At first, it seemed that folks statewide were looking at Kauai’s North Shore with sympathy. The flooding and mudslides of 2018 cut off Wainiha, except for the scheduled convoys on Kuhio Highway.

As it turns out, some residents, now accustomed to the quiet, feel the community isn’t ready for the return of full-scale tourism — which does need better controls. But being hit for finishing up the road has got to sting state transportation officials, who are not used to being criticized for timeliness.