Potholes, flying debris (cost me a windshield), speed bumps, metal grates (not great), uneven roadways, orange signs and cones, et al. But 10 months from now, electrical work, sewer and water pipe upgrades, curb repairs, gutter fixes, and the smoothing of roads will be done, pau, finito!
Duke Kahanamoku
PHOTO COURTESY STEVE BERGER
I am so grateful for the legacy of my beloved Uncle Joe and his friend, Duke Kah- anamoku. Both were gracious Hawaiian watermen who freely shared their love and respect for the ocean, used their gifts to help others and forever won the hearts of all who knew them.
And after five years, the most satisfying part is that the stone matrix asphalt open graded mix, or SMA, being used (the top 2 inches of the roadway) is so strong, it should last for 30 years! While SMA costs 50% more than traditional Hawai‘i mix IV modified asphalt, that material needed repairs about every seven years (actually, on the Pali Highway, three good/bad rainstorms in a month of- ten necessitated repairs). Pali Highway’s upkeep has been delayed by COVID, supply line and sewer conduit issues, and upgrading of curbs and gutters, which are completed first to ensure that subsequent road repairs can be level and symmetrical. Check up on road projects in your area at the DOT’s construction projects website: highways.hidot.ha- waii.gov/stories/s/9rg9-kd8i. Wondering about Wahiawā? Care about Kuakini Highway drainage? Mumbling about Māmalahoa Highway improvements? Weary about Waia- wa? They’re all there, with “estimated” end dates plus further details. One important observation — polymer modified asphalt (PMA) road mix is now used on roads lying above utilities (it lasts 20 years) that may need to be torn up for aging conduit repairs. SMA and PMA are now required for all road repairs here going forward. Yeah!
The DOT report might not end road angst or your plans to read The Iliad while idling away, but hopefully you’ll see a light at the end of the roadwork tunnel.
bonds, auctioning off socks and scarves knitted by Duke for top dollar.
saved from drowning. Duke was lauded for saving eight of those fishermen. He recount- ed endless trips through the 20-foot surf, “until my arms begged for mercy.”
Diane Peters-Nguyen is the CEO of American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
Watermen For The Red Cross
“Swimming is now all the go in the mainland, and I can say that the recent trip was a great boost for the sport everywhere.”
– Duke Kahanamoku upon completion of his national swimming tour, raising funds for the Red Cross war relief efforts.
Y Road ‘Whoas’
ou sit, ponder, fume, wait, merge ... you inch
Growing up, I loved hearing stories from my great-uncle Joe
from his mother,
who was a Red
Cross volunteer.
His wife was also
a volunteer during
World War II, and
I’ m honored to be
a part of that heri-
tage today as CEO.
Duke also shared
a friendship with Commodore Wil-
bert E. Longfellow,
founder of the Red
Cross Water Safety
and Lifeguarding Program, the Learn- To-Swim Program
and the National
Red Cross Volunteer
Life Saving Corps.
They bonded as advocates for training in lifesaving skills.
In 1925, a fishing boat cap- sized in a violent storm off Newport Beach, where Duke had planned to surf after some L A swimming exhibi- tions. On that day, 17 people lost their lives and 12 were
KELLEY
along. As the Rolling Stones once sang, “Time
Akana about his dear friend, Duke Kahanamoku. His sto- ries of their love of surfing and the ocean never failed to charm and inspire me.
how to swim and become lifeguards and instructors. By creating the first national water safety program in the U.S., still the gold standard, accidental drownings have been reduced by nearly 90% nationwide.
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
Like our superhero Duke, the Red Cross has saved lives. We have helped millions of kids, teens and adults learn
Duke’s devotion to the Red Cross was likely learned
with Diane Peters-Nguyen
Think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com