BREAKING NEWS!
Posted 08/11/2024
A Real Mess
Aloha,
If you can, you may want to attend a meeting held by the Agribusiness Development Corporation this Thursday August 15, 2024 in Kekaha at the Beck’s Bldg 718D Kaumualii Hwy at 9:30 am. Meeting Notice and Agenda.
Why attend? Our west coast shore is under siege by uncontrolled waste water running into the ocean with toxic chemicals, pesticides and bacteria. For background information, please see the lawsuits that have been filed and advanced by Surfrider in their effort to protect the waters of the State and the US, our near shore waters and ocean. The links that follow report two lawsuits and two settlements which contested the unregulated and unpermitted drainage of seriously contaminated wastewater all along the coast from Kikiaola Boat Harbor past PRMF.
There were settlements reached on both Surfrider lawsuits as the following linked articles report. However, the terms of the settlements have yet to be satisfied and Surfrider and is finding it necessary to return to the Court annually to extend the Court’s Order. The Department of Health has not issued a permit to either the Agribusiness Development Corporation for its runoff into the ocean. Nor have they issued the required NPDES permit to the shrimp farm. The shrimp farm previously owned by a dutch corporation was not compliant with either State or Federal law, leading to the unchecked pollution of the ocean beach on the west shores of Kekaha. FOM filed a Comment with the State Department of Health October 20, 2019. To spite our request for a Hearing, a Contested Case to address the unregulated discharge of contaminants from the shrimp farm, there was no response from the State. They took no action at all. See the FOM Comment/Complaint attached.
Now, there is a meeting to be held in Kekaha whereby the Hawaii Department of Agriculture is transferring its responsibility for the shrimp farm leases on Crown or Ceded lands to Agribusiness Development Corporation, an entity whose pollution along the same coastline is a matter of Court Record and Judicial Order.
If we don’t step up and require our public agencies to fulfill their public trust doctrine of protecting our land and water, how polluted will our waters become?
The dutch corporation that owned the shrimp farm never did get the required permit for their operation, relying on a year to year permit that had expired. After years of polluting the Kekaha coastal waters, the dutch corporation have now sold the shrimp farm to the Aloun Farms, whose founders immigrated to Oahu from Laos in 1977. The Garden Island, see the TGI link below.
The Agribusiness Development Corporation Board will meet Thursday morning at 9:30 am to vote on whether to accept management of the shrimp farm leases previously under the management and direction and regulation of the Hawaii Department of Health and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Issues:
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Why are there still no current valid NPDES permits issued by the State Department of Health?
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As the TGI article details Aloun Farms plans call for adding and developing new species with resultant increase in runoff.
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The expired NPDES permit which the State Department of Health has extended for the former owner – is that expired discharge permit transferable to Aloun Farms who will be changing and expanding the operation?
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Who will be protecting and enforcing the public trust obligation of the State to protect and preserve a clean and healthful environment which includes clean water, air and land when the leases are transferred to Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC)?
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When is the chronic and ongoing pollution confirmed by the evidence and testing of Surfrider and discussed in our Comment/Complaint filed October 29, 2020 going to end? See FOM Comment/Request for Contested Case attached.
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Should an entity that has been sued for its pollution of these same coastal waters manage the leases of another polluting operation?
Please attend. It is our environment which evidently public officials have far too long refused to protect. The impact to the surfers, swimmers and public health risks needs to be addressed.
Aloun Farms to acquire Kauaʻi Shrimp – The Garden Island 8/11/2024
Surfrider Lawsuit Settlement Achieves Clean Water Protections on West Kauaʻi
Surfrider Foundation Challenges Shrimp Farm Pollution in Kauaʻi
Mahalo nui,
Bridget Hammerquist, President
Friends of Maha`ulepu, a 501(c)(3)
Kia`i Wai o Wai`ale`ale, Co-founder
PO Box 1654
Koloa, HI 96756
Donate
friendsofmahaulepu.org
[email protected]
(808) 742-1037 home
(808) 346-1973 cell
Posted 07/21/2024
Aloha,
Many thanks to so many generous supporters. We are doing it! In the last nine days, donors have matched more than half of the $25k we were offered. Looks like we will be able to fund our projects.
Coco Palms Appeal:
For those who may want to follow FOM’s appeal of the County’s Denial of FOM’s Petition to Revoke the Coco Palms development permits for failure to comply with or meet most of the conditions of development required as of December 31, 2018, you can access the Appellate filings by clicking on the following link. Not only are all of the building permits (most issued in 2016, some in 2017) lapsed and void, well beyond the one year from date of issue, but the current developer has done little or nothing to apply for new permits, assuming the County is willing to save them the expense required by Ordinance for all who build on Kauai. They are counting on the County to let them use outdated/expired permits. We remain confident that our appeal will ultimately be successful although we know it will take time and effort by our legal team.
Coco Palms Appellate Pleadings
Appellate Pleadings from RP21 and Coco Palms Hui, LLC have not yet been filed. We will add them to this link once they are filed.
Ballots Have Been Mailed:
More than half of the registered voters on Kauai are women. We only have one woman on the County Council. Not exactly a fair representation of our voters. Please be sure to mark your ballots as soon as possible and consider supporting women like Fern Holland, who had a great article published recently in Civil Beat. Her article was especially timely. Council Member Felicia Cowden has also stressed the need for land owners, especially the former sugar lands, to control the wild grasses increasing the fire hazard on Kauai. Candidate Jeff Lindner is advocating for work force housing. His Civil Beat article discussed the shortage of urban land available for development and offered that Ag lands are being under utilized growing wild grasses/fire fuel when much of that land could be cleared for our much needed workforce and affordable housing.
Fern Holland on Invasive Species & Fire Fuel
Fires Are Plaguing Kauai:
No sooner had the County and many supportive organizations including major support from the land owner controlled the fire that raged between Hanapepe and Kaumakani this past Monday July 15, 2024, only to have another large fire erupt on the east side in Kapahi Tuesday July 16, 2024. Our Fire Departments have been coordinating with rescue teams and helicopters dropping buckets of ocean water on the flames, doing an excellent job for the safety of our residents. When the fire was contained in Kapahi and Kapaa, there was little rest as fires erupted next in Kokee. Once again it was the grasses that had been allowed to grow unchecked on former sugar cane land. See the following link with some compelling photos documenting the fire that soared last night in the ridge line not far from Kekaha. These photos were taken and shared courtesy of Carroll Cox of EnviroWatch, visiting from Oahu.
Don’t hesitate to share this and all of our emails with friends and family. Thanks to Kauai residents Charlotte Beale, Richard Diamond and others who help us get our message out. Please complete your ballot and mail it is as soon as possible. No postage required. We are able to cast seven votes for County Council. You can, however, strengthen your vote by voting for less than seven and casting your vote only for those who you strongly support. By selecting your only your favorite candidates, you increase their chance of making it through the primary.
Mahalo nui,
Bridget Hammerquist, President
Friends of Maha`ulepu, a 501(c)(3)
Kia`i Wai o Wai`ale`ale, Co-founder
PO Box 1654
Koloa, HI 96756
Donate
friendsofmahaulepu.org
[email protected]
(808) 742-1037 home
(808) 346-1973 cell
Aloha!
Humpback whales are often seen breaching off the shores of Maha’ulepu during the winter months.
Friends of Maha’ulepu is comprised of a group of concerned citizens (local and beyond) who are contributing their time and talents to protect the natural beauty of this pristine coastal valley.
Maha’ulepu Beach is located on the South Shore of the Island of Kaua’i in the Hawaiian Islands, approximately 3 1/2 miles northeast of the town of Poi’pu. Poi’pu is one of the major visitor destinations on the island due to it’s beautiful beaches, swimming, snorkeling and surfing, sea turtles, whales, monk seals, trade winds, palm trees, and spectacular sunsets. Learn more about Friends of Maha’ulepu and the work we are doing!
