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By Aaron Stene | Special to Hawaii 24/7

I’ve very disappointed in Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration.Transparency has taken a large step backwards during his current term.

It is very difficult to get any significant updates on two stalled (and important) highway projects, the second phase of Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening and the realignment/reconstruction of the final 5.7 miles of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway in Hilo.

I have to jump through hoops to get any updates on these projects, as the governor refuses to acknowledge any of my e-mails.

The lack of transparency also applies to the state Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration upper management on Oahu and the mainland.

This wasn’t a problem during Gov. Linda Lingle’s second term. Both the state Department of Transportation and FHWA were much more open, at least with my inquiries.

We, as taxpayers, deserve to know where things stand with both of these highway projects without any smoke and mirrors.

Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona