Question: What is the status of the Diamond Head pathway — the walkway and grass planted on the Koko Head side of the Leahi Millennium Peace Park? It looks as though the contractor has exited, leaving a mess behind. A crew did beautify the area, especially across from Kapiolani Community College, but the lower part is a mess. One hole was covered with a piece of plywood that’s now sunken and is an accident waiting to happen; storm drain blockers were left all over the area; and there’s a mess where they left their equipment. As a taxpayer, I want them to finish the job or at least clean up their mess.

Answer: Phase 2 of the Fort Ruger Pathway project along the mauka, exterior slope of Diamond Head hasn’t been abandoned; it’s just stalled.

Most of the project has been completed and is being utilized, including the pathway, irrigation and landscaping, improvements to the Diamond Head Crater entry road and driveway repaving and installation/relocation of access gates into the Diamond Head State Monument, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

However, the initial targeted March completion date was not met because of several delays resulting from having to address community concerns regarding historical appearance and features, compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, as well as additional work, said Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the State Parks Division.

The completion date is now set for August.

Phase 1 of the Fort Ruger Pathway, from near the old Cannon Club site to across Diamond Head Road from the American Red Cross building, was completed in August 2013 at a cost of $1.36 million.

Phase 2 runs from the end of Phase 1 to near 22nd Avenue. Work on this $1.15 million phase began in September. The contractor is Kaikor Construction.

Dryland native Hawaiian plants and trees have been planted along the pathway, which includes two landscaped "oasis" park areas.

Ward said only those two areas and newly planted trees will be irrigated.

The other areas along the pathway will be left to Mother Nature to water, meaning "they will be green during the rainy season and dry/brown during the dry season," she said.

Still to be done: constructing entrance walls and interpretive kiosks at each end of the pathway — at Diamond Head Road and 22nd Avenue and at Diamond Head Road, between Trousseau and Makapuu streets; improving signs; and improving the connection to the sidewalk at the 22nd Avenue end of the pathway.

That last task was added to the original project, extending the construction schedule, Ward said.

Regarding the look of the area, state Parks and Engineering Division staff inspect the project area regularly, she said.

Things like graffiti (a recurring problem and painted over "frequently"), storm drain blockers, construction barriers, etc., are "punch list" items that will be addressed before the project is accepted.

A container in the area is used to store tools and supplies for a volunteer group that helps maintain the park.

"Before the state accepts any project as completed, the project area must be cleaned up/restored," Ward said.

Mahalo

To an anonymous good Samaritan customer at Nico’s Pier 38 restaurant. We did not realize my daughter had left her iPhone in the restroom there until we were far from the area. We called but were told that no one had turned in a phone. We returned to the restaurant just in case, and discovered a kind female customer had turned in the phone after all. My daughter was so relieved, she wanted to hug all the employees! May all your actions come back to you many times over. The next day we ate lunch and dinner at Nico’s in support of their kindness and honesty. Also, the food is terrific. — Randy Drubek, Lynden, Wash.

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.