KALOPA, Hawaii: The word has gone out that a long awaited road project in Hamakua mauka has been completed.

This message was sent out via email by the district’s councilman, Dominic Yagong:

I would be honored if you would join us this Saturday, July 30, 2011 for a Hawaiian blessing for our brand new Kalopa Bypass Road. The Honorable Mayor Billy Kenoi will join us for the 9:00 a.m. blessing that will be at the top of the bypass roadway. Refreshments will be served and we look forward to hearing from community leaders as they share their experiences about this long awaited project. It also presents a great opportunity to share our gratitude and thanks to all that worked hard to make this $2.5 million project a reality.

Please join us in this momentous occasion as we untie the ceremonial maile lei to officially open up this roadway which truly defines the resiliency and perseverance of the Paauilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association.

Those who subscribe to the Pa’auilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association’s online newsletter were alerted to the news the day before, with the words “THE WAIT IS OVER!!!” underlined in bold in the first paragraph.

Dolores S Ramos, the President of PMKCA, wrote:

This is so exciting, many of those that depend on the Sand Gulch will be able to have a way out of the mountain should the gulch be blocked with rocks or debris. We wish to thank all who worked on this project which has been in the making for 20 years. An invitation will be extended to the past presidents so that they too can share in this celebration.

The 2006 earthquake that rattled the Big Island left the road impassable. The residents of the Kalopa community have since had to take a half-hour detour through Paauilo to come and go. Officials credit the disaster with getting the bypass road on the track to completion.