Leilani Estates awarded $500,000 recovery grant to build second access road

The Leilani Estates board announced it had been awarded a $500,000 disaster-recovery grant to fund a second access road tying into Pohiki Road, a project the presenter described as both an evacuation outlet and an improved ocean access route. "We were awarded the full amount of $500,000 which is what was needed to actually facilitate ripping a new road back to Pohiki Road," S10 said, noting community partners and a contractor involved in preliminary planning.

Project leaders said the route will use existing non-lava terrain to avoid lengthy environmental reviews required for state land corridors, and that partial county roadwork planned through 2027 will open a short segment of Leilani Avenue that helps reconnect a subdivision. S10 said he will serve as the project manager and credited Robert Golden and a sponsoring nonprofit for helping secure the award; a contractor (named in the meeting) has been identified to bid and survey the route before construction. The board cautioned that final work depends on county permit clearance and finance-office authorization before funds can be spent.