GBI recently partnered with Kailua Kona-based general contractor Ali‘i Builders and Waimea Outdoor Circle to construct a new roadway and complete other improvements at Ulu La‘au, the Waimea Nature Park.
“The long-anticipated completion of our paved roadway into Ulu La‘au, the Waimea Nature Park began in 2019 with the award of a state legislative capital improvements program (CIP) grant facilitated by state Senator Lorraine Inouye,” explained Waimea Outdoor Circle President Cheryl Langton. “The 10-acre park, located in the heart of Waimea, was developed in 1999 on leased land from the state by Waimea Outdoor Circle and is maintained entirely by volunteers and donations.”
The park’s former dirt and gravel roadway had become increasingly difficult to maintain. Prior to starting the project, GBI and Ali‘i Builders worked with local engineering firm Okahara and Associates, Inc., to design a new concrete roadway. Apart from completing the grading and concrete paving, the project team also updated the park’s drainage. Additionally, the scope of work included the installation of a dry well, speed bumps, and a new entry gate donated by Solid Metal Works. Edwin De Luz Trucking & Gravel donated the aggregates used for the project.
The project began in early April and most of the work was completed by the end of the month. The new gate was fabricated and installed in the weeks that followed. The GBI project team included Regional Manager John Makoff, Project Manager Justin McCutcheon, Senior Estimator Jim Foss, Project Engineer Casey Ogawa, Foreman Mark Freitas, and several GBI Hawai‘i Region operators and laborers.
“For me, this project represented a chance to embody the Goodfellow Way by making a difference in the community I live in,” said McCutcheon, who was tasked with executing the project. “The Goodfellows take these opportunities seriously, striving to use their resources to improve the lives of not only their employees, but also the members of the communities where we live and work. This project with Waimea Outdoor Circle allowed all of us involved to take that mission to heart and leave a meaningful mark on the neighborhood in the process.”
“The generosity of Goodfellow Bros. and Ali‘i Builders made this exciting project possible, and the beautiful new concrete road is enjoyed by everyone,” Langton said. “Working with these two companies was a real pleasure and their level of professionalism is unsurpassed.”
