Pololu Trail Historic Restoration and Stabilization Project

The State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry & Wildlife-Hawaii District is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the Pololu Trail Historic Restoration and Stabilization Project located in North Kohala, Hawaii Island. This procurement seeks qualified contractors to restore and stabilize the historic Pololu Trail through three distinct line items: construction of approximately 50 feet of concrete steps with stone inlay using concrete stamping techniques to mimic retaining logs (Line Item 1); hardening approximately 500 feet of trail tread with locally sourced large stones in dry placement to create steps and cobbling with proper drainage (Line Item 2); and stabilization and repair of loose cobbling over approximately 1,400 feet (Line Item 3). Bidders must submit questions by April 15, 2026, with bids due by April 20, 2026, with unsealing and selection occurring April 21, 2026. All work must be completed within 12 months of notice to proceed. Contractors must hold appropriate state licensure, demonstrate experience with traditional Hawaiian stone masonry techniques, preferably have prior experience in the Kohala district, maintain the public's ability to use the trail during construction, and comply with prevailing wage requirements under Chapter 104, HRS, which mandates 80 percent Hawaii resident workforce composition. Bidders must bid on all three line items to qualify for selection, though not all line items are guaranteed to be awarded based on budget constraints. Site visits to the public trail are recommended but not mandatory and may be conducted at any time.

Bidders must be Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE) compliant to qualify for selection. The procurement is subject to Chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and all applicable state general conditions, including requirements for tax clearance certificates from the Hawaii Department of Taxation and the Internal Revenue Service, certificates of compliance from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and certificates of good standing from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Contractors must provide commercial general liability insurance with minimum combined single limits of $2,000,000 and motor vehicle coverage of $1,000,000, along with bid bonds before submission and performance, material, and payment bonds before purchase order issuance. The project is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) via a University of Hawaii project focused on climate resilience in the Hawaiian Islands, though specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the available solicitation documents. All restoration work must use methods, materials, and results consistent with the original historic form, and contractors must maintain periodic trail closures with at least two weeks' advance coordination with the project contact at jackson.m.bauer@hawaii.gov.