MAINTENANCE: As you know Hawaiian Acres is in a rain forest
averaging more than 170” per year. This amount of water plays
havoc with our gravel as well as our paved sections of road.
Gravel does not stay on a hill when there is a waterfall running
down the middle of the road. We try to address these drainage
issues but when it is raining heavily the water goes where it
wants. Because it rains for a week(s) at a time the roads get
saturated and create pot holes. On the blacktop it lifts up the
pavement and when the road is covered with water it becomes
quite perilous driving as you cannot see the holes. This requires
constant maintenance due to prevailing weather conditions and
traffic.
The road cannot be graded nor patched in the rain and has to dry
out before repairs can be made. This then puts us in a bind due to
the equipment operators having other committed jobs. The
volunteers who patch the black top must wait until the holes have
dried and they have free time.
PAVING: The cost to repave the existing black top in 2010 dollars
is $20 per foot for a layer 1” thick and ten feet in width. This
would amount to approximately $100,000 a mile. The county
quoted $3,000,000 to pave a mile of road to their standard.
ASPHALT STRIPS: Various areas of our roads have paving strips.
Occasionally gravel will be spread on these strips. This is done so
that the edges of the strips do not break off. The gravel will find
itself to the side of the road without damaging the surface.
TRASH: Although this is not a maintenance issue, we also have
to contend with trash being thrown along the roadsides. This
includes everything from fast food garbage to the kitchen sink,
stove and refrigerator. We have dead animals to deal with ranging
from abandon pets to pigs, cows, horses, and donkeys. This is all
handled by community volunteers who feel a responsibility for our
private roads.
Sixty dollars a year does not provide enough money even if dues
were received for all lots. We depend on volunteers. Private roads
mean more personal responsibility.