This is the reason why the existing highway wasn't shifted mauka near Maunakea Access Road. The land is owned by the DHHL for ranching homesteading purposes. The homesteaders would be up in arms if the highway was shifted to land out of reach from lava flows.
The CFLHD had a difficult time just shifting Saddle Road between m.m 35 and m.m 29 out of the PTA training area. They had to establish a new Palila nesting area on the northwest side of Maunakea to make up for the land lost for this realignment.
The Federal Government, or the State of Hawaii, owns the land this highway crosses from Mamalahoa Highway to around m.m 12 on the Hilo side. Those stub outs were constructed to access those government lands. As soon as the highway crosses m.m 12, there is a mix of privately own and State of Hawaii owned lands. These required the condemnation of land from these private landowners, or the transfer of land from the state department managing these lands. If the land was privately owned, a stub out was included in any agreement to condemn their land.
The CFLHD had a difficult time just shifting Saddle Road between m.m 35 and m.m 29 out of the PTA training area. They had to establish a new Palila nesting area on the northwest side of Maunakea to make up for the land lost for this realignment.
The Federal Government, or the State of Hawaii, owns the land this highway crosses from Mamalahoa Highway to around m.m 12 on the Hilo side. Those stub outs were constructed to access those government lands. As soon as the highway crosses m.m 12, there is a mix of privately own and State of Hawaii owned lands. These required the condemnation of land from these private landowners, or the transfer of land from the state department managing these lands. If the land was privately owned, a stub out was included in any agreement to condemn their land.