Posted 12/12/2022
Friends of Maha’ulepu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 12, 2022
Media Contact
Bridget Hammerquist, Friends of Maha’ulepu, Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale:
p: 808 742-1037 | e: [email protected]
Good news for east Kauai streams? The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Friday December 9, 2022 that they had received timely notice from KIUC that they would not be renewing their Revocable Permit with the State to divert waters from Wai`ale`ale, Waikoko and other streams along the transmission system. Their decision not to renew the permit they have held since 2003 came after significant public concern which include 2 lawsuits filed earlier this year by Friends of Maha`ulepu and Earthjustice because ditch repair of the transmission system has prevented KIUC from using the diverted waters for hydro power production since June 2019. Despite their inability to make any beneficial use of the diverted waters, KIUC has paid the State more than $180,000 since June of 2019. That money has gained Coop members nothing. Now that KIUC can no longer use the waters from the poorly maintained ditch system, they have announced their intent to terminate their permit, attempting to evade their responsibility for the deferred maintenance and repairs.
We are pleased that KIUC has finally chosen to terminate their permit. However, we ask the State to make sure that KIUC satisfies their contractual requirements, one of which provides that the State, in recovering their water transmission system, should make the needed repairs and bill KIUC. The photos in the supplement to our Comment and the report of North Shore Hydrology confirm significant disrepair and disabling damage to the entire water transmission system because of KIUC’s failure to comply with RP 7340, a notarized copy of which can be found in the supplement to the FOM Comment. The ditch damage is resulting in at least 4 million gallons of water loss daily. For more details view the following.
Friends of Maha`ulepu BLNR Testimony 12/9/2022
https://youtu.be/ieC1jF8eZpk
—
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 12/7/2022
It’s Amazing
Aloha,
After years of appearing before the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) objecting to the ongoing base flow diversion of the waters of Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko streams, KIUC notified the Board that they will not be seeking renewal of their permit to use the diverted waters for the minimal hydro power production at their two 100-year old hydro power plants. The Comment FOM filed today with the Board details that KIUC has not been able to use the diverted waters since June 2019 because of damage to the ditch system which they have failed to repair. Despite the fact that they couldn’t use the diverted water for the last 3 years, the State has continued to renew their permit in December 2019, 2020 and 2021. Since 2019 KIUC has maintained that they were trying to decide whether or not they would repair the damage to the States ditch system from deferred maintenance and storms. In stark contrast to KIUC’s position, the contract KIUC signed with the State when they took over the operation of the diversions and ditch system mandates that they do the repairs and maintenance they now claim they are considering. See RP 7340, the complete agreement entered by KIUC in the supplement to the FOM Comment. RP S-7340, in fact, details numerous condition/requirements/mandates that KIUC has consistently ignored. On behalf of FOM we applaud KIUC’s decision not to seek renewal of RP S-7340. The waters diverted, as described in the report of facilitator Robbie Alm, were up to 40 million gallons daily which was an exorbitant amount for 1% of the islands daily power need. As further detailed in our Comment, their failure to maintain the system has created an abundant water waste that is occurring and must be addressed.
If you would like to comment on the upcoming hearing this Friday December 9, please direct you testimony to the addressees identified in our transmittal email below.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 11/9/2022
Aloha,
As we approach the end of the year we realized FOM members have not had an opportunity to meet for some time. If you can, join us this Saturday November 12 at Koloa Union Church, 3289 Poipu Rd, Koloa, 1-3 pm for an update on FOM projects, our Supreme Court victory and more. The highlight of the meeting will be a book talk on Water and Power by authors (our attorney) Bianca Isaki and recent past Chair of the Hawaii State Land Use Commission (LUC), Jonathan Scheuer. Finding a location for our meeting was very difficult. We are grateful to Koloa Union Church for the use of their facility as all neighborhood centers and libraries were completely booked. The Church has made their facility available to us and asks only that all who attend wear a mask which can be removed once you’re seated inside and the program begins. A small ask in exchange for staying safe and having a chance to meet again.
If you can’t come Saturday, the following is a podcast link that will take you to an interview earlier this week on KKCR as FOM was interviewed about our work this past year on island. You’ll find the interview direct and frankly critical of public officials who are developing the island beyond its infrastructure capacity.
FOM interview on KKCR begins at 47:32.
Thanks again to all are recent donors who make our work possible. If the opportunity presents itself before the end of the year, just a reminder, all donations are tax exempt as we maintain our valid 501(c)(3) status, are EIN # is 47-2596342. If you make any purchases on Amazon, please use https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-2596342. If you don’t use this link, be sure to use smile.amazon.com and choose Friends of Maha`ulepu as your charity. When you do this, there is not increase in the price but Amazon donate 2% of their proceeds from your purchase to FOM. It all helps!
—
Mahalo nui loa,
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
Posted 10/9/2022:
Aloha,
Water is life. Ola i ka Wai
Although we had a recent victory with our Supreme Court finding that the water department does need to evaluate the environmental impact to the East Wailua stream sources that supply the Grove/KDOW surface water treatment plant, our work is not done. Now, we need to weigh in and have as many members as possible comment on KIUC’s plan to pull 23.5 million gallons daily (mgd) out of the Kokee watershed for a new large hydro power plant, the need for which is not well documented in view of a concurrent plan to also develop a large pump storage operation in Kekaha. Both projects are being simultaneously proposed in KIUC’s 2d Draft EA release September 8, 2022. Comment must be filed by email not later than Monday, October 10, 2022 by midnight.
KIUC initially released a Draft EA in the fall of 2021. That Draft failed. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) the approving agency, required KIUC to file a second EA which they filed claiming again that their projects were of no significant impact to the environment (DEA/FONSI=finding of no significant impact). The links to their DEA/FONSI are below. What follows are talking points that you can expand on, taking any that you want to talk about, but the important thing is to file a comment for any or all of the reasons in the talking points not later than Monday, October 10, 2022 by midnight.
Here is the comment that we will file on behalf of all of our members but we need your help with your comment. DLNR and KIUC need to hear that many on Kauai are concerned about a huge project that will cost ratepayers multiple millions while significantly impacting the Kokee watershed. What many ratepayers do not know is that KIUC’s current debt, a debt we all bear because we are a Coop, is $256,000,000. Also attached is a comment filed by hydrologist Matt Rosener to their failed first DEA.
Send your comment to:
Kauai Energy Project
Lauren Yasaka, Department of Land and Natural Resources
[email protected]
Dawn Huff, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative/AES West Kaua‘i Energy Project, LLC
[email protected]
Jared Chang, SSFM
[email protected]
Talking Points
1. Long-term commitment to pumped storage/ hydropower has significant impacts on natural streams, the historic landscape, and cultural resources.
a. Project prevents stream restoration agreed to in the mediated West Kauai Settlement Agreement after the end of sugar.
b. No disclosure of foreseeable impacts of already documented failure to meet interim instream flow standards.
c. A 65 year water lease, which KIUC is seeking, constitutes a significant impact requiring an environmental impact statement (EIS).2. The Need for the Projects energy is not sufficiently described, thereby curtailing discussion and assessment of reasonable alternatives.
a. No discussion of other renewable energy initiatives on island or integration of these projects into KIUC system.
b. Without a ceiling to actual energy needs, project and alternatives cannot be meaningfully assessed.
c. Significant impacts of building two new hydroplants outweigh their need.3. Projects likely to adversely impact development of resilience to climate change.
a. No disclosure of reduced rainfall on Project operations.
b. Increasing power and its reliability historically increases reliance and expansion of energy-consumption.4. Significant impacts of the project on social and economic welfare undisclosed.
a. The impact to the West Kauai environment and depletion of its natural resources is being done to produce power elsewhere on island.
b. Projects displacement of impacts to West Kaua‘i community is an environmental justice issue.
c. Financial benefits of the project will not remain in Kaua‘i (off island operator, AES).
d. Information disclosed in the DEA conflicts with what KIUC disclosed to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). To the PUC KIUC reported payments to AES would be $0.07-0.08/kWh but in the DEA KIUC reported payments of $0.14-0.16/kWh to AES for power generated likely increasing the cost to ratepayers.5. Project water allocations significantly impact food production and agriculture.
6. Additional feasible alternatives were not considered.
a. Develop several closed-loop pumped storage projects in areas across Kaua‘i, including areas where most of the energy need is generated, Lihue, Princeville, etc..
b. An ocean reservoir closed-loop project would not remove freshwater from natural sources but can be used to provide power as has been successfully done in other communities.
c. Remove the Pu‘u ‘Ōpae hydroplant from the proposal. Pump storage makes sense but pulling out 23.5 million gallons daily from the watershed does not.
d. Before spending more of ratepayers money to make power that is not yet needed, KIUC should implement mandatory energy usage reductions.7. Failure to Adequately Address the Significant Economic Impacts for the Proposed Project to ratepayers. No mention of the current Coop $256,000,000 debt or how ratepayers will cover this debt and that which will be added by these projects.
Links to second DEA
3. https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/erp/Doc_Library/2022-09-08-KA-2nd-DEA-West-Kauai-Energy-Project-Vol-III-Appendix-D.pdf
(In case above does not work try
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LhNL6MpIohn7Eda6kWel4lximrMjsMll/view?usp=sharing)
Please share this widely. Call with any questions.
Posted 9/24/2022:
Aloha,
Big news, at 9:30 am this morning the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a 54 page unanimous decision overturning each of Judge Watanabe’s decisions granting 4 judgements in favor of Kauai Department of Water (KDOW). Bottom line, WE WON BIG!
The five Justices ruled that KDOW “did not provide a candid assessment” (they lied) in the environmental review process. They also ruled that KDOW did not comply with State law, the basis of our original claim to the Circuit Court. In the unanimous decision of the court today, they reversed Judge Watanabe’s grant of Summary Judgement against our 10 causes of action. The Justices ruled that “KDOW must issue a new EA”, remanding the case to judge Watanabe to consider granting us injunctive relief. See Conclusion and quoted references above page 52 Supreme Court Decision attached.
If you recall, we shared that KDOW had not been honest when they told the public the reasons for the new 18 inch main that would be added to an existing 16 inch main taking water from KDOW/Grove Farm’s Waiahi surface water treatment plant (SWTP). When the draft EA was released in the Fall of 2017, they claimed the addition of a larger new main was to address a pressure problem in their line. However, after we filed the suit to challenge the inadequacy of their EA, we found an initial EA on the State OEQC website that stated the actual reasons for the new 18 inch main, the need for increased water capacity to service Grove Farm’s Lihue Development Master Plan. See KDOW’s own statements in the 2016 EA contrasted with the 2017 Public Notice below:
Withdrawn 2016 KDOW EA (check out stated purpose for increased capacity to meet Grove Farm’s housing development needs)
“Project Summary
Provide a description of the proposed action and purpose and need in 200 words or less.
The County of Kaua‘i, Department of Water (DOW) Ka‘paia Cane Haul Road 18-inch Main project proposes 9,000 linear feet of 18-inch waterline along Kapaia Cane Haul Road from Ma’alo Road to Kuhio Highway. The project is needed because the existing transmission facilities along Kuhio Highway from Ma’alo Road to the Lihu‘e area are not adequate to utilize the capacity from the Waiahi surface water treatment plant (SWTP) for the planned affordable housing development of the Lihu’e area…”
2017 KDOW EA published for public comment in Fall of 2017 without reference to the earlier withdrawn EA
“Project Summary
The Department of Water, County of Kauai (”KDOW”) proposes to construct an approximately 9,000 foot long, 18-inch diameter water transmission main (”Relief Line”)…” Claiming later in the EA that the line was needed to relieve pressure.
Let’s Join An Effort to Reopen the Road to Maha`ulepu. Sign by October 1st.
The other news is we need signatures on a petition to Grove Farm by October 1st. Many have written and asked what can be done to persuade Grove Farm to reopen the road into Maha`ulepu Beach. The following link allows you to join and sign with many others who believe Grove Farm should open Maha`ulepu Road so young and old can access that beautiful coastline.
Posted 9/13/2022:
Aloha,
The latest, bones unearthed at Pinkston Kiahuna Plantation Drive development. Here is a letter to the editor FOM submitted to TGI with supporting documents a week ago that has yet to be printed.
Also, below is a complete copy of a citizen complaint filed with the Kauai Planning Department, May 9, 2021, nearly one year prior to the Department giving a clearance for the developer to obtain a grading permit. There was no response to the citizen complaint other then to acknowledge its receipt.
Without taking any precautions for the Land Use Commission conditions that remained unsatisfied, LUC condition 7 and County zoning ordinances, the Kauai Planning Department allowed grading activity to begin and the developer, Pinkston and Meridian Pacific, choose to use explosives in the process. The unsatisfied LUC conditions and County zoning ordinances are detailed in the May 9, 2021 Planning Department complaint, found below. The explosions beaning May 2022.
Our letter to the editor details the inadvertent discovery of “iwi” on the Pinkston/Meridian Pacific Kahuna Plantation Drive development site June 16, 2022. As described in the attached, there was no coroner or medical examiner called to the site to determine whether the bones were human or animal, per Hawaii Administrative Rule §13-300-40 (b)(2).
The Burial Council representative for Kauai from SHPD, Kauanoe Hoomanawanui, who came to the site to check the bones is Kauanoe of the “Kauanoe O Koloa” Pinkston development. When Teddy Blake was alive he persuaded Pinkston to name his development using her name. How better to shelter yourself from burial mound claims. Not only should they have had the bones examined by a medical examiner/pathologist or coroner but State law also required notice of discovery be given to cultural practitioners and interested persons in the immediate area, e.g. the person who filed the complaint below and individuals who filed a burial council claim in early 2021.
When you read the letter to the editor you’ll find the direct link between Pinkston and Derek Kawakami and you won’t have to look far as to why this development is proceeding as aggressively as it is.
Mahalo nui loa,
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
San Fransisco coverage of Koloa fight
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/Hawaii-Kauai-Save-Koloa-fights-vacation-condo-17384655.php?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&fbclid=IwAR1OExjHWXkkpLadxA7jMCRQYnsjvHpSuhzF4K4BH1LGcY4i0P6UnUIUPqU
———- Forwarded message ———
From: Planning Department <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, May 10, 2021 at 9:58 AM
Subject: RE: Complaint filing RE: TMK 2-814:32,41
To: E Ola kakou Hawaii <[email protected]>
Received. Mahalo!
From: E Ola kakou Hawaii <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 9, 2021 12:37 PM
To: Planning Department <[email protected]>
Subject: Complaint filing RE: TMK 2-814:32,41
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the County of Kauai. Do not click links or open attachments even if the sender is known to you unless it is something you were expecting.
Aloha Kauai Planning Department,
RE: TMK 2-814:32,41
Please accept this formal complaint, filed by E Ola Kakou Hawaii on behalf of traditional and cultural practitioners of the Kona moku who are requesting the State’s and County’s immediate investigation and intervention to stop the developer violations of State law as set forth in the attached cease and desist Order. That Order was served on Monday April 26, 2021 on the developer and their agents: Meridian Pacific Ltd., Geolabs Inc. and Earthworks Pacific Inc.. A copy was also served on the Kauai police department.
The TMK identified above is the site for a purposed development of 300 condominiums. Prior to any work on the property, members of our organization contacted David Buckley, the Kauai archeologist for the State. We informed Mr. Buckley that this site contains a particularly sacred heiau, 3 burial mounds, has a natural spring and is part of the prehistoric Koloa Field System. We were on site when a cultural and archaeologic consultant with Cultural Surveys Hawaii, Missy Kamai, attempted to conduct an onsite inspection for the developer in Feb. 2021. Ms. Kamai informed us that she could also see the evidence of a rock formation suggesting the presence of a heiau, a wall consistent with an `auwai. In 2008 there was a proposed development near the current site that was stopped because of its proximity to the Hapa Trail. Ms. Kamai told us that she could not do an adequate archeological assessment because of the dense tall vegetation.
April 24th and 25th a bulldozer was brought on the property to clear even though the vice president of Meridian admitted that they did so without any grubbing or grading permit. As the pictures detail in the following dropbox link, the heiau pohaku and the `auwai wall
were crushed in the process. Because the grasses were never cleared with smaller hand tools, there is no way to know how many artifacts may have been damaged or destroyed. We need your help and we need it now. There has been an obvious desecration of the burial mounds and the developers agent confirmed the high water table causing us serious concern for the safety of the Koloa aquifer. We are also concerned that the developer has encroached on the habitat for the endangered Koloa blind cave spider endemic to Koloa.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i23nrgb01wvq17h/AAC7gcxFpbTazuNWaqP2eFAla?dl=0
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any additional information.
Mahalo nui loa,
Elizabeth Okinaka
Roslyn Cummings
Nākai’elua Villatora
(808)6357520
Posted 8/1/2022:
Questioning safety of unregulated blasting in Koloa
By Bridget Hammerquist, Other Voices | Sunday, July 31, 2022, 12:05 a.m.
What’s being done to protect and preserve our past?
If property is purchased in an area where a cave network is known to exist and local residents file documents with SHPD (State Historical Preservation Division of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources) claiming ancestral burial sites of their kupuna, is it pono for the developer to blast without regard to their claims?
There is little question that the Hawaiian members of Save Koloa and Friends of Maha‘ulepu have been vocal in reporting their ancestral ties to property currently being developed by Gary Pinkston and his firm Meridian Pacific on Kiahuna Plantation Drive in Koloa. If developed, there will be 280 luxury condominiums currently offered for sale between $1.2 and $3 million. The units are being built as vacation rentals.
So many more cars on Koloa’s already limited roadways, so many more to evacuate in the event of an emergency with an already restricted access that exists from the South Shore, adding more to our solid-waste landfill as the visitor community tends to create more waste with less recycling because of the limited duration of their visit.
Adding to this dilemma is the developers’ use of underground blasting without having used any 21st-century techniques to survey the property for ancient burial sites or cave structures that may be habitat for the blink wolf cave spider and its companion the blind amphipod. When we contacted the Kaua‘i Department of Public Works to complain about the detonation felt in many surrounding residences, we learned that Kaua‘i County does nothing to regulate the amount of explosives used by a developer or its contractors.
The county’s position is that it is up to the developer to do it right and not cause damage in the process.
Hapa Trail runs adjacent to the Kiahuna Plantation Drive parcel under development. Since the blasting, holes have appeared in Hapa Trail that were not there before. Surrounding residents have described being frightened by the noise and size of the blasts, which they said shook everything in their homes.
What damage is the blasting causing Hapa Trail or other significant sites on the South Shore? We know there is no monitoring of the quantity of explosives used, so what protection is there for our blind wolf cave spider found nowhere else in the world?
How much of our past will be left for the future?
Thanks to the organizers of Koloa Plantation Days for the many informative and festive remembrances of old Koloa. During a walk down Hapa Trail last Saturday, July 23, I listened to archaeologist, Hal Hammett of Cultural Surveys Hawai‘i, who narrated throughout the walk. I personally saw the holes local residents reported had developed since blasting.
Hal described the eight months he and colleagues spent studying the old Koloa Field System, of archaeologic significance as it dated from 1350 to 1850. He described the area as replete with a cave network running under the parcels from Kiahuna to the old Koloa Sugar mill site. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife (Service) has designated 13 of the caves as critical habitat for the endangered blind wolf cave spider and its companion the blind amphipod.
The 13 designated habitat caves are located throughout the South Shore, representing only a small percentage of our total cave network, which has been described as containing a system of underground passages that is recognized as one of the 10 most endangered cave networks in the world (Tongvig and Mylroie, in litt. 1998; Belson 1999). These caves span the underground to the Waita Reservoir.
What will the developer’s blasting do to the integrity of an earthen dam that is over 100 years old and contains over three billion gallons of water? A dam that had its eastern or Maha‘ulepu side spillway closed over with only one remaining spillway directed to Koloa town? If the blast is carried through the cave network, as it appears to be the case, what are our public officials doing to protect us? Videos of the blasts can be seen on the Save Koloa Youtube channel.
•••
Bridget Hammerquist is a resident of Koloa.
Posted 12/7/2021:
Another Win. Just a short update:
- This last week, thanks to public input and a very organized group in Princeville (Save Open Space), who FOM joined, our County Council enacted into law Bill 2838 which prohibits any commercial campground facilities or structures on land zoned Open Space (OS). This law allows for resident and visitor camping by permit on a temporary basis but prohibits any permit structure or commercial operation. After months of public objection to Starwood Capital’s plan for a 50 unit glamping facility in Princeville, and no doubt having seen the writing on the wall when Mason Chock and Luke Evslin formulated a bill to prohibit organized commercial campground sites in Open Space, Starwood Capital withdrew their glamping application on file with the Planning Commission 11/30/2021. Great result, our Open Space remains open.
- On December 1st the County Council adopted the 10 year Solid Waste Management plan which was modified in response to public comment. Based on their adopting resolution, I think every member of the Council is more keenly aware of the need for concrete waste diversion operations like curb-side recycling.
Wish us well as we are once again contesting the renewal of KIUC’s month to month revocable permit to divert waters from Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko streams. It its recent application for renewal to be heard 12/10, KIUC admitted that they have not used the water in these streams in all of 2020 and 2021 due to massive damage to the ditch system. The two 100 year old hydro power plants, which the water used to serve, produced less than 1% of the islands power revenue. Bottom line, KIUC has covered the power needs of the island without the water it used to divert. They also acknowledge that the ditch repair will cost at least $1 million. Consequently, we have asked the Board to deny their application for a temporary permit renewal because rate payers are covering a $60,000 annual cost for a permit for nothing for the last 2 years. Not a good use of hard earned rate payers money.
Have a happy holiday.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 11/23/2021:
Please Help. As mentioned in our last email, the one important environmental issue for Kauai between now and the end of the year, is the County Council’s action on the 10 year Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP). State and Federal law require every County to adopt a 10 year plan for the management of that County’s solid waste.
As many of you are aware, our landfill in Kekaha is at the end of its life and we are on borrowed time with the EPA for the continued use of that location. The County had selected a sight for a new landfill at Kalepa, mauka of Hanamaulu. After spending hundreds of thousands of dollars completing an EIS for that location, the County has elected not to go forward at that sight because of the expense associated with its construction.
The final ISWMP that is before the Council December 1st, is lacking in firm goals/priorities to decrease the waste that goes to the landfill through well established waste diversion programs. We have been asked by Zero Waste Kauai (ZWK) to join their efforts at moving the County toward real waste diversion. The plan before them is vague, missing objectives and time-frames. When the consultant responsible for the final plan was questioned recently by the County Council about the cost of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and curbside recycling, previously approved by Kauai County for construction and operation by 2011 with a location and approved final EIS, it was disclosed that the current cost to each household would be just $7.50/month. As Council-member Evslin and other members noted, at least 36% of what now goes to the landfill is recyclable material (paper, glass, plastic and metal). If curbside recycling was implemented, the specialist in waste management at Zero Waste Kauai testified that the recyclables reaching the landfill would likely drop to 11% or less. So, Mr. Evslin asked the consultant how much would their current waste collection and disposal cost decrease once that percentage of waste was diverted from the landfill to an MRF. The consultant responded that that calculation was outside the scope of their study. How could such an obvious cost savings be outside their scope? PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO SIGN THE ZWK PETITION that seeks to achieve real waste diversion for Kauai which will irrefutably add years to any landfill. Bottom line, if only curbside recycling were instituted that would significantly reduce the 36% of recyclables that currently go to the landfill. ZWK is a fellow environmental organization advocating that the Council adopt a resolution incorporating the following four goals at a minimum.
The four recommended priorities are:
- Build a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and Establish Curbside Recycling
- Develop Regional Composting Facilities that take food wastes and sewage sludge in addition to green waste.
- Institute Incremental Material Bans at the Landfill for Certain Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste and Require a Demolition and Deconstruction Disposal Plan as a condition of a Building Permit Where Demolition is Planned.
- Provide adequate staff and resources to establish, oversee and coordinate the implementation of the three aforementioned priorities
Please send your testimony to [email protected] as soon as possible and not later than Tuesday November 30. In the subject of your email please enter C 2021-252. In the body of your email please indicate that you are requesting the Council adopt a resolution for the ISWMP that incorporates the above four goal/priorities/objectives.
Even the County’s consultant acknowledged that the minimal cost associated with curbside recycling and the money made by the Materials Recovery Facility sales would undoubtedly lessen the County’s current cost of trash collection and disposal. They just didn’t bother to determine the cost savings. As ratepayers, I hope you join us in asking for real trash diversion programs used in Counties throughout the US with great success.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 11/19/2021:
Success! In the last year we have succeeded on several environmental fronts. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday we want to acknowledge and thank our many supporters who keep FOM funded and/or who keep us informed on Public Notices and developments that threaten our quality of life on Kauai. Every win for the environment is a win for us and all living things that benefit. The following recaps some of this years successes many of them were the subject of FOM member comments and testimonies and we thought you would appreciate knowing the status. We also extent kudos to our friend Carroll Cox of EnviroWatch.org who gave us countless hours of radio time, helping to spread the message about the pending disaster if the industrial dairy at Maha`ulepu had been allowed to operate. Carroll’s work was recently featured in the Washington Post and Seattle Times when he exposed millions of gallons of runoff from the Paradise Bottling Company on Oahu, runoff that was polluting a stream so thoroughly that the alcohol content in the stream was 1.2%.
- Probably our biggest win for the year was our part in forcing the Hokua Place developer to withdraw their application before the Land Use Commission (LUC) to build 769 condos and homes on the hillside behind Kapaa Middle School. A real win for the entire island which would have suffered miserably under the increased traffic burden not to mention the lack of available water and wastewater services.
- On March 18, 2021 the Commission of Water Resource Management (CWRM) directed A&B, doing business as McBryde, to restore stream flow to Lawai Stream. Many offered testimony in support of our fight to restore flow in Lawai Stream. Lawai Stream had been diverted since 1906 by the sugar industry. The design of their diversion took all of the flow from the stream at some times causing dry stream bed and interrupting the migratory patterns of fish, Hawaiian shrimp while killing numerous native plants and other vegetation. Thanks to all of you who filed the comments that supported our complaint to CWRM. If you wish to view the recent public meeting, in the first 4.5 minutes of the video on the linked page, you will see pictures of the new concrete diversion that only allows A&B to take medium flows, leaving base flow and high flows in the stream year round. It has been over 100 years since the stream has enjoyed such flows and already biologist are noticing a difference. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/cwrm/surfacewater/ifs/kauai/2050-lawai/
- Koloa/Poipu Development Update: On August 10th we and many members offered testimony to the Kauai County Planning Department objecting to developer Gary Pinkston’s proposed parcel consolidation to support his 282 unit condo plan for the last undeveloped parcel along Kiahuna Golf Village Drive right opposite Hapa Trail. Not only would there be a tremendous increase in vehicles on this road with one ingress and egress from the Kiahuna Golf Village developments but also of significance is the highly likely impact to the endangered Blink Cave Spider and amphipod. Entomologist have identified the Koloa/Poipu area as the only place in the world these endangered species can be found. Following the August 10 hearing and likely in response to many comments, the Planning Department Director sent the Developer a letter, see attached. In the letter the developer was told that his permits to build would not issue if it was determined that there was any habitat for the endangered species on Mr. Pinkston’s 24 plus acre parcel. As confirmed in a recent letter to the Planning Department from the US Fish & Wildlife Director, Aaron Nadig, while the larger parcel, the subject of the consolidation effort is not a USFWS designated habitat it is likely a habitat to these unique species endemic to Koloa but at least 3 other endangered species. Another huge problem identified after the hearing is that one of the parcels in Pinkston’s application for consolidation is an Ag parcel while the other appears to be Urban. It’s unlikely that these can be consolidated without going back to the LUC for a district boundary amendment, a requirement for changing zoning. Properties owners are not supposed to consolidate to change the zoning classification of a parcel.
- Shrimp Farm Update: We now know that the shrimp farm (Sunrise Capital Inc., Kauai Shrimp, etc.) is owned by Hendrix Genetics, a company from the Netherlands. Since our comments were filed 10/29/2021, asking the State to require the shrimp farm to use their engineering skills to better manage their wastewater, we have learned that the State is not supposed to allow the operator to have contamination testing done one mile out to sea unless it is “impracticable” (not code for expensive) to test at their point source of discharge (their plumbing which dumps 5-20 million gallons of wastewater daily into Kinikini Ditch that flow directly over the beach and into the ocean at Kekaha). We have yet to hear what the State intends to do.
- Glamping Bill Update: Mahalo to all who offered testimony to the County Council in support of the Bill (2838) to restrict developed camp grounds (concrete slabs, permanent camping structures with bathrooms and kitchens, etc.) from development in areas that are zoned Open Space. No question we need Open Space preserved wherever it is on island and we will send out a notice when this Bill comes up for a final vote.
- Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan Update (ISWMP): Earlier this year we asked our members to offer and we offered comments on the draft ISWMP. The final ISWMP was just presented to the County Council who differed action or approval until December 1, 2021. https://www.kauai.gov/Portals/0/PW_SolidWaste/ISWMP_DOCUMENTS/KauaiCo_ISWMP_Update_Draft4.pdf Please take a minute to let the Council know how important it is to add curbside recycling, a cost of $7.50/household (made clear by the questioning of Luke Evslin), not to mention the cost savings in curbside trash pickup and disposal with the development of curbside recycling. The landfill will be spared and this program is in place around the world and needs to be done on Kauai, especially to lessen the burden to our landfill. Send your comment no latter than November 29, 2021 to [email protected].
- Finally, we filed a Comment last November objecting to the State’s proposed NPDES wastewater permit for the Waiahi Surface Water Treatment Plant (SWTP)even though the State terminated their permit in 2016 and they continue to operate while polluting the environment without any permit. The new operator, another Grove Farm subsidiary, was asking for a permit renewal relying on an application that had previously been submitted for the terminated permit. Council-member Felicia Cowden asked the DOH Director to further review this irregularity. This is the same water treatment plant which our State Supreme Court agreed to review after ordering the matter transferred from the Interim Court of Appeal. It has been the subject of a $450,000 penalty and is still being allowed to operate without the Federal and State required NPDES wastewater permit. After receipt of all our Comments last November, we received no response from the State Department of Health (DOH). We recently served a FOIA on the State and their response can be found below this email. Bottom line, nothings changed. The pollution of the environment continues and Grove Farm’s SWTP continues to operate unpermitted. Grove Farm is owned by billionaire Steve Case who lives in Connecticut and is doing as little as possible to control their well documented pollution.
Needless to say it has been a busy year. As the year comes to a close please keep us in mind when making charitable contributions. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Tax I.D. number 47-2596342. Your contributions support our work. Thanks to all who contributed this year. Your Board, myself included, are not paid. FOM does its work with one paid typist.
If you shop online with Amazon, please register for Amazon Smile and select Friends of Maha`ulepu as your charitable organization. Amazon in turn sends us a percentage of your purchase without any increase in cost.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 11/5/2021:
Did You Know. The shrimp farm in Kekaha may be producing food but is also producing a lot of pollution. It’s not locally owned as many think. Our objective is to assure that the State requires filtration and testing of its wastewater at the point source, where it leaves the farm and drains into Kinikini Ditch. The pollutant exceedences that are now found more than one mile from shore, as detailed in our comment and discussed below, require that the operator test its wastewater at the point of discharge into the ditch because there is no other way to safeguard the people swimming, surfing and wading in those near shore waters or its marine life.
Mahalo to all who submitted a public comment on the wastewater permit application for the Kekaha shrimp farm. If you haven’t already, would you please forward a copy of your filing. Many on island are under the impression that the shrimp farm in Kekaha, Sunrise Capital Inc., is a locally owned operation producing quality food for our residents. In fact, it is another seed farm/CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) with one of their primary products the genetic development of shrimp larvae that are packaged and shipped all over the world by the owners/operators Hendrix-Genetics a company based in the Netherlands. That company owns at least 54 companies many of whom are engaged in genomics and aquaculture. On Kauai, since 2017, Hendrix-Genetics has been the sole owner of Sunrise Capital who does business under the Trade Names, Kona Bay, Kona Bay Shrimp, Kona Bay Marine Resources and Kauai Shrimp.
Hendrix-Genetics sells the shrimp they are perfecting here utilizing genetic engineering to deliver seedlings as far away as Ecuador, Indonesia and beyond. FOM does not take issue with the production of shrimp but rather with the failure to use their engineering skills to properly filter their wastewater for pollution that is detected more than a mile offshore. In their own test results, they frequently report Nitrate, Ammonia and Enterococcus (fecal waste) exceedences. Their reports can be found on the Department of Health website but they are also well documented in their NPDES application linked above. In our attached comment we have linked some DOH reports that also document fish kills and pollutants on the beach and near shore waters adjacent to Kinikini Ditch which receives wastewater from the large canal ditch that drains the 5-20 million gallons daily wastewater that is produced by Sunrise Capital from the shrimp farm. The farm is one mile long and .2 mile wide. The google earth images which can be accessed in the links that follow demonstrate the many ponds and large aspect of this operation.
https://www.google.com/maps/search/west+side+of+kauai/@21.9939075,-159.7539071,15.38z?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/search/west+side+of+kauai/@21.9939075,-159.7539071,2096m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
Both of the above are google map links for the shrimp farm. The first link allows one to see the many shrimp ponds and also depicts the blue water lines of the canal. The second link shows the shrimp farm but if you zoom in on it, you can see the large canal running around the farm that collects their wastewater, ultimately draining into Kinikini Ditch that drains directly to the ocean. We are hopeful that the State will, at a minimum, convene a public hearing before any permit issues so that we can stress our interest in having a clean ocean, avoiding more unnecessary death of near shore marine life and hazardous exposure to swimmers, surfers and beach goers. Feel free to share this email.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 10/26/2021:
Urgent: Please Help. When the environment is threatened we call for public comment because without your help we can’t preserve our environment and the quality of life. We received a very important Notice from the Department of Health that proposes to set a dangerous precedent for the State of Hawaii. Our State Department of Health is proposing to issue a permit to the shrimp farm on the West side that will allow them to pollute the ocean where their wastewater now drains and will continue to drain. The unconscionable proposition in the permit is that the testing point for the pollution, “zone of mixing”, is one mile off shore. That means, that the testing for pollutants harmful to humans and lethal to marine life will only be assessed after they travel one mile out to see. There will be no way to know how bad the water will be where people swim.
By definition, having the “zone of mixing” as the place for the water quality testing will relieve the shrimp farm from testing at the point of discharge where their runoff (5 million – 20 million gallons of wastewater per day) enters Kinikini Ditch. Under the proposed permit, not only are they relieved from testing at the point of discharge but there will be no way to control the contamination that enters the ditch, the beach and near shore waters.
The shrimp farm, as TGI has reported, has had problems with odor and muddy drainage causing the death of white juvenile ulua, `o`opu and `opai who rely on the ditch for their migratory pattern of reproduction, as well as the death of other marine life. In 2016 there were hundreds if not thousands of dead marine life found on the beach where the ditch drains. Any permit to pollute must, at a minimum, require testing the wastewater “at the point of discharge” (where the shrimp wastewater enters the ditch) not at the “zone of mixing”/one mile off shore. We need as many members of the public to make this simple and obvious point. There is no question that it doesn’t make sense to require the polluters to meet a standard that is set for waters one mile off shore. By than the dilution of the contaminates is huge and the beach goers and surfers will have all been exposed to unknown and uncontrolled pollution.
Please comment no later than midnight Friday October 29, 2021. In your comment we urge you to request a public hearing for the permit application. Please send your comment to [email protected]. Federal and State laws provide for a public hearing, if requested, particularly if the community expresses significant concerns.
In Hawaii, the State Department of Health administers the Federal Environmental Protection Act. Any industry whose wastewater has the potential for polluting the ocean, its near shore waters, beaches, etc., must obtain an NPDES permit (Nation Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit). Clearly the permit which DOH proposes to issue to the owners, Sunrise Capital, Inc., of the shrimp farm on the Kekaha coast of Kauai does not even come close to meeting State law which emphatically requires the protection of our beaches and ocean:
“The Pacific Ocean surrounding Kinikini Ditch, is classified by the DOH as a Class A, Wet Open Coastal Waters under HAR §11-54-6(b). It is the objective of Class A waters that their use for recreational purposes and aesthetic enjoyment be protected. Any other use shall be permitted as long as it is compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and with recreation in and on these waters.”
Act now, demand the public hearing and demand that this permit not be issued when it is so clear that testing should done at the point of discharge not at the “zone of mixing”, one mile off shore.
Please share this email and forward it to your family and friends. If the State is going to allow near shore water pollution on the West side of Kauai, what will stop them from permitting muddy discharge and pollutants into our ocean and onto other beaches. The West side deserves the same protection and preservation as the rest of the island and State.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 9/30/2021:
Save Koloa. In our last FOM email we shared our support and efforts to help Save Koloa, a community group, dedicated to preserve what remains of Koloa’s historic field system that supported the agriculturally based Hawaiian community that occupied the area between Poipu Rd and the Waikomo Stream up to the Koloa Mill between 1350 and 1880. Sweet potatoes, taro and fruit were cultivated using a complex water diversion system, remnants of which still remain along with the Hapa Trail. A drive along Kiahuna Golf Village Road allows one to enjoy many of the ancient features of this once thriving Hawaiian community. Save Koloa and FOM are dedicated to preserving as many of the historic and archaeologic features that are still present. We also join Save Koloa in protecting the endangered species known to habitat the area from the obvious dangers and harm that will be inflicted by development, runoff, drainage problems, increased traffic and other nuisances certain to occur if Gary Pinkston’s 282 unit development is built.
We are pleased to share and grateful for an environmental letter from a Bay Area law corporation, Soluri Meserve, copy attached, requesting that US Fish and Wildlife Service assure the protection of the Kauai cave wolf spider & Kauai cave amphipod found only in Koloa, Kauai.
smile.amazon.com
Without the continued support from our community, we would hard pressed to continue our efforts to protect Koloa and the South Shore. As we approach the holidays, please remember FOM when shopping on Amazon. When ordering from Amazon, please order from smile.amazon.com. FOM is one of the listed charities you can designate to receive a percentage of you spend on your order. It adds nothing to the cost of the product, but Amazon donates to group of 501(c)(3) charities and FOM is fortunate to be one of them.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 9/13/2021:
Thumbs Up From The Supreme Court. In our last hui email we shared that Earthjustice had filed an application to join in our arguments to the Supreme Court in our water case involving addition of an 18 inch main without proper review which involved diverting 30 plus million gallons a day from the east Wailua watershed without stream diversion permits or any environmental assessment. It only took the Supreme Court 24 hours from the filling of the Earthjustice application and brief to grant their application. The brief filed by Earthjustice on behalf of Earthjustice and the Sierra Club has been accepted by the Supreme Court and is now part of our water case.
Our next challenge, and our latest effort to protect and preserve Koloa and Poipu is described in the following that was emailed to County officials today.
Aloha Chair and members of the Kauai County Planning Commission and Subdivision Committee,
Please accept the following amended additional public comment and petition for your assistance, for help from the County Planning Department and all County officials involved. Koloa is a special place and we need your help to preserve this community. In the following, there is some additional information, the links are easier to access and please forgive the frustration expressed in my initial email. Having been an attorney, it was particularly troubling that the attorney who now represents Gary Pinkston and who negotiated the fee he will pay the County in lieu of building any workforce housing is the same attorney who, while working as a County attorney for Kauai, signed a third party agreement with former developer/owners regarding the same parcel that Mr. Pinkston now seeks to develop adjacent to Kiahuna Golf Village.
RE: Application No. 8-2021-7 – YELLOW HALE. LLC. – TMK 2-8-014:32 – Agenda item I 1c from August 10, 2021
Please accept the following additional public comment/concerns filed on behalf of the Friends of Maha`ulepu, most of whom live in the Koloa/Poipu south shore community of Kauai. The following information is submitted in strong opposition to any further Commission or County action on the subdivision application submitted by Gary Pinkston, owner of Yellow Hale LLC who has already begun marketing lots in the proposed subdivision area under Ka Ua Noe O Koloa, Meridian Pacific, Ltd and Kauai Vacations Now LLC.
Gary Pinkston’s plan to merge and subdivide, per application No. 8-2021-7, for the development of TMK 2-8-014:32 in Koloa should not be considered until he has properly applied with the State Land Use Commission for the rezoning of that property from Ag to Urban. When the LUC Decision and Order (D&O) was entered for the adjacent Kiahuna Golf Village development, that D&O did not include either of Gary Pinkston recently acquired parcels TMK 2-8-014:32 or TMK 2-8-014:41. The State has never granted a district boundary amendment for TMK 2-8-014:32 or TMK 2-8-014:41. The final EIS offered in support of the application for the dba of Kiahuna Golf Village identifies the TMK parcels which were the subject of the FEIS. All TMK parcels which were included in the FEIS are listed on pdf page 21 of the FEIS. The LUC D&O of July 12, 1977 identifies the specific TMKs included. As the D&O reflects in the text below, the subject parcel of Application No. 8-2021-7 is not listed in the D&O or the FEIS as the following text from the D&O confirms:
“2. The subject parcel is situated at Poipu,
Kauai, Hawaii, and contains an area of 457.54 acres.
Petitioner’s Exhibit “A” is a true and correct metes and
bounds description of the outside perimeters of the subject
area. The subject area is more particularly identified by
the following Kauai Tax Map Keys:
(a) 2-8-12-01, and 2-8-14-01, 05, 06 and 08,
owned by the A. F. Knudsen Trust and the Eric A. Knudsen
Trust;
(b) 2-8-12-09, 2-8-13-2 and 05, 2-8-14-07,
and 2-8-15-77, owned by Grove Farm Company, Inc.;
(c) 2-6-04-15, owned by McBryde Sugar
Company, Ltd.; and
(d) 2-8-13-04, owned by the Roman Catholic
Church.”
D&O – pdf page 11-12
Consequently, the application before you seeks to subdivide and proposes urban development of State Ag land which has never been the subject of a dba or an EIS. In addition, the application submitted for your approval is inaccurate in the stated acreage. The applicant purposes to consolidate Lot 88 (TMK 2-8-014:32) and Lot B (TMK 2-8-014:41) and than subdivide that into 4 parcels. The applicant claims that the area involved is 27.885 acres but fails to include TMK 2-8-014:41 in his application. According to County of Kauai Tax Map Key records, TMK 2-8-014:32 is 25.39 acres not 27.885 as stated in subdivision application no. 8-2021-7. If the applicant had properly included and identified Lot B in the application, TMK 2-8-014:41, the total acreage in his application would be correct. As subdivision Application No. 8-2021-7 stands, not only does it propose to create an urban development on State Ag land but it is purposing to consolidate Lot 88 and Lot B without identifying that lot B is TMK 2-8-014:41.
Before the County takes any further action on either of these TMK parcels, they must undergo a State Land Use District Boundary Amendment (dba) and they must be the subject of an environmental impact study (EIS), particularly because of the archaeologic features in the area dating back as far as 1350s, the rich traditional and cultural practices, known lava tube and cave formations and surrounding designated habitat for several endangered species endemic to Koloa. Please see the 22 min video of the Koloa field system in an archaeologic symposium given by Hal Hammett last year. Mr. Hammett’s presentation details the rich history and archaeologic features throughout the Koloa field system on Knudsen Trust land which was developed into Kiahuna Golf Village. In the application before you, the parcel(s) are not only absent from the FEIS and every LUC Decision and Order for the Kiahuna Golf Village and they are not the subject of the survey Mr. Hammett describes in his 2020 symposium.
Another irregularity that mandates no further action be taken: when Application No. 8-2021-7 was heard by the subdivision committee August 10, 2021, a supporting document from the Housing Agency signed by Director Adam Roversi stated that Mr. Pinkston’s “Yellow Hale LLC satisfied its workforce housing requirements by entering into a workforce housing agreement with the Housing Agency. Under this agreement Yellow Hale LLC agrees to pay various in-lieu fees totaling approximately $5 million.” That statement was not accurate. Mr. Roversi’s agreement to accept payment in-lieu of constructing any workforce housing, was not included in the agenda packet August 10. The actual agreement, obtained through a recent UIPA/FOIA to the Housing Agency, reveals that Mr. Pinkston will pay, “the sum of $1,113,900.00 which shall be due within five (5) days after closing on the Property…” That sum was determined by the requirement that Mr. Pinkston pay $3950/unit (282 x $3950 = $1,113,900.00). In addition, the County will receive $10,000 at the close of each escrow (282 x $10,000 = $2,820,000.00). The sums of $1,113,900.00 + $2,820,000.00 which barely exceeds $4,000,000.00. See actual agreement. Those additional fees will trickle in to the County assuming Mr. Pinkston is ever allowed to develop these lots, making it very difficult for any workforce housing to be built by the County and putting the County in a position of a vested interest in the development of these lots. Under our current housing policy the type of development proposed is supposed to be 20% workforce housing which for the development Mr. Pinkston seeks to build would otherwise yield 56 homes (20% of 282). The in-lieu of agreement Mr. Pinkston signed will not come close to constructing 56 homes anywhere on Kauai.
Another troubling aspect of Mr. Pinkston’s application involves the clear conflict of interest between his attorney who negotiated his in-lieu of payment for workforce housing, Laurel Loo, Esq. Laurel Loo was the County’s Attorney who signed an earlier County Approval for the development of the same TMK 2-8-014:32 in 2003. At the time she obviously represented the County and now represents Gary Pinkston in regard to the same parcel, a clear conflict of interest.
In a recent interview with Hawaii Business Magazine, Mr. Pinkston revealed plans that will dramatically change Koloa if allowed. Not only is the County purposing to relieve him of any requirement to construct workforce housing for Application No. 8-2021-7, but Mr. Pinkston stated that he plans to build 15 houses a year in Kukui`ula development for sale well in excess of $1 million without constructing workforce housing and 100 condominiums in Koloa without any workforce housing as well. He has already purchased the land in Koloa in the Koloa town special planning area exempting him from any workforce housing. Koloa residents who are part of the South Shore workforce live in the Koloa Apartments on the land he recently purchased. Some of them have already received notice that they will need to find other housing at the end of their current rental agreement. The Koloa Apartments, built in the 60’s, are affordable. When Mr. Pinkston tears them down and builds his 100 condominiums, per his recent interview, not only will he be exempt from any workforce housing requirement, the new units will likely be unaffordable to Kauai’s workforce.
Before you proceed further with any application from Gary Pinkston, it may be important to be aware that he and his wife have pleaded guilty to federal income tax evasion. The IRS filed the action against the Pinkstons for fraudulently transferring the value of land into the structures on the land thereby sheltering his income with an unlawful increase in depreciation. It is illegal to depreciate the value of land.
On behalf of our members, the endangered species and the cultural and archaeologic resources that will be negatively impacted please take no further action on the parcel or parcels which are the subject of Application No. 8-2021-7. If there are any questions or problems accessing the information linked, please feel free to call. We look forward to your serious consideration and attention to our concerns. Koloa and its rich heritage are very special and deserving of preservation.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 8/12/2021:
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. In case you wondered if we are on the right side of the water issue, we received more support for our case. Not only did the Hawaii State Supreme Court step in and Order our case transferred from the Intermediate Court of Appeals before they could decide the issue, but we just received an excellent brief and Motion filed yesterday with the Hawaii Supreme Court by EarthJustice on behalf of Hui Ho‘opulapula Nā Wai o Puna and Sierra Club in support of our appeal. Such good news to have strong legal environmental support for our water case. Please see their recent filings. We’ll let you know when we hear more. Keep a good thought.
In our last email, we asked for comments and thanks to many of you who did. Unfortunately, as one of the commenters to the following TGI article on the Planning Commission meetings noted, the County has once again shirked their duty and done nothing to further real workforce housing. See the TGI article and great comments that were made. It’s clear the public understands what’s really going on. We, the voters, need to take action and rid our government of officials who keep selling out their constituents. We’re not done yet. Stay tuned for more.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 8/5/2021: Sweetheart Deal From the County. No rest for the weary. On June 8, 2021 our Housing Director gave a sweetheart deal to the developer, agreeing to the construction of 282 condos with no requirement for the development of workforce housing, on just 27 acres of undeveloped land, the remaining area of land adjacent to the Kiahuna Golf Village. The condo project, if ultimately permitted, will add a dense collection of condominiums to an already crowded and desirable VDA just mauka of Pili Mai.
There are a host of infrastructure issues, increased wastewater to a challenged South Shore wastewater treatment plant that has odor problems, spills and in need of significant upgrades and repair, traffic and evacuation issues with our limited exit roads, drainage problems that threaten the protected Hawaiian Honu, Monk Seal our beaches and reef, none of which seem to be of concern to our County. More importantly, there are several conditions that were imposed by the State Land Use Commission when this land went from ag to urban that are not yet satisfied.
The known Hawaii burials on the parcel, traditional and cultural practices and the designated and protected habitat of the endemic Koloa spiders are also being ignored. So what does our County do? The Planning Department doesn’t call US Fish and Wildlife, doesn’t get a comment from the State Historic Preservation Division, doesn’t care that there is a LUC requirement that there be a survey and protection of the endangered species before there can be any development but rather agrees to accept a mere $5 million from the billionaire developer Gary Pinkston in lieu of the required 20% of development for workforce housing.
Really, $5 million? Clearly, the developer’s gross sales on the 282 units will average at least a half million per unit so how does a $5 million dollar payment meet or satisfy the 20% requirement of housing for our workforce/Kauai residents? Exactly how much of our housing shortage will this $5 million address? Please help, your comments are needed to be filed with the Planning Commission, [email protected], no later than 4 pm Sunday, hearing is 8:30 am Tuesday 8/10. Points to consider for comment below:
Suggested Comment
To: The Subdivision Committee of The Kauai Planning Commission
Re: Agenda Item I-1c, Subdivision application: S-2021-7
I OPPOSE the Consolidation and planned Subdivision of TMK (4) 2-8-014:032 scheduled for hearing by the Subdivision Committee of the Kauai County Planning Commission at 8:30 am, 8/10/2021.
TMK (4) 2-8-014:032 is home to endangered species, including the blind cave spider, found nowhere else in the world. Portions of the TMK have been designated by the Department of the Interior as protected habitat for the endangered species. It is also a recognized Hawaiian burial site and replete with traditional and culturally sensitive historic practices.
This parcel has been listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as ‘Critical Habitat’ and the last remaining ecosystem on the planet for at least 2 Endangered species – the Endangered Kauai Cave Wolf Spider (Adelocosa Anops) and the Endangered Kauai Cave Amphipod (Spelaeorchestia Koloana). These creatures exist only in Koloa – the lava tubes and areas running under and adjacent to this property (TMK (4) 2-814:32).
The agenda item on the Planning Commission lists the proposed activity – the building of 280 condominiums.
In sum – OPPOSE any activities on this property including: drilling, grubbing, grading, the administration of poison and other activities that would lead to the decimation of this ecosystem and listed Endangered Species. See also Land Use Commission requirements that have yet to be satisfied:
https://luc.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/A76-418-OP-Response-to-Motion-4-4-14-FINAL.pdf
https://luc.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/A76-418_Moana-Corporation_DO_7-11-1977.pdf
The Land Use Commission Docket contains multiple applications to modify the 1977 District Boundary Amendment requirements. In 1997 the LUC added conditions 10-22, see links that follow. No County action should be taken on TMK (4) 2-8-014:032 until the LUC conditions have been met, particularly those addressing traditional and cultural practices and the Endangered Species Act.
Mahalo,
(signature and phone number)
To hear and join the meeting for in person comment:
Microsoft Teams Audio: + 1 469-848-0234, Conference ID: 747 174 28#
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 7/27/2021:
Mid Summer News. Hopefully you are having a nice summer and enjoying our lovely trades and cooler than normal climes. Some fun news, FOM was contacted by a national organization letting us know that we are being added to their directory of successful environmental justice groups. We’ll share more soon.
As you may recall, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued an Order interrupting the normal processing of our water appeal, directing the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) to stop work on our water case and transfer it directly to the Supreme Court. We have received questions from some of our members asking about our water case. The following link to a recent interview may help:
Larry Graff, PAL Kaua’i Executive Director, interviews Bridget Hammerquist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi5_cHvYITc
We recently reached out to our members about the call for comment on the County’s Draft Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP). The comment we filed on behalf of all members follows. If you also filed a comment, we would appreciate your forwarding a copy for our records.
——– Forwarded Message ——–
Subject: Draft ISWMP Comment
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2021 15:50:22 -1000
From: Bridget Hammerquist <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Aloha Solid Waste Management Division,
Please accept this comment to the Draft Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP) on behalf of more than 1000 members in Friends of Maha`ulepu and Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale, committed to the improvement and preservation of a clean and healthy environment for the people of Kauai now and for the future.
There is noticeable and distinct deficiency in the Public Works section of the Kauai.gov website that applies to all of its divisions including Solid Waste. There is no transparency as to how Solid Waste is managed, its organizational structure and positions of responsibility are not identified. Many of the positions in Solid Waste, including the Chief Engineer, have been unfilled and the Draft ISWMP lacks any information as to the organizational structure of the Solid Waste Division of Public Works. At a minimum, the management position responsible to implement the ISWMP should be identified in the plan. Absent this information, there is no accountability and the taxpayers are left without knowledge of how their tax dollars are being managed or any assurance that the ISWMP plan will be implemented.
As currently drafted, the ISWMP raises serious doubt of any intent to effectively manage the island’s Solid Waste, particularly in view of the complete failure to implement and accomplish most of the clear goals and objectives identified in the 2011 ISWMP, adopted by our County Council:
“Important program and policy changes have been implemented
since the adoption of the last Plan. Unfortunately, funding
was an issue and several of the recommended actions were not
implemented, including a centralized compost facility, a
material recovery facility (MRF), curbside green waste and
recycling, a waste-to-energy (WTE) program, HHW program
expansion, and market development grants.” Draft ISWMP pdf page 11
Noticeably, the 2011 plan was more specific as to its goals, objectives and implementation timeline. The Draft ISWMP is less specific and may fail to comply with its statutory mandate because of its vagaries and statements that planned objectives are contingent on funding. As currently drafted, it is arguably not a plan but rather a statement of unfinished objectives without any concrete timeline to measure its success or failure. Rather than conduct another Waste to Energy study, when at least 3 independent reviews have concluded the Kauai waste stream isn’t sufficient to support a Waste to Energy operation, the key objective and allocation of all available funds should be directed to construction of the MRF and curbside recycling. This would achieve the greatest waste diversion impact. At present, the MRF has been approved for construction and operation at KRC. While there was a law passed requiring a one half mile distance between a landfill and a school, hospital or residence, there is only one residence within a 1/2 mile of KRC and it is old and abandoned. The MRF is not a landfill, will have a roof and has been fully vetted for its current planed location.
In response to a recent UIPA, we were told that the MRF may need to be re-sited, not likely because of the old abandoned home but because of a desire to add two relatively small operations to the KRC. Unfortunately, the response raises significant concern when it suggests that the KRC site functionality will be reduced if the MRF was added even though it admits that the HI5 redemption would be preserved when the MRF was added. Adding the MRF and retaining the HI5 redemption program will obviously increase the functionality of the KRC. Re-siting the smaller operations will not require near the expense or time of re-siting the MRF, clearly supporting the need for a trained waste management engineer to be onboard with our County.
“The County currently uses this facility to operate a HI5 redemption center, accept household batteries and florescent bulbs for recycling, store and distribute backyard composting bins, store and distribute HI5 bins and HI5 event loaner bins, store supplies for Refuse Transfer Stations, provide workspaces for three County positions (two HI5 Specialists and our Solid Waste Programs Manager), and operate a successful Reuse program that assists thrift stores throughout the County. Finally, we plan to start a Household Hazardous Waste Drop and Swap at the KRC that would be much more accessible than semi-annual events. If we were to use the KRC for a MRF, we would lose most of the functionality of the site and would probably only retain the HI5 redemption center. Hence, we would like to explore other options for a MRF site.” 7/7/21 Solid Waste UIPA response
The UIPA response also mentioned the need to re-site the MRF because of proximity to the airport. That explored and addressed in the approved EA and is a non issue, because, again, the MRF is not a landfill. Its operation will be in a structure with a roof and is not reported as an operation likely to interfere with the safe operation of our airport. If re-siting of the MRF is related to a plan to expand the airport, there is little question that the public is feeling the impact from the return of tourism and the obvious infrastructure limitations of the island making any effort to bring in more visitors untenable.
We look forward to your anticipated serious consideration and integration of our ISWMP comments.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 7/13/2021:
Airport Expansion?? More Tourists on Kauai?? Kauai County is undergoing its once every 10 year mandatory development of an integrated solid waste management plan (ISWMP). A draft plan has been released for public comment, see attached, and our comments must be filed no later than 4 pm July 19, 2021, [email protected].
After review of the draft proposal, the clear weight of public comment offered during the virtual meeting June 17, 2021, was frustration and disappointment that the County has yet to implement most of the plan for reducing and diverting solid waste that has caused our landfill to exceed its permitted capacity. One of the principle waste diversion operations, the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) with Curbside Recycling, approved since 2011 with and approved and accepted environmental assessment for its location and operation remains unfunded and undone. As of 2011, 10 years ago, the MRF was to be built fronting the Lihue transfer station, part of the Kauai Resource Center (KRC). When Waste Management staff was asked why the County is considering a forth waste to energy study with our tax payer dollars after each of the first three studies independently concluded that our quantity of waste produced was insufficient to sustain a waste to energy program, we were told that there was an issue with the proposed and approved MRF location. We asked what the issue was and we were told, proximity to the airport. If proximity to the airport was not a problem when the environmental assessment was completed and approved, what has changed? Is there a plan afoot to expand the airport because our existing runways and jetways are at capacity? Why else would they want to relocate MRF, requiring another extensive and time consuming environmental review?
We tried to find an answer to these questions and served Solid Waste Management with a Freedom of Information request. Here is the County’s Waste Management response. No where in the response do they offer why the airport is an issue for the approved MRF location. Also see below my exchange with the County Solid Waste Program Coordinator in which she admits that the only current problem with the MRF site is a single abandoned home within 1/2 mile. The coordinator admits however because the residence is abandoned, the new DOH law, requiring at least a 1/2 mile distance between a landfill and a residence, school or hospital, passed in 2020, may not even be in issue. So why is there no plan to build the MRF as approved so curbside recycling can finally become a reality on Kauai?
Please take the time to let the County know how you feel about this plan being kicked further down the road. On pdf page 163 of the attached ISWMP you can find a detailed description of the majority of the Solid Waste Management objectives intended for completion by 2020 that remain as yet undone. The following is a brief paragraph from the current draft that summarizes what should have been accomplished but for the lack of political will and funding. Please lend your voices to insist the County build and operate what’s already been planed and approved, the MRF with curbside recycling rather than spend any more taxpayer dollars lining the pockets of consultants who conduct unnecessary studies. If Oahu, with its population, more than 10 fold that of Kauai, cannot produce enough waste for a successful waste to energy operation, a news item release last summer, we should be confident that our little island is certainly not going to have a sufficient waste stream to have any different result if a forth study is conducted. Rather, we need to insist on the MRF to reduce our landfill.
“Key Components of the Future System
The County has several existing programs and policies that contribute to a relatively stable diversion rate of 43 percent (based on the baseline FY 2019 diversion rate). Many of these programs have been in place for over a decade, while some were programs and policies that were implemented as a result of the last Plan, which was adopted in 2010. Important program and policy changes have been implemented since the adoption of the last Plan. Unfortunately, funding was an issue and several of the recommended actions were not implemented, including a centralized compost facility, a material recovery facility (MRF), curbside green waste and recycling, a waste-to-energy (WTE) program, HHW program expansion, and market development grants.”
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 7/6/2021: Supreme Court Order for FOM. Great news! Favorable Supreme Court Order for FOM issued today. FOM’s water hui, Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale, filed a lawsuit in 2018 objecting to Kauai Department of Water’s (KDOW) self approved environmental assessment (EA) for the addition of nearly 2 miles of a new 18 inch main that would be added to our current Puhi, Lihue, Hanamaulu, Kapaa water plan without any assessment of the streams in the East Wailua watershed, the source of the water to be carried by the new main. When the surface water treatment plant was built by KDOW and Grove Farm (2/3 cost by KDOW, 1/3 by Grove Farm) in 2004, no environmental assessment was done at all, a complete violation of Federal and State laws.
When KDOW proposed the new main and again failed to consider the environmental impact to the source waters, our Wailua watershed streams, Kia`i Wai timely objected and filed its lawsuit. The Circuit Court Dismissed our case prompting us to appeal to the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) as we felt the Dismissal was a clear error. When our challenge of the inadequate EA by KDOW was Dismissed, we had the right to appeal to the ICA. After all the briefs were filed with the ICA we applied to the Supreme Court requesting they transfer the case and take jurisdiction over this very important environmental issue. Review by the State Supreme Court, however, in Civil cases, is only granted when the High Court agrees to hear the case. Generally, that happens after the ICA has rendered their decision. In our case, we filed an application requesting the High Court intervene now and relieve the ICA of any jurisdiction over the case because this matter is worthy of the High Court’s determination. The Hawaii State Supreme Court issued a unanimous Order today granting the transfer.
Their Order prevents any further action by the ICA and validates FOM’s position that this environmental issue is of sufficient importance to warrant transfer to the State’s High Court now. A great win for our environment, water and Kauai. For more info see attached press release and pertinent court documents. Fortunately the unanimous decision by our High Court today confirms they were unpersuaded by the unfounded allegations in KDOW’s opposition to the transfer which KDOW failed to support with any references to the record on appeal.
Does our need to protect the environment stop? Probably not anytime soon. Our North Shore is now threatened by billionaire corporation, Starwood Resorts, is considering a plan to add 50 glamping units (glamorous clamping) on a 9 hole wooded golf course that is zoned Open Space. The County allowed the Open Space zoned land to be used for golf and ancillary golfing activities, finding that use compatible with the concept of Open Space and promoting the enjoyment of Open Space. When was the last time you heard of anyone being allowed to spend the night on a golf course? Starwood’s proposed plan to add 50 glamping units involves pouring concrete footings, concrete pads with fixed walls similar to a yurt that allegedly will have kitchenettes, bathroom facilities and a locking sliding glass door. Not only will the glamping units cover over an important golf course ground that absorbs runoff from the neighboring homes and streets it will add to the wastewater treatment and water consumption needs and is hard pressed to claim an ancillary activity to golf.
So what can you do? Draft Bill 2822 offered by Mason Chock and Luke Evslin will be considered by the Planning Commission Tuesday July 13, 2021. The Bill precludes/prevents glamping/developed of commercial campsites on land that is zoned “Open Space”. Help us preserve our Open Space. Unfettered glamping on any part of our island is just not sustainable.
Please write to our Planning Commission not later than July 9th, 2021, [email protected]. In the subject line of your email it would help if you enter “Strongly Support Bill 2822”. In your email please describe any concerns you have about the strain on infrastructure, the drainage issues, eliminating open space that is currently absorbing water which, when covered, may well contribute to ground softening and more land slides on the North Shore. When we speak out, we limit corporate abuse and protect our fragile island ecosystem which must be protected especially on Open zoned land.
Open Space is vitally important to every resident of Kauai. We must protect Open Space for the quality of life on our island, both now and for generations to come. Voice your support of Bill 2822 to the Planning Commission to preserve our environment, the beauty of the island, and to reduce the negative impacts of unrestricted tourism.
Dial into: Microsoft Teams Audio: +1-469-848-0234, Conference ID: 889 153 263# 9am 7/13 to hear testimony and comments from all interested persons regarding Bill 2822 which is item 4 on the Planning Commission agenda 7/13.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 6/15/2021: Mountains of Waste and Where to Put It? Don’t put your feet up just yet. Yes, we succeeded in helping to stop the Hokua Place planned development of 769 units on the hill behind Kapaa Middle School, an impending traffic nightmare with 10 years of heavy construction and obvious road congestion right above the busiest traffic corridor on island. A good victory. The following link contains the final 10 minutes of hearing ending the Hokua Place bid to change 97 acres of ag land to urban. For lack of water, wastewater and traffic capacity, that development is not going to happen. The LUC chair thanked us all for bringing detail and data to their attention as we supported the intervenor, Liko Martin, the sole member of our community who stood up and said, Enough is Enough!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Zxgl52SD9_Bfpz7mCe2Kb-iHLRVL6yW/view?usp=sharing
Community Input/Action Needed!
Now, another big problem threatens our clean water and the environment. Kauai is mandated to adopt an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan every 10 years. The last plan, approved in 2011, set out specific goals and objectives which the current proposed plan admits were never achieved due to a lack of funding, a problem our Mayor and County Council need to address. Our waste program plan needs public input. When I spoke today with the Solid Waste Program Coordinator, she agreed that it would be helpful if as many as possible weigh in by registering for the meeting this Thursday, via link that follows or submit email, on or before July 19, 2021 at the address below. If you’re willing to help, you can find support for all of the talking points that follow on pdf page 163, section 13 of the proposed waste management plan.
https://www.kauai.gov/Portals/0/PW_SolidWaste/ISWMP_DOCUMENTS/KauaiCo_ISWMP_Update_Draft4.pdf
Public Hearing on
Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan Update
Online via Microsoft Teams
June 17, 2021 – 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Click here to register per program manager, later registration will be accepted, (see Notice)
Written comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected] at any time before or after the Public Hearing until close of business Monday, July 19, 2021.
This process and our opportunity to have input only happens every 10 years and here is why we need to comment:
- When we reviewed section 13, based on the content and table within, it was obvious that the action plan of 2011 never was fully implemented, and the documented reason is lack of funding. Absent interest and strong objection from the public, our County government will continue to defer much needed funding because handling our trash will not be a priority until enough people insist on it!
- If we are going to have visitors and are going to generate trash on an island in the pacific we need a comprehensive plan for waste disposal or waste diversion that is adequately funded to keep our water and environment clean.
- The County’s biggest deterrent to effective waste management is the lack of staff to manage solid waste. The solid waste engineer position was eliminated by the County. Only in the last month did the County move a hydrolic engineer from the Water Department to manage the Solid Waste Division of Public Works. The staffing under him remain woefully inadequate with a Program Coordinator trained in psychology and 2 State paid positions that manage recycling/HI5.
- Without qualified trained personnel to manage a solid waste plan, there is no potential for a successful solid waste program as evident by the County’s failure to implement the 2011 plan, a fact openly admitted to in the current plan.
- The current plan open to public comment, makes more than one reference to the fact that many of the necessary steps to waste management of the waste generated on Kauai are not met because of the lack of funding. Please help us tell them that managing waste is more important than completing a bike path or funding a public golf course, etc..
- Without qualified personnel to run the Solid Waste Division of Public Works, our waste management has reached a crisis level. Our current landfill has less than 7 years before the EPA issues a cease and desist while those experienced in the procedures necessary to identify and secure an alternative site have already determined it will take a minimum of 10 years, if not more, to secure a new approved site.
- Until the County develops the political will to properly staff the Solid Waste Division of Public Works, and diverts sufficient funding from its $240 million County budget and at least a minimum restore the three engineer/management positions, we will suffer the consequences of inundation of untreated, unmanaged waste. Instead, isn’t it time to take care of:
- Completing the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) that already has an approved site and approved environmental review and is ready for engineering plans and construction. People are clamoring for curbside recycling, which can’t be handled without a MRF.
- Food waste makes up 10% of the landfill, emitting the greatest percentage of greenhouse gases from the landfill. If properly handled, it could be used to provide a rich compost.
- Construction waste is currently not sorted and comprises a mix of treated lumber and chemical laden materials that are toxic. While some feel these materials can be eliminated in a waste to energy burn operation, such a belief ignores the air pollution from dioxins and carbon dioxide and vaporization of our fresh water that would result form that process.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 5/30/2021: A Real Win For Kauai! As you may have seen, TGI had front page coverage of our victory. Bravo to our legal team, Lance Collins and Bianca Isaki who filed compelling testimonies with strong supportive exhibits weeks prior to the start of the hearing, assuring that our Commissioners were well informed and ready to bear when the questioning began. A hui of volunteers helped gather the evidence our legal team put together.
Yes, it took all of us but we “stopped” Hokua Place. The 769 unit development would have imposed a 10 year period of infrastructure development, construction and finally per the developer, this dense development was expected to add 1900 cars seriously impacting travel through the Kapaa corridor. Instead, we won, and their plan has been withdrawn.
After hearings that spanned two months, HoKua Place failed to address impacts to traffic, wastewater, drinking water, solid waste disposal, nearshore waters, streams, wetlands and Hawaiian cultural practices, much of which they admitted to themselves in their “Petition to Withdraw”:
“9. Petitioner wishes to withdraw its Amended Petition to address the concerns expressed by Commissioner Okuda, Commissioner Giovanni, Commissioner Chang, other Commissioners, and the public. Addressing these concerns requires significant attention and time.” Petitioner’s Withdrawal here
Thanks to so many who have already donated. We have spent $15,000 more than the donations received and additional attorney fees and costs are yet to be billed. If you can help, your support will mean so much as we continue in our effort to preserve the environment, our water and our quality of life on Kauai: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-hokua-place-kapaa-development
HoKua Place application withdrawn
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2021/05/30/hawaii-news/hokua-place-application-withdrawn/
Denying HoKua Place is a great victory
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2021/05/30/opinion/letters-for-sunday-may-30-2021/
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 5/24/2021: Another Grab At Water. Good coverage on FOM’s efforts to preserve clean water on Kauai:
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2021/05/23/opinion/voices-water-is-life-but-at-what-cost/
Tune in today for more on KKCR at 4 pm.
Now, another threat to our stream water, a proposal to burn waste to heat water to supply steam turbine energy.
Three County Tax Payer Funded Studies have already concluded that a Waste to Energy facility on Kauai is Not Feasible! The Mayor’s budget, currently before the County Council for approval, has funding of up to $300,000 for yet another Waste to Energy study, looking at the feasibility of burning our trash, creating toxic gasses and toxic ash which will need to be handled by a properly permitted landfill. Whose pockets are being lined? Rather than spending $125 million, the projected cost for a Waste to Energy burn facility, and spending up to $300,000 for yet another study, wouldn’t it make more sense to restore a line item of our current budget that had proposed money for the design engineering of a curbside recycling program via a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). The MRF has already passed environmental review and its proposed cost of $12 million is one tenth of the cost of a burn facility and nowhere near the environmental impact.
Unfortunately, funding for the curbside recycling has been zeroed out. What are our County officials thinking? How can an island of 70,000, only some of whom are taxpayers, support a $125 million burn operation? Curbside recycling and the sale of the materials recovered makes so much more sense than using millions of gallons of water daily to operate a Waste to Energy plant that burns all its materials and emits harmful gasses in the process. Please read more below and send your comment to the County Council by end of day Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
Email your testimony to [email protected] and copy the mayor at [email protected]. Reference Bill 2819. Send it anytime before midnight on May 25th.
A lot of us would like Kauai to become more sustainable. The good news is we are not alone. According to the Kauai General Plan, becoming a Sustainable Island is Kauai’s Number One Goal.
Curbside Recycling is an essential component of a Sustainable Solid Waste System, but it cannot happen on Kauai without a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). At a MRF, recyclables (paper, cardboard, glass, plastics and metals) are efficiently cleaned, sorted and baled–transformed from trash into saleable commodities, also known as “feedstock” because they are used for the manufacture of new products.
Curbside Recycling could divert 30% of the throw-aways going into the landfill today. With a MRF, the County will gain an extra year of landfill life every three years.
The Countyʻs current solid waste plan, adopted in 2009 and presently being updated, calls for the building of a MRF by 2011. . . Yes, we are ten years late, distracted by the false god of Waste-to Energy (WTE)! Over the past 10 years the County has done three WTE feasibility studies. All of them have concluded that WTE is not financially feasible on Kauai. This is before accounting for the negative environmental impacts. Ironically, there is presently $300,000 in the current County Budget for another WTE study!
If sustainability is our goal, it is time to get serious and build a MRF which costs $12 million. A new landfill is estimated to cost $80-100 million and a WTE facility, about $125 million. Kauai cannot afford NOT to build a MRF.
A conceptual design and an Environmental Assessment have already been completed for a MRF. A Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) has been issued. The next step is a construction design, which will cost $450,000. This needs to be included in the FY21-22 budget that will be voted on by the County Council on May 26.
If you want to see curbside recycling on Kauai, please let your voice be heard. For more details visit https://zerowastekauai.net/iswmp.html.
If you are able to submit testimony on short notice, mahalo. If you cannot, donʻt worry–at least you now know more about this important subject. There will be more opportunities in the future.
Thanks for caring. Itʻs the caring and action of our citizens that makes Kauai strong.
Read more on the benefits of curbside recycling:\
Email your testimony to [email protected] and copy the mayor at [email protected]. Reference Bill 2819. Send it anytime before midnight on May 25th.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 5/21/2021: What Are We Drinking? Who can rely on the quality of water we’re drinking when the County water department would blatantly lie to the public and our courts? What follows is very upsetting and should be known by all. We are on appeal and we intend to seek the strongest rebuke and remedy that our Supreme Court will grant.
Hard to believe, but it wasn’t until the fall of 2017 that our County Council realized their water supply and the water supplied from Puhi to Kapaa was ditch water. I attended the County Council meeting where Chair Mel Rapozo actually said after a report from the Water Department, “you mean we’re drinking ditch water in Wailua and Kapaa?” To which then Chief Engineer, Kirk Saiki, said yes. As you’ll see from the text below, the public was not really in the know about the Waiahi Surface Water Treatment Plant’s (SWTP) processing of ditch water for the public. It was built by the County and Grove Farm in 2003 but there was no public notice and no environmental review in total violation of the State Constitution and State and Federal laws. When tax payer funds are used, as in this case, the Hawaii Environmental Protection Act mandates an assessment of the environment and particularly the stream sources of the diverted ditch water. To date, this has never done.
Rather, in 2018, the Kauai Department of Water (KDOW) published a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the installation of a lengthy 18″ main that would carry water to Grove Farm’s housing developments from Puhi through Hanamaulu. On review, we noticed that there was no environmental assessment of the water source, the streams in the Wailua watershed. Millions of gallons are taken daily and diverted to the Kapaia Reservoir, but there was no consideration of the impact to the steams being diverted to the reservoir. The County’s position, per their 2018 DEA, was that there was no increase in the capacity of water to be taken from the watershed, relieving them of any need to consider the environmental impacts to the watershed. That was there contention in the 2018 DEA. Our comment objected, noting that adding a new 18″ main would, of course, increase the capacity of the water diverted from the steams. Our comment was due March 12 and the County didn’t wait or even respond to our comment but prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact, dated March 12, 2018. Our only alternative was file a complaint in the Environmental Court. We did that and in June 2020, Judge Watanabe, ruled in favor of the County accepting the declaration of their attorney that the new line would not take more water from the watershed. We had filed a declaration of a hydrologist demonstrating that there would be an increase in the capacity of the system and the waters taken. His declaration was not opposed by any engineer or hydrologist, only the declaration of the County’s attorney. So now we’re on appeal and we just discovered a huge fraud on the Court and the public.
It turns out KDOW had published an earlier DEA for the same 18″ main in 2016. They withdrew it, claiming an error in the address of their consultant, Kadani Engineering. Unfortunately, we believed their stated reason for withdrawal. While working on the appeal, we decided to review the 2016 DEA and were shocked to learn that KDOW openly admitted that the 18″ main was being added to meet the increased capacity need for Grove Farm’s developments. So all their claims about no need to increase capacity or volume of diverted water taken are false. Below you will find text from the 2016 DEA which you can compare against what they published the 2018 DEA for the same project.
“In 2009, Kodani & Associates Engineers, LLC prepared the Līhu’e-Hanama’ulu Master Planned Community Water Master Plan for Grove Farm Company, Inc. (Grove Farm). In part, the Master Plan was prepared for the future development process of Grove Farm property. Phase I of the Master Plan included the proposed development of a 9,000 linear feet (L.F.)of 18-inch waterline along the main Kāpaia Cane Haul Road from Ma’alo Road to Kūhiō Highway (See Exhibit E).
The County of Kaua’i, Department of Water (DOW) Kāpaia Cane Haul Road 18-inch Main proposed project is currently described in the 2015 Proposed Capital Improvement Project (CIP).1 The DOW wishes to increase potable water capacity in the Līhu’e area to satisfy existing and future potable water needs. Grove Farm is the owner of the property on which the main portion of the transmission line is proposed to be constructed and is able to satisfy a portion of the increased capacity needs of the DOW.” (Emphasis Added) See page 8 of KDOW 2016 DEA link below
http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/EA_EIS_Library/2016-09-08-KA-DEA-Kapaia-Cane-Haul-Road-Main.pdf
In contrast, the following is from the 2018 DEA published for public comment, claiming no increase in the capacity of the water to be taken.
“2.1 Description and Technical Characteristics
The Department of Water, County of Kauai (“KDOW”) proposes to construct an approximately 9,000 foot long, 18-inch diameter water transmission main (“Relief Line”) beginning at the intersection of `Ehiku Street and Kūhiō Highway, crossing into private property and traveling along the Kapaia Cane Haul Road from Kūhiō Highway toward and ending at Mā`alo Road. The proposed Relief Line will connect to existing KDOW 16-inch diameter water transmission mains on each end.”
“2.2 Purpose and Need
No additional source or storage is required for this project.
The Waiahi SWTP is a major source of potable water for the Līhu`e system. The current capacity of the Waiahi SWTP is 3.0 million gallons per day (MGD) in accordance with various governmental regulations and approvals. The capacity of the Waiahi SWTP will not increase due to the installation of the proposed Relief Line.”
http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/EA_EIS_Library/2018-03-23-KA-FEA-Kapaia-Cane-Haul-Road-Main.pdf
While on appeal, we also obtained a copy of a critical email from KDOW Engineer Dustin Moises to Mike Dahilig, than County Planning Director. Excerpts from his email, See here, confirm that KDOW has never done the required environmental review and validates our case, now on appeal.
“Finally, I think their statement “No environmental assessment or statement was prepared for Grove Farm SWTP operations and the DEA should include this assessment within its scope.” is the biggest one of this comment. The original treatment plant did not have an EA done and since the very first trigger for HEPA is use of ”county funds”, one could question validity of the existing SWTP development since KDOW paid 2/3 of the cost with GF and will own it. It would have been helpful to have that done then to fall on now but without one that I am aware of, i would say that should be revisited now with pipeline DEA.”
“How do you address the EA not being done a decade ago as related to DHHL comment #2 when DOW funds were used the same way the EA was triggered for this pipeline? SWTP is a private system so we have to separate ourselves from that and diversions but we can’t separate from the 2/3 DOW $. I think this is the biggest issue related to the EA comments. We don’t have anything to stand on from a decade ago to help us now.”
“KAE in drafting it with KDOW should be transparent to the community and disclose anything that could be an issue related to EA whether involves GF, County or KDOW. In doing so, evaluate the 13 administrative criteria for significance and determine CWRM vs KDOW vs others responsibilities during the process. Utilize the OEQC guide for HEPA implementation.” (None of these recommendations were followed by KDOW.)
Our appeal and the remedy we seek is probably years away because of court congestion. Your continued support is much appreciated as we work to protect our environment and require are public agencies to fulfill their constitutional duty to protect one or our most valuable public trust resources, water.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 5/19/2021: Over-Development Over? The last two days of hearings before the Land Use Commission (LUC) were not only illuminating, but the second day of testimony ended with potential exciting news for Kapaa and the island. When developer, HG Kauai Joint Venture LLC, rested/ended its presentation Thursday afternoon, a Motion to Dismiss made by Commissioner Gary Okuda and seconded by Kauai Commissioner Dan Giovanni, made it clear that, for at least several Commissioners, the Petitioner/Developer had failed to meet its burden of proof in its bid to the LUC to change 97 acres of Ag to Urban for the development of Hokua Place (HP).
If built, HP would be the largest and densest development on island to be located in the densest part of the island, already overburdened with so much traffic the highway is known as the Kapaa crawl. Putting this dense a development behind the Kapaa Middle School and just mauka of the Kapaa Bypass, would make travel through the Kapaa traffic corridor like going from a bad dream to a total nightmare.
Thankfully, the Commissioners recognized and identified serious deficiencies in the traffic impact, potable water, sewer/wastewater and environmental assessment. Because the pending LUC Motion, if passed, will deny Petitioner’s bid to re-zone 97 acres of historic Ag land, all parties have been given an opportunity to submit written arguments in either support or opposition to the Motion to Dismiss. Our lawyers are hard at work preparing our support for the LUC Motion as well as a Motion to Dismiss on behalf of Interveenor, Liko Martin. All arguments are due May 27, 2021. The Commission will meet next June 10 and we hope to have good news to share soon thereafter.
Needless to say, the LUC decision will be critical to our quality of life on Kauai. It was good to hear our County Attorney bring to the LUC’s attention the fact that one of the four pivotal goals of the 2018 Kauai General Plan Update is to “Keep Kauai Rural”. Bottom line, we deeply appreciate all donations received to fund our opposition to this bad idea. For those who can still help, the link below will help us cover our legal fees and costs which to date are in excess of $25,000. It does look like we will have another success in our efforts to protect and preserve the environment and lifestyle on Kauai.
Link for donation
https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-hokua-place-kapaa-development
TGI Coverage this Past Sunday
Land Commission may deny Kapa‘a rezoning
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2021/05/16/hawaii-news/land-board-may-deny-kapaa-rezoning/
Links to LUC Hearings Last Week
Topic: State Land Use Commission Hearing
Date: May 13, 2021 08:46 AM Hawaii
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Eb4Pf7CMlwq_CsS8B5OYAl-vpm_cKUUpwjCTxyURAC3u59ghcRRd47-kkiPZcvbv.IF8adL_osqsFMo8h
Passcode: *8nFQ=QR
Topic: State Land Use Commission Meeting
Date: May 12, 2021 08:43 AM Hawaii
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Lmsxjt-DykK2Vvsnkyi7VIpBKGt-ZxuKifhN009j0-J6TmTPEZJGd0ylUM6wzek.bLG-YQz71KstkMf_
Passcode: &Q85c2!u
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 5/7/2021: Bravo Environment Hawaii! Thank you to all who have already financially supported our effort to stop another billionaire from “bringing a bad idea to Kauai.” As you know, FOM was asked by members of the community and Interveenor Liko Martin to help with the effort to stop what would be the largest and most dense development ever built on Kauai, 769 units on less than 96 acres. Not only are there serious infrastructure issues, lack of available water or sewer hookup, which the State requires, but Robert Roche, owner/developer, is purposing this development right adjacent to the busiest traffic corridor on the island. We need your continued financial support as more than $24,000 have been spent on attorney fees and costs thus far. Let’s not make the Kapaa crawl any worse then it already is. Please know that any donation you make is illegible for a tax exemption as we are a 501(c)(3) organization:
Link for donation
https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-hokua-place-kapaa-development
Recent article by Environment Hawaii confirming the community has reason to oppose this project:
https://www.environment-hawaii.org/?p=13534
Recent Testimony Excerpts
Please see below critical parts of traffic engineer, Randal Okaneku and hydrologic engineer, William Bow’s testimony offer for the developer.
April 15 – Randall Okaneku
2:20:20 – Yee asks Okaneku if he agrees the TIAR will need to be updated at some point… if needed at request of DOT and/or Public Works. Feels it can stand as is.
Bianca (cross)
2:42:00 – Collected midday did not include it…
3:08:00 – When next survey… no date… wait for tourism to return…. 5 years???
LUC
Giovanni
3:05:30 – Update to TIAR – delayed – not for 5 years – not sure – depends – has written scope of work for update – will submit it
Ohigashi
3:21:00 – What is preventing an update to the TIAR – Did not submit additional data… Nothing preventing his update with the 2017 data…
Okuda
3:27:20 – List what can be updated in the TIAR with current data – update baseline conditions – have some 2018 data from region – that and the 2017 data is what he will rely on if he does not do another field study – can do another field study
3:30:00 – Proposal to update TIAR – what was the scope of that proposal.
3:31:39 – why that proposal? Update was result of a comment by an LUC Commissioner. Proposal was made after FEIS…
3:32:30 – Reasons why no updated as of today… needed more field studies – has some data from 2018
3:37:00 – Yuen indicated to Okaneku data was rather old and an update to the TIAR should be prepared. Okaneku presented proposal for update to TIAR. No time frame for update.
Giovanni – followup
3:28:00 – 2017 field investigation took about a week
3:42:00 – You were there at a luck time
Wong
3:44:00 – Visit to Aunty in Kapaa… Traffic is nuts…
Schueur
3:49:24 – Preponderance of evidence
3:50:00 – Do you believe we have a Sufficient evidentiary basis to grant Petition? or are further updates to the TIAR necessary? Point out the answers to the LUC concerns… evades…
3:53:00 – What will be produced if not an update to the study… not in evidence before LUC
3:54:30 – Okuda points out it is the “clear” preponderance of the evidence…
March 25 – Bow
Okuda
4:14:35 – Supplemental EIS
4:18:57 – Part of any discussion to submit Bow’s analysis as a supplemental to EIS? Talked about it but told to far along with EIS that the changes working on not material to EIS by Bill Yuen with Ron Agor, not sure who made the statement.
4:25:49 – Unlikely original engineering plan from EIS would be permitted
4:26:13 – In any event after review of the EIS engineering drainage report you concluded more analysis was needed? Yes
4:26:45 – Honua Engineering report of silent about size of retention basin
4:27:00 – Honua report deficient on location of flow and amount of pre-development drainage. That needed to be quantified to work.
4:27:44 – More analysis was needed to make sure the plan worked
4:31:25 – EIS drainage report from 2011 did not include rainfall/point precipitation information
4:31:50 – Per Bow, Rainfall intensity has increased between 2011 and now
4:33:50 – Hawaii Supreme Court decision: Unite Here Local 5 vs City and County case – if there is a substantial change in data, that is a reason for a supplemental EIS
4:35:00 – December 4, 2020 NRCS soil study second exhibit to Bow’s engineering report of Jan 2021… another post EIS report needed along with rainfall data to add to software generated determination of pre-development drainage which determines size of detention basin (while not discussed here, EIS relied on topography to retain drainage increase from development, Bow’s engineering report actually relied on the addition and installation of manufactured detention basins.)
4:38:01 – Prior to December 20, 2020 the flood boundaries and construction limits had not been determined. In Bow’s 3rd attachment to his engineering report that determination was made.
4:45:20 – Exhibit 27 Hokua Place concept proposed drainage map dated Dec. 2020 Exhibit 34 Hokua Place conceptual subdivision/wetlands map Feb. 2021 (more post EIS reports) – first time developer disclosed map with the wetlands (overlayed HP map with USGS wetlands map)
4:49:03 – Believes based experience the information in report should be included in an EIS
4:50:00 – None of the parties have had a chance to examine exhibit 45 or question Bow on it.
Ohigashi
4:50:45 – Exhibit 45 title subdivision cost summary – what does that include?
4:51:00 – Bill Yuen acknowledges that Mr. Collins has said he wants to ask questions about exhibit 45… exhibit not yet in evidence, so admitted.
4:52:15 – Subdivision cost summary includes everything from clearing, preparing the land, roads, water, sewage, drainage… everything that needs to be done before the vertical construction.
4:55:00 – Bow did not include any offsite improvement cost for wastewater facility – did not know what was needed
4:55:20 – There will be additional offsite improvements not yet included in Bow’s cost estimates
Chang
4:58:00 – At this point there is no real design… just a bubble diagram
4:58:30 – Relied on workforce housing development in Waimea and Koloa for a per acre infrastructure cost to come up with the $83 million dollar estimate. Didn’t have info on roadway sizes, offsite infrastructure improvements or any specifics to rely on so used the experience from the two Kauai workforce housing sites.
4:59:00 – Dawn Chang expresses difficulty as a LUC commissioner if asked to approve a plan that appears speculative wit a lot of unknowns
5:01:30 – Feels confident in the onsite infrastructure estimate but not confident about what the offsite infrastructure costs might be because they haven’t had any discussions with the County on what offsite and mitigation costs might be.
Scheuer
5:05:50 – Establishes that the results of Tom Nance’s study is a shortfall from the actual water need for the development. Takes Bow through the measurements and Bow concludes that yes there is not enough potable water to meet the needs of the proposed development even with Tom Nance’s prediction for the fresh water well gallons per minute. Knows of no other fresh water source.
5:10:45 – per page 6 of Bow’s report which contains average daily potable water demand, the well production predicted fails to meet even average daily let alone maximum and pead demand
5:11:15 – Thinks Tom Nance’s solution will be to drill a bigger will with a larger diameter well casing
5:12:02 – Bow admits that although his report found the well pumping experience sufficient for the developments demand, he now acknowledges that that data proves they will be a little short… akin to a little pregnant.
5:13:39 – Well makai of the UIC line, contrary to State law
5:14:00 – No analysis of capture zone or drainage from detention basins or ag lot use on water source contamination
Giovanni
5:17:00 – When Bow formed estimate on intersection costs and roundabout costs it did not include bicycle or safe crossing
5:21:56 – Lance asks for further cross of Bow because of added new exhibit 45
Right to recall bow later if needed
Yee – Has right to ask to re-cross for only new exhibit (45)
Wait till after we hear from Mr. Nance
Giovanni asks for Mr. Bow Back after Okaneku and Nance because of the overlap between Bow and Nance on water and between Bow and Okaneku on TIAR and cost of roads
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 4/13/2021: Billionaires Proposing to Build Largest Development Yet on Kauai. As we work to preserve and protect our environment and our natural resources, FOM agreed to join Sierra Club Kauai, Community Coalition Kauai and other community groups opposing the development of 769 homes mauka of the Kapaa bypass and behind the middle school. The plan currently being presented to the Land Use Commission seeks to change 96 acres of Ag land to Urban to facilitate the development Hukua Place, a development that is to add 83 single residences 686 condo units on a hillside with a view of the bay and coastline in front of the old Coco Palms hotel. This dense complex is expected to add at least 1900 vehicles to the Kapaa-Lihue highway corridor. Not only is there no potable water present now but the units are expected to add wastewater in excess of the current capacity of the already overburdened Wailua wastewater treatment plant with the closest hookup being at least a mile from the proposed development site. There are seven years left on Kauai’s ability to dispose of solid waste at the Kekaha landfill. We still do not have an alternate landfill. Now is not the time to further tax our infrastructure.
We have hired lawyers to represent the community to keep the land Ag until Kauai’s infrastructure is able to accommodate such a large development. Princeville, probably the island’s largest development has 750 condo and family units on 9000 acres and is nowhere near as taxing on the environment as these 769 units will be on a mere 96 acres. We need help with legal fees. The hearing is going well thus far us but our legal fees are mounting. We can’t imagine anyone wanting to add 1900 vehicles to Kapaa. This crowded traffic corridor cannot handle this increase. This project threatens to impact us all, anyone traveling to or from the North Shore will be affected. If you have not already made your tax exempt donation for the year, we implore you to consider helping us with this worthy cause by click on the following link where you can read more and donate now to help:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/stop-hokua-place-kapaa-development
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 3/18/2021: There’s Hope For Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko. Mahalo to all who worked on the effort to restore continuous flow to Lawai Stream. Most noteworthy was the Commission on Resource Management (CWRM) deliberation conclusion that what they did for Lawai Stream is what they need to do for all the streams in the State.
A big mahalo to the Aha Moku Advisory Committee, a committee created by State legislation that encourages and facilitates action by community members for resource preservation. In 2012 our legislature finally recognized the skill and cultural practices of those who preserved and maintained our natural resources for centuries throughout the islands. Aha Moku provides a direct line of communication to the State from anyone concerned about the degradation or harm to one or our natural resources. When the Aha Moku Executive Director, Leimana DaMate, received the complaints of de-watering for several streams on Kauai, including the historically important Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko streams, she took those complaints to the State hydrologist who reached out and began his work with stream studies and community outreach. It took years, but the result is great! Thanks to all our supporters we were able to organize and contribute to a great outcome. See TGI and Hawaii News Now coverage below:
www.thegardenisland.com/2021/03/18/hawaii-news/state-seeks-to-end-lawai-stream-diversion/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15asgRsVLpVteMVIl3vi7WMrHoAY0CSW5/view?usp=sharing
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/03/17/state-commission-rules-end-diversion-kauai-stream
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 3/16/2021: CWRM – Historic Ruling For Lawai Stream Today!
Friends of Maha’ulepu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- March 16, 2021
Media Contact
Bridget Hammerquist, Friends of Maha’ulepu:
p: 808 742-1037 | c: 808 346-1973
Historic Restoration of Uninterrupted Flow for Lawai Stream
More than 100 years of total base flow diversion of Lawai Stream ended today. In its ruling this morning, the State Commissioner on Water Resource Management (CWRM) adopted a motion that starts a new era of stream restoration. No longer will diverters be allowed to take 100% of base flow, all the flow from our streams when its not raining, as has been historically done throughout the State. This is a new standard for Lawai Stream. In their deliberations, the Commissioners made clear their recognition of the need to preserve base flow in all our streams. The Commissioners’ decision followed an outpouring of community support from Friends of Maha`ulepu members, a non profit 501(c)(3) with a mission to restore and preserve healthy stream flow on Kauai. Other water groups on Kauai, Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale and Ho’opulapula Nā Wai o Puna, also submitted testimony in strong support of setting an instream flow standard that would guarantee mauka to makai flow in Lawai Stream. Supportive testimony was also offered by Earth Justice, a successful champion of the stream restoration achieved on Maui.
This historic decision is the culmination of the community’s outreach to State DLNR. In response, the State’s hydrologist came to Kauai, met with concerned residents, toured the stream channel while measuring and studying flow patterns over the past 2 years. The Commissioners adopted the amended recommendations of the hydrologist today, noting the importance of balancing stream flow and health against the off stream agricultural use. Restoring continuous flow will discourage hau bush and other invasive vegetation from blocking the stream channels. Keeping the stream channels clear will go along way to reduce flooding that has been caused by the overgrowth of vegetation. Continuous flow will also benefit healthy near shore waters, fishing and other traditional and cultural practices. Some who testified discussed their plan to restore loi kalo (taro), which before sugar was well established along Lawai Stream.
For more details, see is the amended Lawai Instream Flow Standard adopted by the CWRM as submitted by the DLNR hydrologist and supported by today’s community testimony as his email below reflects.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 2/25/2021: DOH Oversight Bill. When FOM was fighting to prevent an industrial dairy from operating in Maha`ulepu, with the help of Surfrider and their water quality testing we learned about significant fecal bacteria counts in the Waiopili Stream and the near shore waters at Gillian’s Beach. Despite regular testing with chronically significant elevations, neither FOM nor Surfrider were able to persuade the State Department of Health (DOH) to post a legally required warning when the bacteria counts are that high. You may recall, we had to file a formal complaint with the EPA, providing them all of the Surfrider water quality test results to secure signage and increase public safety. After our success with the dairy fight, FOM requested a meeting with Senator Mike Gabbard, the senator responsible for State DOH oversight. We arranged the meeting and invited key representatives from Surfrider to join us. Senator Gabbard was quite concerned at the lack of response by DOH to clear evidence of wastewater contamination of the Waiopili and other Kauai island streams. We also shared some serious misrepresentations by then DOH Director and the State Clean Water Branch. In response, Sen. Gabbard introduced SB 350 which has passed out of its initial committee hearing. We need as many of our supporters as possible to register their support for SB 350 to the Senate Way and Means Committee (WAM) not later then 9:30 am Monday March 1, 2021. Your support can be as simple as a statement in both subject and the body that says “Please support SB 350”.
To submit your support for SB 350, you will need to click on the following link to register on the Legislature’s website: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/login/register.aspx. Once registered and verified, then you can click on the following link to get to SB350 where you can comment and indicate your support for the bill.
A short summary of the bill follows:
Requires the Department of Health to fill the vacant division chief staff position within the Environmental Management Division by 10/1/2021, and consider environmental justice issues when making certain assessments and determinations. Requires the Clean Water Branch to perform water quality testing during brown water advisories, inform the public of health risks associated with water runoff during brown water advisories, and establish an Environmental Management Division Oversight Advisory Board. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a comprehensive review of the Environmental Management Division. (SD1)
What they will notice are hundreds of individuals that “support”. They often don’t have time to read comments. If you would like to add an additional comment as the reason for your support, please feel free to incorporate any or all of the following:
- Prior conduct of State DOH confirms the need for Department oversight because of its failure to protect our environment from confirmed contamination.
- There will be no significant cost associated with passage of SB 350.
- DOH has had funding for an Environmental Management Director for years but the position remains vacant.
- The bill seeks to assure that beaches are tested based on public health risk and are not restricted to testing beaches on tourist body count.
- Testing schedules need to be maintained, even during Brown Water Advisories (BWA).
- Cost of warning signs for contaminated waters not expensive $5,000-$10,000 for the entire State.
- SB 350’s DOH audit requirement already under that department’s budget; DOH failed most recent self-audit.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 2/18/2021: Protecting Our Water! By the time we successfully defeated the proposed 2000 cow industrial dairy that had been planned for Maha`ulepu, we realized how little protection there was on Kauai for our fresh water streams and rivers. As you may recall, we realized from documents filed with the State that waters from Wai`ale`ale and the East Wailua watershed can be ditched all the way to the Waita Reservoir in Koloa. That earthen reservoir now holds more than 3.9 billion gallons of water diverted from Kauai streams. After our dairy fight was won, we began focusing on restoration of natural stream flow. After 2 hearings before Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the Land Board ordered a partial restoration of stream flow to both Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko streams. That ended a 100 year practice where stream diversions were designed to take all of the flow on days without rain, often leaving more than a mile of dry stream bed in these historic and precious streams. Since Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian island chain, there are hulas and chants to Wai`ale`ale and practitioners who describe her as the piko for the Hawaiian Islands. What better place to protect. As the Hawaiians learned long ago, protecting mauka to makai flow is the only way to protect natural stream habitat and biota as well as the health of the reefs and near shore waters of which our fish population depend.
Unfortunately, as we began the effort to restore water to these and other streams, we learned that Grove Farm was diverting nearly 30 million gallons daily (MGD) from these East Kauai streams to the Kapaia Reservoir where they built a surface water treatment plant (SWTP) in 2004 via a public/private partnership with the County of Kauai. Pursuant to their partnership agreement, the County, us as tax payers and water rate payers, paid 2/3rds of the cost and Grove Farm 1/3. In total violation of State and Federal law, in effect than and now, there was no environmental review or State permit issued for the millions of gallons removed daily from our streams and aquifers under that agreement. See Department of Water engineer, Dustin Moises’s email confirming these facts.
To address these ongoing violations in the operation of the KDOW/Grove Farm SWTP, an operation that lost its required NPDES wastewater permit in April 2016, has been plagued with aluminum sludge and other exceedences and is still without the required NPDES wastewater permit to operate, we filed a lawsuit in 2018 that is now on appeal. Judge Watanabe of the Fifth Circuit in Lihue granted three Summary Judgement Motions filed by KDOW as they claimed there was no merit or triable issue of fact to any of the claims in our complaint. Please find here our Opening Brief, with Appendices, just filed this week. We believe there is strong merit to our case and we may have to go all the way to the State Supreme Court but believe we will prevail. The Supreme Court in Kauai Springs objected to removing 600 gallons a day without proper environmental review. At least 30 MGD is being diverted from the Wailua watershed.
There is little question that the potable water source that services Puhi-Lihue to Kapaa, the Waiahi SWTP that Grove Farm and KDOW built, has never been environmentally reviewed. In its response to our KDOW comment objecting to these violations, KDOW stated that they did not review the “raw (water) sources”. KDOW claimed it was a technical but important distinction, a serious environmental lapse that does not comply with the Hawaii Environmental Protection Act (HEPA) as argued in our attached Brief.
Finally, because we know there is a serious water issue with the volume and quality of our stream diverted ditch water used by Grove Farm and KDOW to service commercial and residential costumers from Lihue to Kapaa, we were asked to help review the advisability and feasibility of Hokua Place, a 769 unit development proposed for 96 acres of prime ag land mauka of the Kapaa bypass. A hearing will be held before the Land Use Commission (LUC) March 10-11. The LUC has been asked to change the 96 acres of prime ag land and reclassify it as urban. With serious infrastructure shortages, including water, the following links contain the testimonies from several key experts and members of the community that have been put before the LUC objecting to changing this valuable land from prime ag to urban.
Statements and Rebuttals
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/aroqsjaqvvm3mhw/AACzT4bxLkqtju6hpF8uDbX5a?dl=0
Book and Cover Letter
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13KUOt_1NB_CrI1Yx2eZutfL-XokCxgEL?usp=sharing
Many have been busy trying to keep our island safe and I, for one, am glad that our Board of Directors, along with the much needed donations from our members, have voted unanimously to support each and every one of our current efforts to support the public’s health and environment of Kauai.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 1/22/2021: Water Update: The lawsuit filed by Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale contesting the County’s purchase of water from Grove Farm without any permit from the State Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) as State law mandates and without any environmental review of the streams and tributaries that are diverted into Grove Farm’s Kapaia Reservoir is not before the Interim Court of Appeal (ICA). Our opening brief is due Feb. 19, 2021.
Recently, KIUC renewed its application for a Revocable Permit (RP) to continue diverting water from Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko streams, ‘Blue Hole’, despite not having the ability to get the diverted water to their Waiahi hydro power plant for the past 18 months because of major damage and disrepair of the 5 mile Ili`ili`ula ditch system. In their renewal application to the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), KIUC admitted to the fact that the water is diverted from the 2 State land streams, and per their RP is supposed to be diverted for hydro power production, but they have been unable to use the diverted waters since March of 2019. The BLNR staff recommended that BLNR renew KIUC’s RP at the December hearing because KIUC has continued to pay the State $4800 plus per month even though they couldn’t use the diverted water. The water is flowing freely and is lost to the stream or any productive use and KIUC ratepayers are picking up the tab. Our thanks to all who submitted testimony objecting to the renewal of KIUC’s RP. Once again BLNR ignored our testimony, a strong testimony offered by Earth Justice and the multiple requests for a Contested Case. This is a copy of the Contested Case hearing request filed with BLNR and supported by 11 sworn testimonies. BLNR has not responded. At the hearing in December, BLNR renewed KIUC’s RP.
Where do we go from here? We conferred with several law firms and mounting a State Court action will probably be futile because the State hasn’t show a willingness to enforce their own laws or the Constitution. We are now exploring a Federal Court action.
On another front, KIUC has filed with the PUC seeking permits for a pump storage hydro power operation in West Kauai plus they also seek to construct a second hydro power plant which can be fuel based on DHHL land. Earth Justice has intervened on behalf of Po’ai Wai Ola/West Kauai Watershed Alliance and is asking the PUC not to grant any permit until KIUC complies with the law and completes and EIS in compliance with the Hawaii Environmental Protection Act (HEPA). Just as with Blue Hole, KIUC wants the permit first, promising to meat the legal requirements after the fact.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 12/30/2020: New Year Wish and Update. Thanks to all who submitted testimony opposing the renewal of KIUC’s revocable permit (RP) for the diversions at Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko Streams. Not only has KIUC failed to maintain these dam diversions, but they have not even used the water diverted from these two State land streams because of extensive damage to the ditch system. We were hopeful that their non use of the water and the poor condition of the diversions would prompt the DLNR Board to not renew. KIUC only received 4 votes from the DLNR 7 member Board but that was sufficient to allow 14 million gallons daily (MGD) to continue being removed from these revered streams. Please find some of the declarations filed in support of our request for a Contested Case Hearing. We await a written response to this and our objections to DOH’s proposed NPDES permit for Grove Farm’s Waiahi surface water treatment plant (SWTP), an operation that has been without this Federal and State required permit since 2016. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more. For now, have a good end of year and stay safe out there.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 12/9/2020: Oppose KIUC RP7340 Renewal!
Aloha Director Case and Members of the Board of Land and Natural Resources,
The following testimony is offered in opposition to any renewal of KIUC Revocable Permit 7340.
KIUC, per their 2020 RP7340 renewal application, confirms that no water has been diverted from Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko, State land streams, this year. “No diversion of water in 2020 due to damage to the ditch system.” Agenda Item D-5, Exhibit A. They offer no evidence of any detrimental consequence from the loss of this water. This confirms what we have always maintained every year we have objected to the renewal of RP7340, that the 40 MG diverted daily from State land and other Wailua streams is not necessary to meet the power needs of Kauai. For this reason alone RP730 should not be renewed.
KIUC does not offer anything to suggest that the damage and no water taken were in anyway detrimental to KIUC’s production and delivery of power in 2020. In their most recent Currents issue, KIUC reports that both of the Waiahi hydro power plants generated a mere 8/10ths of of 1% of the total power revenue for the island of Kauai in all of 2019: page 19. There are no figures available for power, if any, generated by the Waiahi hydros in 2020.
RP7340, if renewed and assuming the required ditch repair, would allow KIUC to resume diverting up to 25 MGD to operate the upper Waiahi hydro and 40 MGD to operate the lower hydro:
“KIUC needs up to 25 MG in the upper forebay of the Upper Hydro and 42 MG in the lower forebay of the Lower Hydro.” See Report On Facilitated Discussion by Robbie Alm, where he reports on the required water need of each hydro which he learned from KIUC, a fact that had previously eluded the public.
When the Board deliberates on whether or not to renew KIUC’s RP7340, we request that the Board, in keeping with their Public Trust duties, consider the significant volume of water required to operate the two Waiahi hydros which is diverted 5 miles from the point of origin to the Waiahi hydro. Please see Wailua schematic map prepared by CWRM hydrologist, Ayron Strauch. Not only are the waters of Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko (at least 14 MGD) diverted 5 miles without any EIS for these 2 State land streams in a Conservation district, but none of these diverted water are returned to their streams of origin, clear violations of HRS §171-58c. The Wai`ale`ale stream dam diversion is within a protected habitat for at least 1 endangered species. See prelim DEA comments from KDOW engineer Dustin Moises. In his email, Dustin is focused on the failure to complete the required environmental review as it pertains to the operation of Grove Farm’s Waiahi surface water treatment plant. The connection to RP7340 is the fact that water from KIUC’s hydros is release to Grove Farm from locations indicated on the Wailua schematic for use and sale to KDOW from their Waiahi water treatment plant. One of the conditions of RP7340 is that ratepayers are not supposed to be charged for any of the water used by the hydros. Ratepayers are paying for water in their bill to KDOW as Grove Farm openly admits to selling KDOW water for more than 15,000 accounts or 20% of the potable water consumed on Kauai. Please see link to Grove Farms Newsletter Sept. 2020.
https://www.grovefarm.com/news/grove-farm-newsletter-september-2020-edition
As Mr. Moises points out, the arrangements for taking the water transferred from Wailua to Lihue watershed is all done without any EIS as required by HRS §171-58.
In the last legislative session DLNR offered a bill to amend HRS §171-58 that would have changed the requirement for an EIS to compliance with HRS §343, changing the required standard to EA or EIS, confirming that DLNR and the Land Board know that an EIS is required before water can be diverted from the streams covered by RP7340. That bill did not pass and the current law applicable to this RP renewal application has not been satisfied. KIUC’s application for renewal of RP7340 must be denied.
The CWRM Wailua schematic map and the Report on the Facilitated Discussion by Robbie Alm confirm that the ditch systems involved pull at least 40 MGD from Wailua streams, reducing aquifer and well recharge. Kauai should not be subjected to the massive shift of water between neighboring watersheds for so minimal benefit. Grove Farm, even though advised to do so, has never come before the Board or joined in KIUC’s permit despite testimony given by their project manager, Arryl Kaneshiro, that they rely on and use the water after it passes through KIUC’s hydros. Testimony of Mr. Kaneshiro, BLNR meeting April 26, 2019 on Agenda Item D-9.
Compounding the above is the recent climate prognosis that Kauai will experience as much as a 50% drop in rainfall in the near future due to drought. This information was part of the recently released Kauai Low-Flow study, requiring agencies to, at a minimum, not support water permits, where the diversions are operated in violation of State law. Attached are photos of the Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko diversions taken in 2000 which show the dam diversions in good repair. See attached Water Booklet. In the attached there are also several recent photos that demonstrate the lack of maintenance and repair and depict exposed rebar which is a hazard that has not been taken care of since we brought it to this Board’s attention every year since 2017. Here is a copy of RP7340 with conditions and each condition requiring the maintenance that has not been done are highlighted.
USGS Low-Flow Characteristics of Streams from Wailua to Hanapēpē, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i
https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2020/5128/sir20205128.pdf
KDOW’s manager advised the Kauai Water Board in 2019 that he could not recommend KDOW exercise its option to purchase Grove’s Waiahi SWTP as Grove did not have a permit for the water they were diverting into Kapaia Reservoir before its treatment and sale to KDOW.
Link to KDOW Manager’s report 1/25/2019 see page 68
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10zQPcb2Ftvk0zDLWGqulUZnJdHNNV-tx/view?usp=sharing
Link to Grove Farm KDOW agreement
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H69xZ-JhuJta4s-TbwGPeATnSuCbJUWp/view?usp=sharing
On behalf of Kia`i Wai o Wai`ale`ale and Friends of Maha`ulepu, we hereby Request a Contested Case Hearing on this matter if RP7340 is renewed.
Mahalo nui loa,
Bridget Hammerquist, President
Friends of Maha`ulepu, a 501(c)(3)
Kia`i Wai o Wai`ale`ale, Co-founder
Posted 12/7/2020: Another Grab at Wai`ale`ale. It’s that time again. KIUC has filed a request to renew its Revocable Permit 7340. BLNR is scheduled to decide on their bid for renewal this Friday Dec. 11, 2020 at 9am or soon thereafter as the matter is called. All public comments must be filed not later than Wednesday 12/9/2020 to [email protected]. If you intend to file comment opposing the KIUC renewal, please add Oppose RP 7340 in your subject line. The basis for your opposition may include any of the following:
- As stated by KIUC in their petition for renewal, Agenda Item D-5 – Exhibit A, KIUC did not divert water from Wai`ale`ale or Waikoko in 2020 due to ditch system damage. The island power system was not interrupted, proving that KIUC does not need nor should they continue diverting water from these State land streams in a protected conservation district,
- KIUC reported in their Fall 2020 edition of Currents that the Waiahi hydro power plants, together, accounted for only 8/10ths of 1% of all the power KIUC sold in 2019.
- We have known for sometime that the 2 Waiahi hydro power plants produce only 1% or less of the island’s power. Now that we know they generate 8/10ths of 1% of the total revenue for KIUC, there is substantial support for BLNR to non renew KIUC’s RP 7340 which, when the ditches are repaired, diverts an average of 14 million gallons daily from Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko not to mention the many other stream diversions along the 5 mile Ili`ili`ula ditch system between Wai`ale`ale and the upper Waiahi hydro that add the necessary 20 plus million gallons to operate the upper Waiahi hydro power plant.
- In addition, two other ditch systems, South Intake ditch and North Intake ditch, collect from the upper Waiahi hydro and additional streams to provide the 40 million gallons daily required to operate the lower Waiahi Hydro… all this water pulled from Wai`ale`ale and the other Wailua streams to increase KIUC’s revenue by 8/10ths of 1% of their total power revenue. See the attached schematic of State hydrologist Ayron Strauch regarding the ditch system and flow of water to the Waiahi hydro power plant. Also please see a report filed with BLNR by mediator, Robbie Alm, confirming the amount of water KIUC said they need to take for their minimal power production at the Waiahi power plant.
Please feel free to add any or all of the other reasons we have raised previously in objection to this continued devastation of our natural stream flow, biota, traditional and cultural practices and the preservation of the ascetics that are grossly impacted by deteriorating dam diversions with exposed rebar not to mention the threat to human health and safety. Dam maintenance is a requirement of at least 10 of the conditions of RP 7340 and KIUC has failed to comply with any of them. This stream diversion permit needs to be denied. They obviously don’t need it. By their own application for renewal, they admit it has not been in use all year… and their power for Kauai has not been interrupted.
Share this email and please send us a copy of your comment.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 11/30/2020: Trying to Save Us and The Environment From Toxic Water. We’ve been hard at work and just wanted to share a couple comments filed yesterday with the Department of Health (DOH). There is no question that Grove Farm is still polluting by their own fillings with DOH. If you read the attached 09-12-2016 emails, at that point they had lost their NPDES permit. It was Terminated by DOH 4/30/2016 and they were admitting to discharging at least 20,000 to 30,000 gallons daily of aluminum, bacteria and mud laden water. Grove continued this operation from April 2016 to present and only after being penalized $450,000 in June of this year for polluting before and after their permit expired did they begin the process to obtain the proper permit. As previously mentioned, they based their per application on an old outdated form with none of the information the current EPA form requires. Please read the comment that follows and the Hammerquist NPDES comment.
For any who filed a comment, we would appreciate receiving a copy of your comment.
Mahalo nui loa,
Aloha Director Elizabeth Char and Staff of the Environmental Health Clean Water Branch, State Department of Health,
Please accept this objection to the Department’s proposal to issue an NPDES wastewater permit (Permit), HI0021894, to Grove Farm’s Waiahi Water Company LLC. The permit must not be issued for the following reasons:
- The operator, Grove’s Waiahi Water Company, has failed to comply with the Code of Federal Regulations. In their application for the Permit, the operator has not submitted the required EPA Forms 1 and 2C, a necessary prerequisite to the Permit. Had the applicant been required to use the EPA Form 2C, effective March 2019, they would be required to identify the quantity of aluminum and other contaminated sludge produced and the method for its treatment and diosal.”Should a user of the privately owned treatment works desire a authorization to discharge non-domestic wastes, the Permittee shall submit a request for permit modification and an application, under 40 CFR §122.44(m), describing the proposed discharge. The application shall, to the extent possible, be submitted using EPA Forms 1 and 2C…”DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STANDARD NPDES PERMIT CONDITIONS (Version 15)https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-05/documents/form_1_epa_form_3510-1.pdfhttps://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-04/documents/form_2c_epa_form_3510-2cr.pdf
- Rather, Grove’s Waiahi Water Company is asking the State to accept and rely on the untimely and outdated EPA Form 2C submitted by Grove’s Grove Farm Properties LLC, Feb. 2016 for Permit HI0021824. DOH rejected that application.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18UcXhCufXgQEwtBfq3LUUcCbGXL8eV3y/view?usp=sharing - The outdated 2016 Form 2C was also found insufficient to support an administrative extension and Grove’s Permit HI0021824 was “Terminated” by DOH.
- If HI0021894 is issued to Waiahi Water Co., our Department of Health will be violating the Department’s own NPDES Permit Conditions (Version 15). Waiahi Water Co. has not filed an EPA Form 1 and 2C as Version 15 requires. The only Form 2C to support the current Permit proposed is an EPA Form 2C permit application for HI0021824, submitted by Grove Farm Properties LLC, whose permit was terminated in April 2016 and who has since executed an AOC with DOH for multiple violations of the Clean Water Act as set forth below that resulted in a $450,000 penalty. Despite the name change and apparent attempt to distance themselves from their prior violations, there is little question this is the same operator as both companies are owned by billionaire Steve Case, owner of Grove Farm. Is the public being asked to bend over backwards for a billionaire who has yet to properly address the environmental pollution caused by this surface water treatment plant pulling aluminum laden water from an earthen reservoir with a high concentration of bauxite?“IV. ViolationsUnauthorized Discharge of Pollutants to State Waters During Permit Term27. GFP reported fifty—seven (57) exeeedances of Total Recoverable Aluminum for the time period of May 2011 to April 2016 (attached as Exhibit H). Based on this information, DOH alleges that GFP violated HRS § 342D-50(a) on fifty-seven (57) counts.28. GFP reported one (1) exceedance of Total Recoverable Chromium for the time period of May 2011 to April 2016 (attached as Exhibit H). Based on this information, DOH alleges that GF P violated HRS § 342D~50(a) on one (1) count.29. GFP reported thirty-two (32) exceedances of turbidity for the time period of May 2011 to April 2016 (attached as Exhibit H). Based on this information, DOH alleges that GFP violated HRS § 342D-50(a)- on thirty-two (32) counts.30. GFP reported sixteen (16) exceedances of Total Suspended Solids for the time period of May 2011 to April 2016 (attached as Exhibit H). Based on this information, DOH alleges that GFP violated HRS § 342D-50(a) on sixteen (16) counts.Unauthorized Discharge of Pollutants to State Waters After Permit31. OFF reported thirty-one (31) exceedances of Total Recoverable time period of May 2016 to March 2020 (attached as Exhibit 1-1). Based DOH alleges that GFP violated HRS § 342D~50(a) 011 twenty-six (26) counts.32. GFP reported nine (9) exceedances of turbidity for the time p March 2020 (attached as Exhibit H}. Based on this information, DOH alleges HRS § 342D-50(a) on ten (10) counts.33. GFP reported one (1) exceedance of Total Suspended Solids May 2016 to March 2020 (attached as Exhibit H). Based on this information GFP violated HRS § 342D-5 0(a) on one (1) count.34. GFP reported one (1) exceedance of Chromium for the time period of May 2016 to March 2020 (attached as Exhibit H). Based on this information, DOH alleges that GFP violated HRS § 342D-50(a) on one (1) count.See AOC emphasis in original.
- In stark contrast to the foregoing violations and the penalties imposed therefore, Grove Farm told the public in their Sept. 2020 Newsletter that they have never had any toxic discharge to the environment. Needless to say Grove Farm has not been truthful with the public:”Is the discharge water harmful to the environment?No. In the 15 years of operating the facility, we have passed all toxicity testing – all results have been meeting the standards 100% of the time!The discharge is carefully monitored by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health – Clean Water Branch. The Clean Water Act exists to protect waterways from becoming toxic environments for aquatic life and to protect our environment.”https://www.grovefarm.com/news/grove-farm-newsletter-september-2020-edition
In fact, even under the new company, Waiahi Water Company, owned by Grove Farm, they continue to pollute the environment as documented in their exceedance reports, which DOH is well aware of. See link to DOH spreadsheet for toxic exceedance between Feb. 2019 and Oct. 2020. - Why is Grove’s dishonesty important as it pertains to Permit HI0021894? Had Waiahi Water Company been required to submit the required Form 2C, their submittal would have to be under oath/penalty of perjury for the conditions and contaminates in the wastewater as of their 2020 application. Not only has Grove deceived the public in their Newsletter, but more importantly, they violated the law when they built their surface water treatment plant. See attached email from KDOW engineer Dustin Moises to former Planning Director Mike Dahilig. In his comment to the Kauai Planning Director, Mr. Moises admits Grove Farm began its surface water treatment operation without proper permits or environmental review:Water in the reservoir comes from State land StreamsState streams Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko are both in a conservation districtGrove Farm failed to apply to CWRM or any other division of DLNR to use the diverted stream water as required by HRS §§171-58 and 343. See link to recent KDOW Manager’s report page 68, where the manager advises the Water Board against purchase of the SWTP because Grove has no permit for the water it is taking and selling to KDOW.Grove Farm has never done a required environmental review despite County funds and State land involved.Link to Grove Farm KDOW agreement.
- Article 11 of the Hawaii State constitution mandates the protection of public trust resources. It specifically mandates that all State agencies have a duty to protect public trust resources which include water. HRS §171.58 among other State laws prohibits the sale of water by anyone other than a public utility. In view of the confusion rampant in the State’s documents, e.g. the exceedance spreadsheet for Waiahi Water Company reports for a terminated/expired permit HI0021824 and the States duty to protect our water and land from unlawful contamination, this department, must, require a proper application by the company now seeking a permit and must assure that the operation is not contrary to State law. Moreover, in the Kauai Springs case, the Hawaii Supreme Court has already expressed concern that Grove Farm was operating as a public utility in its sale of water to Kauai Springs when they are not a regulated public utility. See attached Kauai Springs Supreme Court Decision pages 14-15. In the current situation, Grove Farm believes that because they are selling the County potable water they are not acting as a public utility. However, if you consider Grove Farm statements to the public about it production of drinking water for 20% of the island, its operation and the numbers served would be determinant of whether or not they were holding themselves out as an unregulated public utility. That appears to be the case and for this reason alone, Wahahi Water Company should complete the Forms required by the DOH and EPA.
- Grove Farm is an operator who thinks they are above the law. See testimony of former Grove Farm manager, Mike Tresler, to the Board of Water Supply:
“Mr. Tresler was opposed to that idea and stated| that they control the waterways and they don’t want anyone’s approval on what they do with the water. He understood that they have a commitment to provide the water, currently 3 million gallons a day and it will increase on their expansion.” Kauai County Board of Water Supply minutes Dec. 2009 pdf page 19. - Assuming the Department is concerned that Grove’s Waiahi Water Company is the only source for the 20% of the island residents and visitors it serves, please see the following notice to the public, letting them know that all water needs will be met by wells available to KDOW because of problems with the potable water from the SWTP. www.thegardenisland.com/2020/07/22/hawaii-news/water-source-switch-in-effect-for-lihue-hanamaulu-part-of-kapaa/
The people of Kauai deserve better than what the Department of Health is proposing to do based on outdated and previously rejected documents and an operation known to be problematic up to and through the present.
John J. Kechloian, Treasurer
Friends of Maha`ulepu, a 501(c)(3)
Posted 11/24/2020: Fraud? It’s Really Messy. Amazing find since our last email. See email from KDOW engineer, Dustin Moises, to Mike Dahilig, when he was the Planning Director. You won’t believe what you are about to read. As you’ll recall, we have a lawsuit ongoing against KDOW for their plan to add 9000 feet of a new 18″ main. We objected to their EA on the grounds that there was no permit for the water being diverted from the Wailua watershed which includes State stream diversions on Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko. We also objected to the lack of any environmental assessment of the streams, animal or plant life because KDOW limited their EA to an evaluation of the Kapaia Reservoir and some wells in the area, deliberately failing to evaluate the environmental impact to the source of the water diverted to the Kapaia Reservoir. As you read the email from our water engineer, Moises, to the Planning Director you will find that KDOW admits that they are not doing what is legally required.
Our water department, KDOW, is cooperating with Grove Farm to deceive the public and prevent disclosure of the lack of proper permits and environmental review for the water KDOW purchases annually from Grove for $2.4 million in addition to paying 2/3’s of all operating, maintenance and expansion costs plus 100% of the power bill to operate Grove’s water treatment plant. See attached KDOW/Grove Farm agreement.
KDOW pays those bills with the money they collect from us. Even the County engineer knows that County funds were used to construct the WTP and use of government funds mandates an environmental review of the water source and surrounding area before the plants construction. Dustin Moises admits in his email that no environmental review has been done even with the current EA that prompted our lawsuit.
The email attached is nothing short of a total admission to every claim made in our lawsuit. If successful on appeal, it will be dispositive of our claims. Basically the engineer admits:
- KDOW-Grove Farm Surface Water Treatment Plant was constructed with County money, without any EIS or EA in violation of HEPA and HRS 343
- The plant has operated since 2004 with aluminum exceedences and has continued problems with the State on a wastewater permit they lost April 30, 2016. (This fact we know from the recent Public Notice and its the one item not discussed by Moises.) See link for aluminum exceedences from 2009 – 2019:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ck14Wt938OfjkaEuN37RO5AOxVgvpLfL?usp=sharing (missing reports for 2018-2020 have been requested) - The SWTP operators have never obtained the State required permit for the diversion and sale of State water. (Moises refers to the operators failure to clear the operation with CWRM which confirms the merits of our claim that this operation has been, since day one, in violation of HRS §171.58.)
- Moises admits that the public is not being informed in the DEA about the need to install the pipe because of the known plan to expand the SWTP from 3 MGD to at least 4.5 MGD giving rise for the need for increased capacity and the need for the new 18″ main. So while the 18″ main is proposed as an alleged relief of a pressure problem caused by a segment of 12″ main, Moises reports that there is a question as to whether that pressure problem is even real and he refers to hand written notes and calculations by others in the Department and by then Director Bryan Wienand.
- He admits that they should study the environmental impact to the Wailua tributaries that are diverted into the Kapaia Reservoir noting that they have a problem and should include the upstream flow or water source because no EA or EIS has ever been done.
- He reports on the need for a Cultural Impact Study and suggests that his review of the EA did not find it sufficiently open and transparent with the public.
Now Grove is asking the State to issue the required NPDES wastewater permit that they lost April 30, 2016. In fact, if you go on the State’s website you will find: their permit was “Terminated.”
So how can the State now propose to give Grove an NPDES wastewater permit when so many laws have been violated in the construction and operation of the Waiahi WTP already?
Your comments to the DOH proposal to issue an NPDES wastewater permit, a permit that should have been in place between 2016 and now, are due not later than Sunday, November 29, 2020. All public comments should be emailed to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Waiahi Surface Water Treatment Plant DOH Notice of intent to issue NPDES permit (relies on Feb. 2016 untimely application)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qjmCN_ilb67R9X4WRfVl2BjllokdAglF
Supporting Docs for DOH Notice
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pLtZtXa9rJxDmNqX5HbMIbhb6NF9hEYe
Feel free to use any of the attached for comment we have due Nov. 29 on the NPDES wastewater permit the State has given Notice of their intent to issue to Grove. Let’s demand that the State stop the deceit.
Their operation has violated multiple State laws, they don’t have the permits to capture or sell the water from State land and East Wailua streams and now they want to use an outdated application filed in 2016 which on its face expired in 1998 rather than complete the application legally required per the EPA Form 2-C NPDES wastewater permit application effective March 2019. See link below for current wastewater application Form 2-C and see attached for the outdated Form the State is proposing to rely on to support the new wastewater permit. The new permit is to be issued to Waiahi Water Company while the outdated Form DOH is relying on was submitted by Grove Farm Properties.
Current EPA Form 2-C NPDES Wastewater permit app
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-04/documents/form_2c_epa_form_3510-2cr.pdf
Share this and get many friends and family to comment. If Grove and our Water Department can operate in violation of the law to the extent they have, how can we trust the quality of our drinking water?
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 11/5/2020: Is DOH Protecting Kauai’s Drinking Water? As you may recall, in 2018 we learned that stream water diverted from State land streams, Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko, was carried 5 miles in the ili`ili`ula ditch system, primarily an earthen ditch transmission system that also collected water from additional streams on Grove Farm land, providing the flow needed by the Waiahi power plants and thereafter being transported along with more water taken by Grove Farm from South Fork Wailua to the Kapaia Reservoir. Thereafter, Grove used the ditch water in the Kapaia Reservoir, directing it through Grove’s Waiahi surface water treatment plant (SWTP) before selling it to Kauai Department of Water.
When Grove treated the ditch water, they added agents intending to remove the high concentration of free aluminum along with other metals found in the water because of the bauxite in the soil of the earthen Kapaia Reservoir. Over the years in its operation and sale of the processed water to Kauai Department of Water, every water quality report filed with the State reported exceedences of aluminum in the wastewater from the treatment process. When we learned of this, you may recall, we had testing done on the drinking water because we were concerned that if there was such exceedences in the wastewater of the processing plant, what was in the drinking water? We learned in our first round of testing that some of the potable water samples also had aluminum in excess of the EPA safe limit. In the second round of testing, there was no aluminum detected. We don’t know what was done at the SWTP, if anything, to account for the change. There are attachments that contains much of the reports and correspondence concerning this issue and the facts leading up to the ultimate loss of their NPDES wastewater permit, April 30, 2016. See both Waiahi NPDES permit history and viewer links. In these attachments, there are many communications between the State and Grove informing them that their NPDES wastewater permit had expired and informing Grove that they had not timely submitted a renewal application. Grove acknowledged in a letter to DOH that they had continued to operate the SWTP without the required NPDES wastewater permit. The State informed Grove that they needed to file a new application and they needed to take care of the aluminum waste one of two ways. Grove knew as of 2018 that they were not disposing of the aluminum waste properly. Rather, they were taking the wastewater from the retention basins and returning it to the reservoir, a reservoir whose water is partly released into the ocean through the Hanamaulu Stream. They were informed by the DOH Wastewater Branch Chief that they could not continue contaminating waters of the US. DOH conducted an inspection. Told them not to do what they were doing, but there was no enforcement action by DOH. Nothing was done and Grove continued operating its SWTP at least until this past July.
Last Friday and now with a new Director at DOH, the DOH is giving Public Notice of its intent to grant Grove a 5 year extension on an NPDES wastewater permit they no longer have. In fact DOH had, in earlier correspondence to Grove, confirmed that the permit expired without any administrative extension.
Grove Farm’s SWTP has continued to sell water to KDOW from a plant operating without legal permits. KDOW has continued to charge the more than 15,000 homes and businesses for this water until July of this year. In July, a TGI article informed readers that, “until further notice”… the SWTP was going to be offline and the water for the 15,000 accounts it serviced would now come from wells. The change from the SWTP treated water to well water was reportedly based on problems with the color of the potable water coming from the SWTP.
www.thegardenisland.com/2020/07/22/hawaii-news/water-source-switch-in-effect-for-lihue-hanamaulu-part-of-kapaa/
The next notice we found was a Public Notice that appeared in TGI last Friday, copy attached.
What a mess. It is clear from the attached that Grove Farm’s surface water treatment plant NPDES permit expired 4/30/2016 because of a failure to timely file an NPDES renewal application no later than 180 days prior to the April 30 date. See attached March 16, 2018 DOH letter. See also Waiahi NPDES permit history on Grove Farm stationary. Grove responded then by saying they had tried to apply for renewal by filing in Feb. 2016. See attached NPDES Form 2C. Up until the present notice, the State has taken the position that the Feb. 2016 renewal application was untimely. How is it now timely to support the DOH Notice of a proposed intent to issue a 5 year NPDES permit extension? How is it now OK to put the contaminated decant back into the reservoir when that was not an option according to Sina Pruder’s letter of 2016? See attached. What about the aluminum exceedences in the wastewater? Per the following link, the public has until November 29 to comment on the DOH proposal to grant a five year extension of a permit that expired 4 years ago. All comments should be sent to [email protected] no later than November 29, 2020.
Waiahi Surface Water Treatment Plant DOH Notice of intent to issue NPDES permit (relies on Feb. 2016 untimely application)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qjmCN_ilb67R9X4WRfVl2BjllokdAglF
Supporting Docs for DOH Notice
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pLtZtXa9rJxDmNqX5HbMIbhb6NF9hEYe
If they couldn’t use a renewal application in Feb. 2016, why is that document being used today? Are they taking advantage of our new Director’s lack of institutional knowledge/memory?
When you file your comment, please feel free to use any part of this email and share this notice with anyone.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 10/19/2020: Housing Bill Up For Final Council Vote. For those in our hui who have been following this issue: County Council Bill 2774 proposes to amend Kauai’s Housing Policy and provide, for the first time, a complete exemption from the need to provide a certain percentage of affordable homes with developments of 10 or more housing units. Kauai has had an affordable housing policy for more than 30 years which was codified in 2008. The pending bill with the new exemption section is to be voted on by the County Council on Wednesday October 21.
It would give exemptions to builders in the town cores of Lihue, Kaleheo and Koloa and to developers of multifamily developments outside the VDA (Visitor Destination Area). This is likely to make it even harder than it is now for working families and older people to find affordable housing while increasing the potential for buyers from off island to easily pick up real estate on Kaua’i. A flier from a Kaua’i real estate agent today noted: ‘I have not seen the market like this since the boom of 2005. Real estate is on fire!’
Please consider writing to our County Council members by end of day Tuesday. Please send your comments to [email protected]. The following letter is a suggestion for you, but it would be preferable if you reword the following to make it your own (otherwise the letters will be counted as one letter). Your letter needs to go out today, Monday 10/19 or tomorrow Tuesday 10/20. Please add your name and address.
Please do not vote to approve Bill 2774, Draft 5 at your meeting this Wednesday. Please take the time to draft a bill that will effectively address our severe affordable housing problem.
We request that you:
- Remove the exemptions for developers in the town cores of Lihue, Kalaheo, and Koloa and for developers of multifamily developments outside the VDA (R10 or greater). The present exemptions will allow developers to develop their properties without building any affordable housing.
- Require maximum long-term affordability.
- Allow the developer to satisfy his affordable housing requirement by donating land and offsite infrastructure (sewers, water, electrical, access and utilities to property border) instead of providing turnkey or finished housing units. This will save the developer a lot of money. At the same time, the County will then own land that can be developed into affordable housing – or transfer the land to a nonprofit like Habitat for Humanity or a housing land trust. This will ensure that the housing will be affordable for generations.
Any Council member who has an interest in property on the island or who works for a company that has an interest should recuse himself/herself.
[Your Name and Address]
Posted 8/25/2020: Public Comment Objecting to Proposed Actions G2, G3 and H3. As a rate payer, a kama`aina and resident of Kauai, please accept this comment filed on behalf of myself and others in the organizations I represent who object to the contract between KDOW and Grove Farm and in particular to the terms and conditions associated with the purchase and sale of water from the Waiahi Surface Water Treatment Plant. The contract and the actions of KDOW and Grove Farm constitute an unfair and deceptive practice in violation of the Federal Trade Commission and HRS §480. KDOW and Grove Farm are operating as if their actions are legal when in fact they violate our State Constitution, its Public Trust Doctrine and HRS §§ 171-58 and 343.
This Board is likely aware of the Notice of Appeal and Civil Appeal Docketing Statement on file with the Interim Court of Appeal that directly challenges the legality of the Kapaia Cane Haul Road 18″ main project. Based on the pending appeal and the legal challenges raised which are not resolved, there should be no further plan to construct or install, no cost incurred that rate payers will have to cover and no further action should be taken by your Board or KDOW which involves the sale of State water without permit, license or lease for that water. Your actions to date have deprived the State of rightful compensation and have further deprived the beneficiaries specifically provided for by the Hawaii State Constitution through the shared allocation of water revenue to DHHL and OHA.
Until the appeal is resolved, this Board and KDOW should cease and desist from any further action under its contract with Grove Farm to avoid the risk of needing to disgorge even greater ill gotten gains. There is no question that KDOW is aware of the legal issues arising from its contract with Grove Farm which has been the subject of prior Board discussions an example of which is found in the January 25, 2019 Manager’s Report:
“The Department has previously requested a copy of the agreements referenced in Section 2.b. Control of Surface Water System, but to date has not received them. Without a copy of these agreements, the Department cannot properly evaluate the possibility of acquiring the SWTP. Without documentation regarding Grove Farm ownership rights to the source water (for e.g. appurtenant and riparian rights), the ditch system, and its obligations to other parties with whom it may have water agreements, the Department cannot ensure the continued supply of water as a transferee of these “rights.”” Page 69, copy attached.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 8/24/2020: More on the Lihue Water Issues. As you may recall, we recently appealed the Circuit Court’s denial of our case that objected to KDOW’s illegal purchase and sale of diverted stream water without proper permits from the State, per HRS §171-58 or environmental review of the source waters, HRS §§171-58 and 343. Despite our appeal of the Judge’s decision, KDOW has decided to begin construction and installation of nearly 2 miles (9000 feet) of an 18″ main, Kapaia Cane Haul Road 18″ main. The project will cost ratepayers more than $3 million. If the County proceeds with the project and losses the appeal, KDOW runs the risk of incurring greater expense if it is required to remove what it installs.
This Thursday Kauai Department of Water Board will review 2 agenda items related to the start of construction and installation of the Kapaia Cane Haul Road 18″ main despite the pending appeal. Public comment can be sent by email up to close of business Wednesday August 26: [email protected]. The Civil Appeal Docketing Statement (CADS) which describes our legal bases for the complaint filed against this project. Our main objection is that no one has the right to divert and sell the waters of Wai`ale`ale, Waikoko and our other streams without permit or proper review of the environmental impact. When you comment on this project, addressed in KDOW agenda items G2, page 76 and/or H3, page 136, feel free to use any of the objections raised in our case, set forth in the attached CADS. Our comments may save rate payers, all of us, an expense that should be avoided until proper environmental review is complete and there is compliance by KDOW with the State statues and water code.
We know that KDOW itself recognizes that there is an issue as to its right to sell/deliver the diverted stream water ditched to the Kapaia Reservoir and treated by Grove Farm in their surface water treatment plant. In a KDOW managers report in January 2019, the manager told the Water Board that he couldn’t recommend the Board exercise its option to purchase Grove Farm’s SWTP because Grove Farm has not produced any documents confirming its right to divert and sell State water.
“The Department has previously requested a copy of the agreements referenced in Section 2.b. Control of Surface Water System, but to date has not received them. Without a copy of these agreements, the Department cannot properly evaluate the possibility of acquiring the SWTP. Without documentation regarding Grove Farm ownership rights to the source water (for e.g. appurtenant and riparian rights), the ditch system, and its obligations to other parties with whom it may have water agreements, the Department cannot ensure the continued supply of water as a transferee of these “rights.”” Page 69, copy attached.
Here is a link to the KDOW Board agenda for this Thursday: http://www.kauaiwater.org/AgendaAug20.pdf Page 76, Manager’s Report No. 17-50 and page 136, Manager’s Report No. 21-04 both relate to the Kapaia Cane Haul Road 18″ main.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 8/16/2020: Immediate Action Required! Please share this email with everyone you can. The link that follows enables you to contact the governor directly. He needs to hear from as many of us as possible as soon as possible! The nurse in me can’t sit by without asking for help to assure the Governor takes immediate action to correct either gross incompetence or deliberate criminal negligence by our State Department of Health (DOH). Part of the problem may be due to the fact that its director, Bruce Anderson, is not a physician. Although he has a PhD, the decisions he made that were not corrected by DOH epidemiologist, Sarah Parks, MD left the State with only 10 contact tracers on Oahu and a total of only 4 additional for all of the outer islands.
The State’s inability to trace and contact individuals who were exposed to a person that was confirmed to have Covid is having and will have catastrophic repercussions on Oahu for weeks to come. It is now out that Bruce Anderson and Sarah Parks deliberately lied to the State Senate Special Committee on Covid, claiming there were more than 100 people doing contact tracing. That is and was not true. As Oahu’s new cases climbed into the hundreds, with more than 350 new cases this past Thursday, there were only 10 qualified State employees to call each of the confirmed patients to determine the number and identity of all whom they had 15 minutes or more of recent contact. Those same 10 were then expected to contact each of the contacts and alert them to the need for testing and quarantine. Needless to say it wasn’t happening and it hasn’t been done effectively for weeks. What does this mean for Oahu and the rest of us, there are a whole lot of people who have been in contact with Covid positive patients and they don’t even know it nor do they know of the need to protect their family members.
Our Hawaii US Senators and Representatives secured $50 million for Hawaii for contact tracing and testing. Now a congressional investigation is to determine where that money went.
On Friday, August 14, Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii physicians and other health professionals appeared in a 57 minute shocking press conference exposing a lack of any true contact tracing on Oahu. But for the courageous actions of Jennifer Smith, MD who has worked in the Department of Health contact tracing unit since 2016 (contact tracing is a routine function of the State’s Health Department for other contagious illnesses like TB, swine flu, Ebola, among others) we would never have know that the department of health was not doing the job the public expects. Rather, the public has been falsely reassured with lies and confabulation.
“Dr. Jennifer Smith says there’s no army of contact tracers — only a group of demoralized workers buried under mounting positive cases and forgotten by their leadership.” 3 minute news video: https://www.kitv.com/story/42499261/whistleblower-claims-state-health-officials-are-lying-about-contact-tracing-program
What can we do? Please write to our Governor. The lies coming from DOH must have immediate consequence. Governor Ige needs to replace Bruce Anderson and the State’s epidemiologist, Sarah Parks now! You can contact the Governor directly through the following link. https://governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/contact-the-governor/
Use any of the information in this email, and any found below in Tulsi Gabbard’s press release, see link, her letter and/or from the Star Advertiser article today. In addition to calling for their immediate termination, because people of Hawaii deserve better, please share your thoughts about bringing children to school this next week for one week of meetings with other classmates and teachers when medical science and our State has recognized that it is unsafe for the children to be at school which is why they will meet this week and then begin online studies only from home. What about the spread of disease, especially now that Oahu is much more infected? What’s going to happen to parents and grandparents from children returning home to multi-generational families who can be contagious even though they may not become ill for a while or at all. If the Department of Education has determined that online education is necessary for the public health and safety, it makes no sense that they can all be co-mingled for one week.
Mahalo nui,
Posted 8/10/2020: Water Problems in Lihue! As you may recall, one year ago we were concerned about the quality of the ditch water diverted from State land streams, Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko and other streams in the East Wailua watershed that is being sold to Kauai Department of Water (KDOW) consumers. Without any explanation, an article appeared in the Garden Island informing some 15,000 plus accounts that the source of their water has been switched until further notice. We have yet to learn the cause for the switch other than cloudy and “discolored water at the tap”:
Water-source switch in effect for Lihu‘e, Hanama‘ulu, part of Kapa‘a
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2020/07/22/hawaii-news/water-source-switch-in-effect-for-lihue-hanamaulu-part-of-kapaa/
The waters diverted from the streams by KIUC and Grove Farm fill the Kapaia Reservoir. Unfortunately, the soil of this earthen reservoir has a high bauxite concentration which leaches aluminum into the water. Grove Farm is well aware of the aluminum issue, because the State refused to renew their wastewater permit in 2016 due to a high concentration of aluminum. In a letter to the State in 2017, Grove Farm informed the State that they had been aware of the high bauxite concentration in the earthen reservoir since the 60’s when they were approached by mainland mining companies wanting to mine aluminum from that area. It is not clear what advise, if any, the Kauai Department of Water obtained before deciding to purchase drinking water from the surface water treatment plant built by Grove Farm in 2004. It is not clear what Grove Farm was relying on when they decided to use the diverted stream/ditch water as the source for their Waiahi surface water treatment plant.
Without permit or lease from the State as required by law, Hawaii Revised Statute section 171-58, the water is taken from the reservoir, processed by Grove Farm’s surface water treatment plant and has been sold to the County for more than $34 million since 2004. In a hearing before the Department of Land and Natural Resources in April 2019, a BLNR Board member told those of us present that Grove Farm and others selling State water without permit or lease needed to come before the Board with proper application if they intended to continue selling State water. Last year when we had the drinking water tested, we did find samples with aluminum in excess of the EPA safe limit. We learned from a water quality engineer that discolored water can represent the presence of aluminum.
From correspondence between our County Water Department, Grove Farm and the State, we learned that the loss of the wastewater permit and the lack of a permit or lease for the diversion and sale of these waters remains an unresolved issue. Late in 2018, KDOW published a Notice of Environmental Assessment proposing to add 9000 feet of a new 18 inch main to increase the water capacity delivered from the Waiahi surface water treatment plant. We filed a comment objecting to KDOW’s failure to review the environmental impact to the waters source, State land and other streams. No review was conducted of an impact to the wildlife, native vegetation or to the traditional and cultural practices impacted by the additional draw from Kauai streams.
KDOW ignored our comment and said that they needed to only consider the impact to the reservoir and a few wells in the area but that evaluation failed to include any assessment of the endangered species that nest or have their habitat in the impacted area (Moorhen, Hawaiian Coot and Newcombe Snail among others). A complaint was filed. As mentioned in our last email, the Circuit Court Judge, Kathleen Watanabe, granted judgement for KDOW even though the County failed to introduce testimony in opposition to our expert testimony. The adverse judgement brings an end to the case unless we appeal. This email will serve as formal notice that we have decided to appeal. Hopefully, we can have your continued support as we pursue protection of our fresh water and an end to the unregulated diversion and damage to our fresh water streams. If you are able to make a charitable contribution, please visit FriendsofMahulepu.org. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and your support helps.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 7/10/2020: Community Input Works! Good news. Bill 2774, to amend our current Housing Code and eliminate the affordable housing requirement has been deferred with Council member comments on the Bill’s need for more work reported in TGI yesterday. Thanks to all who commented on the Bill. As TGI reported, the comments made a difference.
A TGI article by Gary Hooser former State Senator and Councilmember on Wednesday, July 8th, the day the Council met, that explains why it is a bad idea for a total exemption from the need to build some affordable units in our Town Cores and R10 or denser developments (10 residential units per acre or more).
The 1100 unit mixed-use village is a separate development from Koloa Village. Once the 1100 units are approved, the density will be greater than R10 because of the number of units planed for a limited area.
The goal of the exemptions is a claimed need to incentivize developers to build multi-family units, where jobs, schools and infrastructure are located. The idea is to offer housing to the workforce where they can live near their work. Even with the exemption, however, Housing Director Adam Roversi admits that builders can not build at a price point workers can afford:
“The logic behind this recommendation is that these types of projects generally provide the most-affordable housing options, but they typically cannot be rented or sold at a price sufficient to subsidize the lower-income units as required under the current housing policy.”
So how will an exemption help the workforce get into workforce housing if builders can sell all units at market? For answers to this question and more, you may want to view the next County Council Candidate Forum Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 6 pm. Tune in to hear Council candidate’s solutions to this issue and others. The following candidates will be in the Forum:
- Addison Bulosan
- Donovan Cabebe
- Bernard Carvalho
- Felicia Cowden
- Mason Chock
- Mike Dandurand
- Billy DeCosta
- Deborah Desilva-Carveiro
- Luke Evslin
- Ed Justus
- Arryl Kaneshiro
- KipuKai KUALI’I
- Jakki Nelson
- Wally Nishimura
- Clint Yago
Have a great weekend. Feel free to share all our emails with family and friends.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 7/6/2020: Council to Act Wednesday – Help Needed! Hopefully you enjoyed a peaceful and healthy 4th of July holiday. We all united to preserve the South Shore of Kauai, saving it from the significant environmental threat of the proposed industrial dairy at Maha`ulepu. It was a nobrainer that our beautiful beaches and South Shore community would have been disastrously impacted. Now Grove Farm, in concert with KIUC, is diverting more than 40 million gallons daily from the East Wailua streams, including the most revered, Wai`ale`ale, to support the much needed water for growth in Lihue and elsewhere. As we learned during the dairy fight, the Grove Farm ditch system transports the water taken from Wai`ale`ale and its neighboring Wailua streams all the way to the Waita Reservoir in Maha`ulepu.
Now, Grove Farm’s project manager, Arryl Kaneshiro, our Council Chair, is offering a bill, Bill 2774, that, if passed by the Council, will exempt developers from the current requirement to preserve a percentage of multi-family units for workforce or affordable housing. Adding an 1100 unit mixed-use condo village at the corners of the Eastern bypass and Poipu Rd will no doubt have significant environmental consequences for the South Shore; drainage, increased waste water burden, Koloa/Poipu area population increase by nearly 30% and more cars on our already over burdened roads. When the South Kauai Community Action Committee met, Arryl pitched the 1100 mixed-use village as a source of “much needed workforce housing” for those working at the resorts and restaurants on the South Shore. We were told that is was being built right up to Poipu Rd. so its residents could walk to work. Now, with the proposed 10 year affordable housing exemption, none of those units will be “affordable” that close to the beach and a much loved visitor destination. Bill 2774 will be considered by the Council this Wednesday, July 8. Not much notice but, public comment may be made to [email protected] by 4 pm Tuesday. Help us to continue to protect the South Shore and preserve the affordable housing requirements of our current Housing Code. For more see Garden Island article yesterday: https://www.thegardenisland.com/2020/07/05/opinion/council-takes-aim-at-affordable-housing/
Please feel free to share our emails with friends and family.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 6/28/2020: KDOW Water Decision! On Tuesday June 23rd at 1:30PM, Judge Watanabe, 5th Circuit ruled against FOM and Kia`i Wai finding no material issue of fact sufficient to support our challenge of the Kauai Department of Water (KDOW) FEA FONSI (Final Environmental Assessment- Finding Of No Significant Impact). Our lawsuit was filed in 2018 because KDOW did not assess the impact to source, the stream waters that are diverted, which feed the reservoir that provides the water to their new 9,000 ft. 18″ main added for “increased transmission capacity”. The link to the following depicts the harm that our streams have suffered from unlawful diversions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Eroj8_bV0
The Judge declined to consider Hawaii Revised Statute (HRS) 171-58 which requires an environmental impact assessment before water is removed from State land streams. The link that follows is a recording of the entire hearing last Tuesday. You will hear Judge Watanabe say that HRS 171-58 is outside the scope of her consideration. She, at one point, questioned our attorney, Linda Paul, as to why we were just now raising HRS 171-58 to support our claim that KDOW’s environmental assessment was inaccurate. Ms. Paul had to remind the court that it was in our complaint and is not just being raised now. She also asked Ms. Paul how it was that the State Court could enforce the Statute, suggesting that was something for DLNR to do. Our attorney reminded the Court that every State agency is responsible for assuring the enforcement of the Hawaii Constitution’s Public Trust Doctrine that mandates each agency’s responsibility for protecting water. HRS 171-58 is one of the State Statutes enacted to assure the protection and preservation of fresh water. If our State court cannot enforce HRS 171-58, who can? In the Carmichael Maui Water Case, just argued to the State Supreme Court, the Circuit Judge and each of the Courts of Appeal had no problem enforcing HRS 171-58.
There is no dispute that the KDOW did not assess the environmental impact to the East Wailua Water Shed, whose water fills the Kapaia Reservoir. Their proposal to add 9,000 ft. of an 18″ main alongside 9,000 ft. of an existing 16″ main, claiming they were doing so merely to address a pressure problem, defies common knowledge of the planned Rice Street and new Hanamaulu developments. As the attached declaration from Matt Rosener states, the KDOW EA does admit that the new line will “increase transmission capacity” and KDOW documents also establish their current plan to upgrade the Waiahi Surface Water Treatment Plant because they will be increasing the amount of water that is diverted from streams and delivered to KDOW for water delivery to the Lihue basin and as far as Kapaa. The attorney for KDOW denied there was any need to increase water capacity but KDOW’s own documents show otherwise. This dispute of a material fact fundamental to our lawsuit should have defeated the Summary Judgement Motion.
KDOW did not offer any sworn testimony and there was no testimony from any hydrologist to counter the expert opinions of Mr. Rosener. His opinions clearly contradicted the claims being made by KDOW’s attorney who claimed that they did not need to do an assessment of the source water because they weren’t going to be increasing the amount of water taken. Mr. Rosener actually calculated the increase in the water that will be drained by adding the additional 9,000 ft. of 18″ main. In 25 years of litigation experience, I have never had a Judge grant a Summary Judgement Motion where there was an opposing expert declaration filed without any declarations from the other side. The Court made no finding that there was any problem with Mr. Rosener’s credibly or qualifications.
Not only did the Judge decline to enforce 171-58 as to the environmental impact requirement, she also failed to enforce the statute’s wording that prohibits diverting State water without a permit or lease. At the hearing and in their motion KDOW said they can sell water to the more than 15,000 accounts serviced by the Waiahi Plant without permit or lease from the State.
Yet in January 2019, as the KDOW Manager’s report shows (page 68) the manager told the Water Board that he couldn’t recommend purchasing the Waiahi Surface Water Treatment Plant because he could find no permit, lease or right by Grove Farm for the water being sold to Kauai residents. The State is not being paid for any of the water being pulled off the East Wailua watershed and there is no permit or lease for the sale of this water. As the Judge was unwilling to enforce the statute, she denied our claim on that ground as well.
The Manager’s report has a copy of the 2004 agreement where KDOW has paid Grove Farm more than $2 million a year for water in addition to reimbursing Grove Farm for their cost of maintenance and electricity to operate the plant. This cost is passed onto the Kauai water users and our rates have increased more than 100% since 2015.
Audio for KDOW Water Case Hearing before Judge Watanabe – 6/23/2020
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gy0hyS7sAlAziTZzB8yW0gviISKGu6r2/view?usp=sharing
At 2 board meetings, BLNR board members discussed their concern that there was no lease or permit for the diverted State stream and ground water that Grove Farm and KDOW were selling to commercial and residential users on Kauai:
BLNR meeting 12/14/2018
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R3gb_vmQoD3E7jOwuoW2V1d-Fl2Nt8x0/view
Listen from 2 hours to 3 for Board member remarks
BLNR meeting 4/26/2019
http://files.hawaii.gov/dlnr/meeting/audio/Audio-LNR-190426-2.MP3
Listen from 1.00 regarding the need to have a permit or lease from the State before selling State water.
link to FEA/FONSI
http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/EA_EIS_Library/2018-03-23-KA-FEA-Kapaia-Cane-Haul-Road-Main.pdf
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 6/22/2020: Hearing Tomorrow! The hearing tomorrow at 1:30 pm before Judge Watanabe on our water case will not be open to the public. The attorneys will appear before the court via teleconference and we are hoping to have a recording made that will be sent to you so you can hear what happened. The court may not rule and may just receive the arguments of counsel. As you may recall, the issue deals with Kauai Department of Water’s sale of State stream water to more than 15,000 residential and commercial costumers without permit or lease from the State. Kauai Department of Water pays Grove Farm, who doesn’t own the water, paying more than $2.4 million a year in addition to covering all the costs of electricity and maintenance for the Grove Farm surface water treatment plant at Waiahi. This continues to be done without any EIS and with a woefully inadequate EA which we are challenging.
We are still awaiting the Supreme Courts decision on the Maui water case, Carmichael.
Stay safe out there and, as always, feel free to share our emails.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 6/11/2020: We Do Make a Difference! As you know, FOM continues its work to the protect and preserve our fresh water and Kauai’s environment. We wanted to share news of FOM’s recent $15,000 donation to Surfrider Kauai, another community organization doing great work to keep our streams and ocean clean and safe. The results of Surfrider’s water quality testing were very instrumental in furthering FOM’s successful work in stopping the industrial dairy farm proposed for Maha`ulepu, just 6/10ths of a mile upstream from that beautiful coastline.
Another environmental friend doing great work is Carroll Cox of Envirowatch on Oahu. You may recall that Carroll gave FOM a lot of airtime on his weekly radio program that greatly assisted in informing the public about the detriments of an industrial dairy at Maha`ulepu. Carroll’s work is often featured on the nightly news as it was last night when Hawaii News Now reported on the rare and wonderful find of at least 13 green sea turtle nests on Bellow’s Beach on Oahu. This is a first and pretty exciting as it is rare to find more than one nest of this endangered and beautiful sea turtle. Until Carroll’s involvement, however, the County and City of Honolulu wasn’t doing much to protect these nests. Read below to see what Carroll accomplished.
Carroll has spent a good deal of time protecting the environment both as a Federal officer with the US Forest Service and as an environmental activist since his retirement. Carroll recently sent us a link to a video he made of our local reefs and sea creatures to elevate our mood during this Covid time. Thanks Carroll for all the work you do for our environment.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 6/8/2020: Candidates Live Wednesday 6 pm! Hoping the email finds you well. A few news items to share with you:
- The hearing on our water lawsuit is still set to proceed before Judge Watanabe 6/23/2020. We haven’t heard if there will be a zoom or other link to observe the argument. As you probably recall, the suit is based on the failure to do an EIS as required by Hawaii State Constitution and statutes. See the statute, 171-58, that prohibits diverting or taking stream or groundwater for any use without prior permit from the State and an EIS to assure adequate protection and preservation of our natural resources, especially water, as well as assuring adequate protection of threatened or endangered plants and animals. Grove Farm diverts between 30-60 million gallons daily off the east Wailua watershed without any permit. KDOW is now selling water, processed by Grove Farm at its surface water treatment facility, to more than 15,000 residential and commercial accounts without permit from the State and without an EIS as required by the attache statute. The defendant contend that our case should be dismissed. Our attorney is confident that this case will result in a favorable decision, if not at the district court, at the Hawaii Supreme Court.
- No word yet from the State Supreme Court on the Carmichael case, the big water case on Maui.
- On Wednesday, between 6 and 8:30 pm, you can watch a live forum with 14 candidates for Kauai County Council with a click of the following link: https://bit.ly/2z5FXfh See flyer for more details.
- Recently, several nominees were selected by Governor Ige to serve on the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Billy Kaohelauli`i, an FOM supporter from Poipu, has been nominated to be the island Po`o. Billy is and was a Board member responsible for the restoration of Kāneiolouma, the historic site right above Poipu Beach. When we were working to stop the dairy, Billy secured the help of many Hawaiian residents who supported our fight and filed a formal complaint with BLNR in his capacity as the Moku for the South Kona district. The strong support from the Hawaiian community objecting to the proposed industrial dairy helped us reach our ultimate victory. Recently, the Aha Moku system has come under attack as one of our Senators suggested that AMAC does nothing. In the response filed by the AMAC Executive Director, just the table of Issues addressed in 2019 makes it obvious that AMAC is very active throughout the State to assure preservation of natural and cultural resources. Your help is needed. Please take a few minutes to send an email of support confirming that Aha Moku is an asset to the people of Hawaii. Your email should be sent to: Sen. Kaiali’i Kahele, Chair of the Water and Land Committee, ([email protected]) with a cc to Senator Ronald Kouchi, Senate President, ([email protected]) and Senator Kahele’s aid Ikaika Mahoe, ([email protected]).
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 5/11/2020: Justices Appear To Favor Water Rights. The oral argument before the Hawaii Supreme Court last Tuesday went well. Summer Sylva, attorney from Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation did a great job representing the Carmichael plaintiffs in their struggle to restore stream flow and end DLNR’s failure to follow State law that prohibits the unregulated diversions that have deprived taro farms of water, costing the residents thousands of acres of valuable agriculture. One of the more compelling aspects of the argument came when Ms. Sylva reminded the Court of how unacceptably long the struggle has been, so much so that many of the plaintiffs who were fighting for restoration of water to their taro farms have died waiting. Based on the questions from the Justices, the Court did not sound inclined to support the water diversion practices of A&B or their endorsement by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. We will update you once the Court files their decision.
As mentioned in our last email, we were invited to participate in the Environmental Council meeting to address the draft exemption list filed by Kauai Department of Water. The EC exemption committee expressed appreciation for our comments objecting to KDOW’s attempt to exempt certain actions from environmental review. The committee was unwilling to recommend KDOW’s list for approval and asked KDOW to amend the current wording before submitting another draft. If KDOW does so, we will be given another opportunity to comment. Public comments do work.
Mahalo,
Posted 5/3/2020: Watch Supreme Court Live – Water Rights Case. On Tuesday May 5 at 10 am the Hawaii Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Carmichael, the important Maui water rights case. It will be live streamed for public viewing via the Judiciary’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/hawaiicourts. See brief description of the Carmichael case.
Needless to say, we will be watching with great interest in view of the recent water rights case we have mounted on Kauai. The defendants in our case have once again asked the Court to delay hearing the pending Summary Judgement Motion. The last date given, May 12, 2020 at 1:30 has been continued to June 23 at 1:30 pm.
In a recent email, we shared a copy of the comment/complaint we filed with the Environmental Council in response to the Kauai Department of Water’s effort to exempt certain actions from an Environmental Review required by State Law. Some of the actions they are now attempting to exempt just happen to be the subject of our water lawsuit. Because of our comment/complaint, the Environmental Council invited us to join in their meeting as they consider KDOW’s draft exemption list. We will keep you posted on the outcome. Meanwhile, stay safe out there. Don’t leave home without your mask.
Feel free to share our emails.
Mahalo,
Posted 4/29/2020: US Supreme Court Decides Against Maui and For Clean Water Act Exciting news: The US Supreme Court ruled that counties, industries and others may not discharge/depose of waste into the ground to avoid the need to obtain a wastewater permit (NPDES – National Pollution Discharge Elimination System), a permit required whenever there is the potential for polluting waters of the US, a requirement of the federal Clean Water Act statute (CWA). That statute is enforceable everywhere in the US. In this case, Maui County was injecting wastewater into the ground without a permit because they felt that by putting it in the ground they weren’t putting into waters of the US (streams, rivers, ocean). In fact, because of our topography and ground waters runoff to the ocean, Surfrider Kauai, with others, was instrumental in helping environmentalists on Maui to prove that the wastewater from the injection wells was making its way to the ocean. Earthjustice successfully championed the case all the way to last Thursday’s victory in the US Supreme Court. Congratulations to Earthjustice.
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that sewage plants and other industries cannot avoid environmental requirements under the CWA when they dispose of waste that takes an indirect route but ultimately reaches rivers, oceans and other navigable waterways.
Rejecting the Trump administration’s views, the justices held by a 6-3 vote (Justices Kavanaugh and Roberts siding with the majority) that the discharge of polluted water into the ground, rather than directly into nearby waterways, does not relieve an industry of complying with the Clean Water Act.
“We hold that the statute requires a permit when there is a direct discharge from a point source into navigable waters or when there is the functional equivalent of a direct discharge,” Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the court.
The decision came in a closely watched case from Hawaii about whether a sewage treatment plant needs a federal permit when it sends wastewater deep underground, instead of discharging the flow directly into the Pacific Ocean. Studies found that Maui County wastewater soon reaches the ocean, also damaging a nearby coral reef. The Supreme Court’s decision follows:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-260_5i36.pdf
There is little question that the current pandemic is raising awareness of societies impact on the environment. Hopefully, the high court’s ruling will bode well for the struggle to restore stream water to taro farmers on Maui when the Hawaii Supreme Court hears oral argument May 5 in the Carmichael case seeking to return sustainable agriculture to areas robbed by stream diversions. The decision will be released sometime after oral arguments. Our best wishes for Native Hawaiian Legal Corp and all the firms fighting for stream restoration and enforcement of the State’s Water Code.
KIUC Board Meeting Tomorrow/ you can attend by phone
On Kauai, KIUC diverts at least 40 million gallons daily (mgd) from Wai`ale`ale and other Wailua watershed streams to operate 2 100 year old hydro plants which, at full production can only generate approximately 1% of the island’s daily power need. Kauai also has mounted an effort to restore stream flow as more and more alternative energy sources come online lessening the need for such a massive diversion of water through an old 5 mile ditch system which the State studied and found it suffered from at least 20% loss. What will happen to our environment and the ocean’s need for fresh water if massive stream diversions are not stopped? KIUC Board usually meets the last Thursday of the month. Because of covid-19, the public can now attend by joining in a conference call that will allow us to listen in on mute. There is a meeting tomorrow at 1 pm. The phone and access number are listed below. If you check KIUC’s website in the future for the meeting agenda and wish to comment, comments are due by noon the day prior to the meeting.
Phone 808-451-3671 access code 434658342#
Mahalo,
Posted 4/23/2020: Watch Tonight 6:30 pm KGMB – Return the Waters. Tonight at 6:30pm KGMB will host a 30 min special program on the issues surrounding water diverted from Hawaii streams. This program previews what the Hawaii Supreme Court will hear in oral argument May 5, 2020, on the long-contested Carmichael v. BLNR and Alexander & Baldwin case over state water diversion permits in East Maui, see notice below.
FOM and Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale initiated a court action to challenge the legality of diversions taking water from Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko streams without any State permit or environmental review in violation of Hawaii Revised Statues (HRS) §§171-58 and 343. Our case is pending hearing before Judge Watanabe May 12 at 1:30pm.
Our case differs somewhat from Carmichael in that A&B has had a revocable permit for the millions of gallons diverted from East Maui streams. On Kauai we also have millions of gallons (at least 30 mgd) from the Wailua watershed with no permit whatsoever.
At 8pm tonight, on PBS, you may want to watch the 4 outer island mayors discussing their thoughts on when, if and how the islands should be reopened to visitors.
Stay safe out there and know that we are thinking of all our supporters.
Mahalo,
Posted 4/10/2020: Hearing Continued Again. A quick hello from our Covid-19 isolation. The hearing on our water case that was to be April 7 has been rescheduled for May 12 at 1:30pm. We still don’t know if the hearing will be in person or telephonic. We will keep you posted. Meanwhile, stay safe and be well. Keep your mask on when outside of the house and use frequent hand washing. Best regards.
Mahalo,
Posted 3/20/2020: What We Can Do! The corona virus is impacting our lives daily. Recently, we had a hearing scheduled for March 11, 2020 before Judge Watanabe in Lihue. The hearing was postponed until April 7 at 1:30 because the attorney for Kauai Department of Water, from a firm on Oahu, was ill. Since then, the Hawaii State Supreme Court has advised courts to conduct hearings telephonically, particularly when any of the attorneys would have to travel between islands. It is unlikely we will be able to attend. Rather, as soon as our attorney lets us know the result of the Summary Judgement hearing, we will let you know.
Friends of Maha`ulepu proved that a small group of concerned citizens can make a difference in protecting themselves and their environment. We have that opportunity once again. On behalf of your board of directors, we are very concerned about the State’s response to the corona virus. Our State Government officials should hear from as many as possible. Right now they are considering a plan to quarantine all incoming passengers to Hawaii. Kauai has 111 hospital beds, 9 of them ICU beds, and a total of 18 ventilators/respirators. Without visitors, our resident population is approximately 70,000. In my recent surgical experience, I developed a complication that required a second abdominal surgery three days after the initial surgery. Because I was rather ill, the surgeon wanted me taken from recovery to intensive care. There were no intensive care beds available. This was before the corona virus had hit Kauai. Our hospital beds and resources are already full. The excellent nursing staff on the fourth floor stepped up to provide me the intensive care I needed. The good news is I am on the mend and doing relatively well. Despite staff at Wilcox that are devoted to their work and really try to cover our needs, it is obvious that it would take very few corona patients to overwhelm our healthcare. Many could die.
The following are links and an email address to contact Governor Ige, Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, head of the Corona Advisory Task Force and our State Senator, Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi. Please let them know how you feel. A 14 day mandatory quarantine for all incoming with returning residents allowed to quarantine at home should be done at a minimum. With our extremely limited health resources, we must act.
Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi [email protected]
Please feel free to share this email with your family, friends, and contacts.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 3/8/2020: Unlawful Taking of Our Fresh Water! Important court hearing Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 1 pm before Judge Watanabe. Friends of Mahaulepu and Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale filed a lawsuit objecting to the increased off-stream use of State water without permit or proper environmental evaluation. The Kauai Department of Water (KDOW) has asked the court to grant summary judgment and end the case we filed.
Hopefully, if your schedule permits, you will be able to attend. As explained in the following, this is a very important issue involving the future sustainability of our fresh water. Can commercial users like Grove Farm continue their diversion and use of State water without permit or compliance with State statutes that mandate an evaluation of the environmental impact. Unfortunately, having just gone through two major abdominal surgeries, 2/21 and 2/24, I will not be well enough to attend but truly look forward to hearing from you if you are able to attend.
As you may recall, KDOW released plans to lay 9000 feet of an additional 18 inch main along side 9000 feet of an existing 16 inch main. The water delivery to these mains comes through a 12 inch segment from Grove Farm’s Waiahi surface water treatment plant (SWTP). In their required Environmental Assessment (EA), KDOW stated that the new 18 inch main was necessary to relieve pressure in the existing system but not to increase capacity of the water delivered. In their Reply brief they state it will allow for increased capacity. Despite their claim that the new line is to relieve pressure, there is no plan to remove the 12 inch line where the water initially traveled, which unquestionably delivers water to the 16 inch main under pressure. The public was given a comment period ending March 12, 2018.
Many of us commented because KDOW’s EA did not consider the stream sources of water delivered to the Kapaia Reservoir which are taken into the SWTP for delivery to the water transmission lines. The same day are comments were due, March 12, 2018, KDOW wrote their FEA FONSI (Final EA Finding Of No Significant Impact). Public comments included expert opinions from a hydrologist on Oahu, Andy Hood. A major objection to their FEA was KDOW’s failure to consider or evaluate impacts to the sources of the water in the reservoir. KDOW talked about the Kapaia Reservoir but never evaluated the streams or environmental habitats impacted by the waters diverted from 2 State streams, Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko, along with many others. In the process, there was never any justification for the failure to evaluate the impact to the stream sources of waters diverted to the reservoir. Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko are State streams in a designated Conservation district. As such, HRS §343 mandates evaluation of off stream use of diverted waters.
When the FEA FONSI was prepared and dated the same day as many of the comments there was real doubt as to the ability of the engineers to even evaluate or consider comments filed. We were left with no alternative but to sue within 30 days of the published KDOW FEA FONSI. Now KDOW is trying to have our lawsuit terminated.
See our opposition to KDOW’s motion seeking final judgement in their favor. On page 29 of our opposition, there is an excellent declaration from North Shore hydrologist, Matt Rosener. Also see KDOW’s Reply brief in which they admit to a need to deliver more water to support the Grove Farm Lihue Master Development Plan while at the same time stating that adding 9000 feet of an 18 inch main has nothing to do with increasing capacity.
Mahalo,
Posted 2/4/2020: Warning Sign Removal a Danger to the Public!Keeping you in the loop. Maha`ulepu and the ongoing health risk to Kauai residents and visitors is still not being addressed by our State Department of Health (HDOH). As you read through the following emails, the serious bacterial contamination of our stream in an area right over the drinking water aquifer for all of Poipu and most of Koloa is unacceptable and continues to be dangerously high. How did HDOH respond? They took down the warning signs because Grove Farm didn’t like them not because the bacteria levels had fallen, the only statutory reason to remove the signs.
Please see our formal complaint filed with the EPA below.
Aloha Tulsi,
We wanted you to have a copy of the complaint recently lodged with the EPA. A copy has gone to Senator Mike Gabbard who is supporting SB2776, a bill to restore oversight to the Hawaii State Department of Health. As you and/or your staff review the following, you will understand why our community is very concerned about an inordinate risk to our residents and visitors here on Kauai.
Recently HDOH, without prior notice to any of the local residents, removed warning signs from a stream and beach at Maha`ulepu Kauai where the fecal indicator bacteria, enterococcus, continues to be chronically and outrageously elevated above 8,000, more than 200 times in excess of the minimum EPA and HDOH threshold of 35. The Hawaii Stream Study of 2012, authored by physicians at Stanford and U of H, determined that where fecal indicator bacteria levels are high, other harmful bacteria and viruses are almost always present, posing a risk to human health. With the recent outbreak of a new virus, the corona virus, one would hope that HDOH would operate from a position of caution rather than remove signs that warn the public of a seriously high bacteria risk.
——– Forwarded Message ——–
Subject: Formal Complaint
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2020 17:05:50 -1000
From: Bridget Hammerquist <[email protected]>
Organization: Friend’s of Maha’ulepu
To: Tomas Torres <[email protected]>
CC: Sen. Mike Gabbard <[email protected]>, Rock Riggs <[email protected]>
Aloha Tomas,
On behalf of the 1500 members of Friends of Mahaulepu (FOM) and Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale please accept this as a formal complaint for the recent decision by HDOH to remove warning signs from Mahaulepu Beach and the mouth of the Waiopili, signs that HDOH was directed to post by the EPA after more than a year of weekly and monthly extremely high enterococcus counts confirmed by HDOH testing and Surfrider, Kauai Chapter Blue Water Task Force. See EPA-HDOH letter of 7/25/2016. As the geomean for the Waiopili Stream indicates, these chronic and exponentially high bacteria counts have persisted from March 2014 to present. So why have the signs been removed? Per HDOH’s own test results of the area, enterococcus was never detected above any threshold until 2011. That was the first reading above 1 and it was 254 bacteria forming units in 100 ml of water. Since March 2014, that number has increased exponentially. Why? What was new in Mahaulepu… a biosolids disposal operation and perhaps the more likely culprit, a wastewater disposal operation that began in 2006 into a pond over cindery soil. Google Earth pics from 2013-2014 captured the biosolids site and wastewater disposal pool. One of the Google Earth photos actually shows a wastewater disposal truck backed up to the pond where Aqua Engineers disposed of wastewater that they said was not able to be processed at any of their wastewater treatment plants. See email and correspondence from Aqua Engineers. Under the disposal site there is not only a high groundwater table but carst lava tubes that likely aid in the bacteria’s migration to the Waiopili. As the following facts demonstrate, it is unconscionable and a reckless disregard of the public’s health for HDOH to have removed the warning signs without conducting any test of the soil of ground water coming from this site, especially when 32.6% of the PhyloChip samples were found positive for human source in moderate or nominal quantity.
Several FOM members have called to complain about the removal of the signs. One of our members and the Hawaiian Moku for this area, Billy Kaohelauli`i called to report that he had seen a father with small children sitting in a pool on the sand formed by the Waiopili and its seeps just before it enters the ocean. Against the white sand, the grey murky foamy water evident 100 feet upstream, is no longer obvious and the water looks clean. Billy told the father about the bacteria in the water as his young baby was digging in the pool with his hands. The father took his children out and thanked Billy. Billy thought the signs were gone because of a recent high tide. Billy called HDOH and spoke to Gary Ueunten who explained that the signs were taken down by HDOH because Grove Farm didn’t like them and the PhyloChip study had concluded the water was safe because there was no human source for the bacteria present.
As the following link to the PhyloChip meeting and report of Dr. Dubrinsky demonstrates, nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Dubrinsky was asked by Arryl Kaneshiro, Grove Farm manager and current County Council Chair, how to explain the risk to the public, Dr. Dubrinsky had stated that they were unable to identify the source for the high fecal bacteria found in the stream and he answered Mr. Kaneshiro by stating, “unless you can identify the source, you don’t know what the level of risk is.” 1:49:30 PhyloChip meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye0vr2bIJVU In fact, Dr. Dubrinsky had acknowledged earlier that, on review of his data, 32.6% of the samples tested “confirmed human source.” 1:07:50 PhyloChip meeting. At 26:10 of the video, we were informed that the PhyloChip study was not able to rule out human source as the source of enterococcus in the Mahaulepu watershed.
As you likely know, Dr. Dubrinsky and his associates developed the PhyloChip and proposed its use to identify the likely source of the fecal indicator bacteria. He conducted the test and selected the PhyloChip signal threshold that he believed would indicate a positive hit for human or animal source. Although aware of the 45 acre biosolids disposal site, which we learned after the PhyloChip meeting was also an untreated wastewater disposal site from 2006 – 2014, Dr. Dubrinsky said that that 45 acre site and its ground water were not tested as the sites to be tested were determined by HDOH.
So rather than test a site known to contain both partially treated and untreated human waste, a few hundred yards upstream from the Waiopili and Mahaulepu Beach, HDOH directed Dr. Dubrinsky to test 12 sites of the Waiopili and some sites along the Waikomo Stream, more than 2 miles west of the Waiopili and Mahaulepu Valley. There were residential cesspools in Koloa in the area of the Waikomo which someone at HDOH suggested might be the source for the bacteria that could have migrated underground via lava tubes to the Waiopili. Of note, they never determined that the Koloa cesspools were the source of the bacteria in the Waikomo and never found a connection between Waikomo and the Waiopili.
When HDOH conducted its Waiopili Sanitary Survey Part 1 from 2015-2016, their first effort to identify the source of the dangerously high bacteria found, they ignored data showing human factor in the enterococcus testing performed by Stanford labs, see a copy of that data to the HDOH Sanitary Survey report. The EPA was critical of HDOH for concluding that there was no human source in the bacteria found and for eliminating the biosolids site as a potential source, noting that the HDOH conclusions were contrary to their own data. See EPA letter of 7/25/2016. The EPA told HDOH that further evaluation of the biosolids waste site and area should be done before discounting a link between the human waste site and the chronically high bacteria found in the Waiopili seeps and stream.
After the EPA letter, HDOH announced they had received $100,000 from the EPA to conduct further testing, a PhyloChip study, to identify the source of the high fecal indicator bacteria in the Waiopili. A review of geomean for the water quality test results, chart below, demonstrates that even though other streams on Kauai have occasional high fecal bacteria counts, the geomean for the Waiopili Stream far exceeds the geomean for any other test site on Kauai. Why?? That was what the PhyloChip study was supposed to determine.
Unfortunately, the $100k was spent but, once again, there was no testing done of the 45 acre known human waste disposal site. Nor was there any testing done at the downstream portion of the Waiopili where seeps from somewhere in the Mahaulepu watershed bubble into the stream, a location tested regularly by Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force which has detected extremely high concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria for more than five years. When the PhyloChip Study was finally released in May 2019, we learned that the samples for the study had been collected in fall 2016 and March 2017. It took more than 2 years for the study to be released, only to learn that no source was identified.
It was not until November 2019 that we learned an amazing piece of new information. Not only was there partially treated biosolids disposed of at Mahaulepu upstream from the Waiopili, but there was also untreated wastewater disposal in an evaporation pond that began in 2006. Local residents had followed wastewater pumping trucks into the biosolids disposal area and had seen the trucks put out hoses and unload liquid into what appeared to be a very large pond.
The public and local residents were unaware of any waste disposal operation in Mahauelpu. It was not until October 2014 when we learned that Aqua Engineers had a permit to dispose of 269 dry metric tons of waste in a 45 acre area leased from Grove farm in Mahaulepu. That information was shared with me and other FOM members who flew to Oahu for a meeting with Sina Pruder of HDOH to report what we thought was illegal wastewater dumping because we were already concerned about the anticipated 200,000 pounds of cow manure daily from a proposed dairy next to the Waiopili. Ms. Pruder told us then about the biosolids permits HDOH had given Aqua Engineers in 2003. We were assured that it was only biosolids and there was no wastewater pond despite what residents from the area had seen. We later searched Google Earth and found the pictures.
We now know, through emails released last year along with the Aqua Engineer’s letter, that there was not only biosolids from 2003 – 2014, but also untreated wastewater from 2006 – 2014 being disposed of in Mahaulepu, just a few hundred yards upstream of the Waiopili and Mahaulepu Beach.
Please respond to this email as soon as possible. The warning signs at Mahaulepu need to be restored. The risk to the public is real and until the source is identified there is no way to know how serious the risk is. Even Janet Hashimoto (EPA on assignment to HDOH) stated that with the bacteria levels reported, no one can say that the waters of the Waiopili are safe for bathing, wading or swimming. 50:45 PhyloChip meeting video.
Mahalo,
Posted 1/2/2020: Comments Due Midnight, Jan 7, 2020! An important reminder: If you are planning to comment on the KIUC Draft EA as part of KIUC’s application for a long term lease (65 years) of the waters from Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko Streams, all comments must be filed by midnight next Tuesday, January 7, 2020. If you filed a comment in response to one of the KIUC earlier notices, please resubmit your comment by email or mail to all of the three addresses listed below. The following is a link to the KIUC Draft EA which they filed with a AFONSI statement (Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impact). DLNR, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, is the agency tasked with deciding whether or not to approve the Draft EA.
1 – Approving Agency – Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaiʻi
Ian Hirokawa,
(808) 587-0420,
[email protected]
1151 Punchbowl St., Room 220,
Honolulu, HI 96813
2 – Applicant – Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC)
Dawn Huff,
(360) 483-6488,
[email protected]
5362 Kumole St.,
Kapaʻa, Hl 96746
3 – Consultant – SSFM International, Inc.
Jennifer Scheffel,
(808) 375-6038,
[email protected]
99 Aupuni St., Suite 202,
Hilo, HI 96720
Our biggest objection to KIUC’s DEA is the fact that current State law requires an EIS, HRS 171-58. The water diverted, nearly 40 million gallons daily, is carried through a 5 mile ditch system before reaching either of the 2 Waiahi hydro power plants which at total capacity can only produce 1.5 megawatts of power daily. Meanwhile just one of KIUC’s other renewable power facilities produces 14 megawatts daily without any impact to the environment. The following is a link to a recent article that details all of KIUC’s many renewable resources and their ability to power the island without fuel, adding that hydro power represents a very small portion of their renewable portfolio. When KIUC CEO David Bissell was questioned by the Commission of Water Resource Management (CWRM) in August 2018 and asked what the cost impact would be to KIUC members if Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko diversions were discontinued, he answered that the cost impact to rate payers would be less than the cost of a cup of coffee per month.
So why is KIUC wanting so much water diverted from the origin, never to return, for delivery to a distant watershed where the water is conveniently recaptured by Grove Farm? The letter below my signature from the Kauai Board of Realtors may answer this question. Early in the first week of December, Kauai realtors received the letter asking them to write comment of support for the KIUC Draft EA. The letter even provided their members with talking points. So, what do you think? Water for Grove Farms Lihue master plan and development of homes for the realtors to sell?
There has never been an EIS for the Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko (Blue hole) diversions. When water is diverted for commercial use from streams, HRS 171-58 requires and EIS and DLNR should accept nothing less from KIUC. FOM would appreciate receiving a copy of any comment you may file.
Please feel free to share this email with friends and family.
Mahalo,
Posted 12/10/2019: KIUC Required to Re-publish! Happy Holidays and Mahalo for the comments filed on or before December 9 for restoration of Lawai Stream flow, see FOM and Kia`i Wai’s comment. If you haven’t already shared the comment you filed, we would appreciate having a copy for our files.
FOM’s objection to KIUC’s last Notice was effective and we have more time to comment, lightening the load for December. As predicted, the November 25 OEQC re-publication of KIUC’s Draft EA was found inadequate. Instead of giving the public 30 days to comment as mandated by statute, the November Environmental Notice only gave the public 28 days and many of those days around critical holidays. So, on December 8, Notice was again republished for the KIUC Draft EA announcing their proposal to divert millions of gallons of water daily from Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko Streams under a 65 year State water lease. The public now has 30 days from December 8 making all comments due January 7, 2020.
When the second KIUC Notice was published on November 25th, the public was told that any comments filed on or before November 7th would be considered with other comments filed by the December 23rd published due date. FOM and Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale, however, objected to the fact that there was only 28 days in that comment period. Consequently a new republished Notice came out on December 8 and the new due date is on or before January 7, 2020 but no reference was made to whether comments already filed would be considered. In the interest of caution, please plan to refile, on or before January 7, 2020, any comment already made, making edits if desired.
KIUC may have made changes to their Draft EA in the new publication. The following link will take you to their most recently published 773 page Draft EA. If you plan to work on a comment or want to edit a comment already filed, please find see comments filed November 7 by FOM and Kia`i Wai, Earthjustice and Matt Rosener of North Shore Hydrological Services.
It has been a good year for FOM and Kia`i Wai. On January 31, 2019, Hawaii Dairy Farms and Ulupono Initiative announced there would be “No Dairy on Kauai”. Via an article in TGI, their spokesperson announced that they would not be doing dairy anywhere in the State of Hawaii. In April, Big Island Dairy announced they were closing and removing the cows that had so badly contaminated O`okala and a major part of the Hamakua coast line. FOM introduced our lawyer, Charlie Tebbutt, to the residents of O`okala and shared our resources to fund and help them gather critical data proving the bacterial contamination of their streams and community.
At the end of April, FOM and Kia`i Wai celebrated with other environmental groups after winning a critical fight over House Bill 1326, Legislation that if passed, would have given water diverters a seven year exemption from the water code. Thanks to a mighty and well coordinated effort, FOM supported numerous trips to the legislature with representatives FOM assembled from Hawaii, Maui, Oahu and Kauai, all of which combined with other environmental groups and we “killed the bill”.
Also in April, FOM testified before the Land Board who reconfirmed their December ruling ending 100 years of 100% baseflow diversions of Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko Streams. The DLNR Land Board ruled that the KIUC operated Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko diversions had to assure a minimum flow of 4 million gallons daily in Wai`ale`ale Stream and 0.8 million gallons daily in Waikoko Stream. Now we’re fighting for Lawai Stream restoration and opposing KIUC’s proposed 65 year water lease which intends to divert more than 40 million gallons daily from Wai`ale`ale Stream while diverting all that water 5 miles to 2 small hydro-power plants that produce less than 1% of the island’s daily power need.
We wish you the best this holiday season. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and very much appreciate all the support we receive to protect the environment of Kauai. Please feel free to share all our emails with family and friends. It takes us all to keep Kauai, Kauai.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 12/3/2019: Help Protect Kauai’s Water! No question December is a busy month. One has to wonder why it is that officials put the close of public comment on many important issues in the month of December but the bottom line is we have two important comment periods about to close. Lawai Stream December 9 and KIUC 65 year long term lease on December 23. This email will address the Lawai Stream issue. Next week we will send more on the KIUC comment.
Lawai Stream is under study by the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) for setting the Instream Flow Standard: Instream Flow Standard Assessment Reports for the
surface water hydrologic unit of Lāwa‘i (2050)
http://files.hawaii.gov/dlnr/cwrm/presentations/pp20191028.pdf
The State has set December 9 as the final date to submit comments in response to the proposed Instream Flow Standard (IFS) suggested in the above link.
Prior to a low rock wall dam diversion, later modified in 2013 with a bank to bank concrete dam diversion, Lawai Stream was one of Kauai’s more beautiful streams that watered the natural botanical gardens and nourished numerous taro patches. See photo below.
McBryde Sugar was responsible for a major alteration in the stream’s health and now the only water that enters Lawai Stream below the concrete dam come from an intake pipe with holes that are often blocked by mud and leafs as seen in the picture below. Bottom line, seven miles of Lawai Stream, between the dam and the ocean, are drying up and dying.
In preparation for testimony due December 9, you may want to listen to compelling testimony offered to CWRM representatives by many who attended the Oct 28 meeting in Lihue.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jvMl20xyKH9Pg3ct_6yjmU3Em4jaugqf
One of the strongest points made, that should be incorporated in everyone’s comment is the fact that the USGS (United States Geological Survey) is engaged in a study of “Low-Flow Characteristics for Streams in Southeast Kauai, Hawaii” which specifically includes a study of Lawai Stream. That study is not complete. Even the state hydrologist for CWRM, Ayron Strauch, acknowledged that the USGS study had to be complete before “any action can be made by CWRM.” (Email below) The purpose of the USGS study is to determine how much water flows regularly in the stream above the dam diversion as basic data from which to determine a minimum instream flow standard for the stream below the dam. Now, without this information, which the State hydrologist also finds critical, the State is taking final comments December 9 on Lawai Stream even though the USGS work is not complete. For this reason, several who testified October 28 requested that no action be taken to set the instream flow standard until the required information is available. The State partnered with USGS on a study that has cost tax payers $759,000.00. The State should not now rush the process and act prematurely to help A&B secure water rights for a 20 acre fishing lake, golf course and ag use for its build out of Kukuiula Development in Poipu.
“Subject: Re: Lawai River 6/11/18
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2018 12:58:42 +0000
From: Strauch, Ayron M <[email protected]>
To: Ned Leone <[email protected]>, ‘Ned Leone’ <[email protected]>, ‘Hope Kallai” <[email protected]>, ‘Terrie Hayes’ <[email protected]>, ‘Branch Harmony’ <[email protected]>, ‘Kane Tiralde’ <[email protected]>, ‘Bridget Hammerquist’ <[email protected]>, ‘Don Heacock’ <[email protected]>, DaMate, Leimana K <[email protected]>
Aloha Ned,
Thanks for the update. I really appreciated getting to see the stream at your property. If you’re still willing, I hope to get a stream gage installed on Lawai Stream at your property in the coming months.
We are still waiting for the final USGS report to be completed in 2019 before any action can be made by CWRM. I will be back for stream measurements and to visit the stream near the botanical gardens later this year.
Mahalo,
Ayron
———————————–
Ayron M. Strauch, Ph. D.
Hydrologist, Commission on Water Resource Management
Department of Land and Natural Resources
State of Hawaii
1151 Punchbowl St. Rm 227
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-587-0265
[email protected]“
All comments filed should be sent no later than December 9 to any of the following addresses:
E-mail: [email protected]
Facsimile: (808) 587-0219
Mail: Commission on Water Resource Management
State Department of Land and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 621
Honolulu, Hawaii 96809
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 11/26/2019: KIUC 65 Year Lease DEA Republished! As we mentioned in our last email, KIUC did have to re-submit their Draft EA for a 65 year lease and OEQC was responsible for republication of KIUC’s DEA-Waiahi-Hydropower-Long-Term-Water-Lease. When the OEQC sent out their Environmental Notice 11/23, they gave the public the wrong due date. Consequently, a corrected Environmental Notice was issue by OEQC yesterday, 11/25, informing the public that all comments would be due Dec. 23, 2019. That only gives the public 28 days in which to comment despite the statutory mandate that the public be given 30 days. On behalf of FOM and Kia`i Wai `o Wai`ale`ale we filed an objection to the error in yesterday’s “corrected” Notice, see email below the signature. Stay tuned as the Dec. 23 due date may change.
If you have already filed a comment, the corrected Notice did state that comments previously filed will be addressed. You are also entitled to modify/update your comment and refile on or before the new due date.
In our last email we attached the FOM/Kia`i Wai comment and the comment of our hydrologist, Matt Rosener. We recently received the comment filed by Earthjustice.
If you have not already commented on this important project application, please review the comments that we have shared and file your comment on or before Dec. 23 unless that date is change again.
Technology is moving at a rapid pace. Tying up the fresh waters of Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko for 65 years to be diverted for 5 miles through neighboring watersheds for hydro-plants that, at full capacity, are only able to produce 1% of the island power need is a tremendous environmental expense. The injury to Hawaiian practitioners, to native vegetation, to protected and endangered species is an extremely high price to pay for so little gain. As members of the KIUC Coop, we all have a right to demand that KIUC restore the natural flow of the streams, particularly in light of their new 20 Mega Watt Tesla battery back up solar power facility in Koloa and well as a 15 Mega Watt system at PMRF with even more planned alternative energy producing sources like the pump hydro soon to be built in Kekaha. If you have friends or family impacted by low flow in these streams, feel free to share this and the previous email, KIUC needs to hear from the public on how important it is to protect our fresh water.
Republished KIUC Draft EA:
https://hawaii.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9767098a92149e9396bdccffd&id=5ffa1cd4e6&e=fb76585aa1
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Mahalo nui loa,
Bridget Hammerquist, President
Aloha,
Please accept this email as a formal objection to the improper Notice served on the public today, the “CORRECTED November 23, 2019 issue of The Environmental Notice”. When the Environmental Notice was published on Nov. 23 it failed to provide the public with the correct due date. That necessitated today’s Notice, however, today’s Notice only gives the public 28 days to respond despite a statutory requirement of 30 days, rendering today’s notice just as in need of a correction as the November 23 Environmental Notice was.
Today’s “CORRECTED” Environmental Notice only gives the public 28 days, depriving the public of 2 critical days to comment during a holiday season. Please take care of this error at your earliest convenience.
Mahalo nui loa,
Posted 11/4/2019: Pollution and Water Issues Continue
This email covers a lot of issues so I’ll try to be as succinct as possible.
- As the latest Surfrider Blue Water Task Force testing below demonstrates the Waiopili remains outrageously polluted with fecal bacteria that pose a risk to human health.
- DOH Director Bruce Anderson told the public in a July press release that the waters of the Waiopili were safe. Not true and we know more today than we did when HDF and Ulupono announced there would be no dairy on Kauai.
- Recent documents obtained from DOH and EPA prove that there was not only a biosolids dumping operation at Mahaulepu from 2003 – 2014, but, in fact, there was also a wastewater “de-watering” operation there from 2006 – 2014. See attached documents. Of interest is that as recent as the fall of 2018 Grove Farm and Aqua Engineers were requesting a DOH acknowledgment that they had properly suspended the waste operations at Mahaulepu and were seeking a DOH release from any responsibility for same. In an email chain attached DOH declined to do so.
- These new documents reveal that the waste operation at Mahaulepu was very much on the front burner of DOH through 2018. At the same time, DOH was conducting a $100,000 phylochip study purportedly to identify the likely cause of the ongoing high fecal bacteria counts in the Waiopili. Conveniently, the DOH phylochip study avoided any testing of or near the Mahaulepu waste site. Instead, they only sampled soil and water along the Waiopili as it flowed through the the proposed diary site to the ocean. EPA, in a letter to DOH, had told them that testing of the waste site was needed. However, the never before used phylochip study didn’t test or even mention the existence of a human biosolids waste site. Here is a link to the pylochip study meeting that took place in Lihue. The designer of the study could not explain why the biosolids waste site was not tested, only to say they tested where DOH directed them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye0vr2bIJVU
- Managing wastewater in the South Shore is an ongoing and growing problem with recent developments. Attached is a flyer for the final public meeting about a location for a new Koloa/Poipu Wastewater Treatment Facility at the Koloa Elementary School on 11/7 from 5:30-7pm. Under the guise of a USDA funded study to obtain public input, locations for open air modular wastewater units have been identified for the public. You might want to attend and be informed
- Water and the unregulated diversions from streams on private lands was a big part of the October 2019 Land Board meeting. One of the Board members, Stan Roehrig, questioned DLNR’s failure to regulate private land owners and their continued diversion millions of gallons daily from our fresh water streams. His remarks were compelling and now he’s no longer on the Land Board,
https://drive.google.com/open?id=14dCgpUwM9MrIxsIUftaktO7eV8nZeLj5 Audio – 2 parts - A reminder, KIUC is seeking a 65 year lease to continue its diversions of Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko Streams. They take more than 40 million gallons daily from the Wailua watershed, diverting the water 5 miles from the stream of origin to operate 2 old hydro power plants that produce less than 1% of the island daily power need. Comments on the KIUC Draft Environmental Assessment are due November 7, 2019 and must be filed with:
- Ian Hirokawa
Department of Land and Natural Resources
1151 Punchbowl St., Room 220
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
[email protected] - Jennifer Scheffel
SSFM International, Inc.
99 Aupuni St., Suite 202
Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
[email protected] - Dawn Huff
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
5362 Kumole St.
Kapaʻa, Hawai‘i 96746
[email protected]
- Ian Hirokawa
- We are please to inform everyone, especially those who had their water tested, that the results from the latest testing were all within the safe drinking limits for Aluminum, new micro-pore filters are working and those drinking water from Grove Farm’s Surface Water Treatment Plant at Waiahi are now drinking water that tests far better than our initial finding.
Mahalo
Posted 8/8/2019: Who’s Protecting Hawaii’s Environment? On Kauai, KIUC just announced, at their annual Coop meeting 7/31, that they had filed an Environmental Assessment (EA) with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) as what they claim is the necessary step to securing a new 65 year lease to continue operating 2 large dam diversions on Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko streams. Although the waters of Wai`ale`ale have been taken by KIUC, using 100% base flow diversion since 2001 with only a revocable permit, KIUC is finally moving to convert their RP seeking a 65 year lease. Kia`i Wai representatives testified before the Land Board in December 2018 voicing strong objection to the continued daily diversion of more than 40 million gallons of stream flow from the Wailua watershed to produce less than 2% of the island’s daily power production.
In testimony to the Commission of Water Resource Management (CWRM), KIUC CEO, David Bissell, admitted that it would make a single dollar digit difference in the rate payer’s monthly bill if the 100 year old generators relying on the steam’s water was taken offline, seriously begging the question for the need for the dam diversions and significant environmental impacts to the streams deprived of their natural flows. Not to mention the impact to downstream agricultural needs of the East Kauai Water Coop and its members.
The Dam diversions are on State land, in a Forest Reserve and are in an area of a designated protected habitat for more than one endangered species. These facts along with KIUC’s acceptance of the $60 million dollar Federal loan, mandate that an Environmental Impact Study (EIS), not EA, be preformed by KIUC before any lease can be issued by the State of Hawaii.
Thus far, the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC), has not published notice of the KIUC EA and we are asking all our members to send an email and/or a letter to both the Land Board and OEQC asap. The purpose of your email is to object to the KIUC EA. Your email can state:
“As a KIUC Coop member, we were recently notified that KIUC had inappropriately filed an EA and I’m writing to ask the State not to accept this filling because KIUC’s water lease application is for a 65 year lease to divert State land streams in an area of endangered species and USGS protected habitat contrary to the State and Federal mandate for an Environmental Impact Study.” HRS §§171.58 and 343, HEPA and NEPA.
With your email to the following 2 addresses we hope to avoid publication of an EA and instead require KIUC to file an EIS as statutorily mandated: [email protected], [email protected].
If the State OEQC agrees to allow KIUC to proceed with an EA it would be a tragic injustice to the environment in an area that has never had any environmental impact study or environmental assessment of any kind.
Emails from as many as possible are needed because as TGI and the Star Advertiser recently reported:
“A scathing new audit of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Land Division cannot be allowed to be go unheeded. Instead, it should be the start of acknowledging systemic problems, then lead to real improvements.”
It is evident from the following quote that even after receipt of the auditors official recommendations, the DLNR Director, Suzanne Case, questions the cost effectiveness of the need for a uniform policy and long term strategic plan while the Administrator of the Land Division, Russell Tsuji, claimed the recommended changes are unnecessary:
“Case told the auditor that DLNR would pursue, as recommended, development of a strategic plan covering lands under lease or revocable permit, as well as unencumbered lands that might be suitable for development — even as she questioned the cost-effectiveness of such a plan.”
“When asked about the lack of a long-range strategic plan, the Land Division administrator “does not see the necessity of such planning, explaining that the division’s focus and direction often change ‘on a dime,’ especially during changes in administration or board composition.”
7/6/2019
Editorial: DLNR must tighten fund management
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/07/06/editorial/our-view/editorial-dlnr-must-tighten-fund-management/
6/28/2019
Audit: DLNR mismanaged state land
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2019/06/28/hawaii-news/audit-dlnr-mismanaged-state-land/
A recent visit to Mauna Kea really drove home how ineffective our State is in managing the Environment of Hawaii. After hours of research in the DLNR file room on Oahu, including a careful review of the 1968 lease that granted U of H the right to manage lands the State holds in trust for Hawaiian descendants (Crown Lands), the disregard for the environment was appalling. When DLNR signed the 65 year lease to the University of Hawaii, they did so for the mere charge of $1/year. The State Constitution requires that any revenue from a State lease of Crown Lands be shared 50% to DLNR, 30% to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) and 20% to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The ridiculously low lease rate of $1/year has meant no real income to any of these 3 entities while U of H has received millions annually in rent from the 13 observatories already on the Mountain. Was this a way to enrich U of H while cheating the Hawaiians who struggle daily?
The documents I reviewed revealed numerous toxic spills on the mountain for which DLNR has put out requests for contractors to clean up mercury, lead, silver and a huge spill of a fire retardant, all of which will not disappear on their own over time and which threaten the large aquifers of pristine fresh water in the mountain. The Palila, an endangered endemic Hawaiian bird whose fluffy yellow feathers were used to make the royal Hawaiian capes and other ceremonial artifacts, lives on the mountain and the EIS done for the initial observatory/telescope construction specified that no construction could take place between late spring and 5-6 month after because of the Palila’s breeding and brooding. So, why where there large pieces of equipment ready to roll up there this past June? Why is the State or UH even allowing any more telescope construction when 5 of the 13 existing telescopes have been decommissioned and supposedly there is insufficient funding available for the cleanup and removal as required by their development agreements with UH.
For more information please visit the following sites. The first link informs visitors of the daily classes now being offered at their campus, Pu’uhonua o Pu’uhuluhulu Maunakea. During my recent visit I attended several classes and observed a rather large campus developed by the Hawaiians protecting MaunaKea. It was clean and populated by many young Hawaiians that greeted visitors warmly, introducing themselves and offering to orient anyone to the various services and education classes available. They have a large selection of foods and beverages available at no charge to anyone. The meals were hot and welcomed to those experiencing the beauty of the area and wide range of temperatures from warm sunshine to bitter cold depending on the time of day.
Musicians from all over the State are visiting daily and all the entertainment is free of charge as well. Beautiful chants and Hawaiian dances are preformed throughout the day. During the 3 ceremonial times of protocol, 8am, noon and 6pm, all are reminded of the code of conduct, kapualoha, that everyone anywhere on the mountain, except for the law enforcement standing around, are expected to follow: no alcohol, no smoking of any kind and no weapons even a ceremonial or traditional Hawaiian weapon. Those that have organized this campus are to be commended and it is well worth a visit if you have the time and ability.
Pu’uhonua o Pu’uhuluhulu Maunakea
https://www.facebook.com/puuhuluhulu/
Mauna kea litigation laws and politics
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MKPoliticsLawsLitigation/
Mauna Kea Testimony for Protection Mauna a Wakea
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaunaKeaProtectionTestimony/
We are Mauna Kea
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeAreMaunakea/
Stand for Mauna a Wakea
https://www.facebook.com/standformaunaawakea/
Pictures from TMT visit 7/30-7/31/2019
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fozdlarCI9QxaBTgknHc3EQ0nSpb9M5y
Documents relating to TMT
https://drive.google.com/open?id=113TdvupT7oHIys4c9OhpE9xfiNTNba5q
Mahalo,
Posted 8/1/2019: Water Testing! We are arranging for water testing early next week. We were contacted by a few people when we first mentioned this in an email a few weeks ago, no need to repeat your request if you already contacted us. If anyone else from Puhi to Kealia would like to get their tap water tested, Monday or Tuesday next week, for FREE, please send us your contact information, phone and street address, so we can arrange the sample collections.
The link below contains all the documents produced by Kauai Department of Water in a request to produce documents on the discovery in the 18 inch main/environmental challenge case. See Complaint.
KDOW Discovery Docs
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rT_B2YwMLEy1iIxjQdNVn0rMJ0aYqjJz
If you read through the attached Complain, you will know what our complaint is about. Just wanted to share the documents produced for those who might be interested. If you happen to review the documents and find anything important don’t hesitate to call, the more eyes on these documents the better.
Mahalo,
Posted 7/28/2019: Mon 5:30 pm Wastewater Treatment WHERE? Coincidental, or is it, just as the PhyloChip Study public meeting and release attempt to clear the waters of the Waiopili as safe, a new regional wastewater treatment plant may be in the offing for Maha`ulepu in the area of the Old Mill.
To learn more, come to the Koloa Elementary School Cafeteria tomorrow, Monday evening at 5:30 pm, see flyer.
Are the location and size of the new plant related to the recent release of the PhyloChip Study that took 2 years to complete from when the water samples were drawn and which has suggested that the persistent high counts of enterococcus do not represent a health risk? Even though that claim has been made, the authors of the PhyloChip acknowledged that there was no testing done of a 54 acre 11 year human bio-solid dumpsite near the Waiopili. The Berkeley Lab researcher, Eric Dubinsky did not explain why the bio-solid dumpsite was not tested to determine whether residual bacteria from the dumpsite have contaminated and persist in the dark, warm and damp underground conduits, lava tubes, connecting the ground water to the Waiopili. He agreed that the area could have been tested and a PhyloChip profile created to look for a match for the live bacteria still found in the Waiopili (see most recent results below – because of the dry season most streams on island had a drop in live bacteria while the Waiopili had a 98% increase):
“Wouldn’t it be prudent to sample the biosolids dump site,” said Bridget Hammerquist, with Friends of Mahaulepu, the group that worked to keep a dairy from setting up in the valley. “Our concern with all of this is the streams have been constantly elevated. Something is feeding it. Wouldn’t it make sense?”
The site was active for 11 years and 269 dry metric tons of waste was deposited there every year during that time.
Dubinsky said they did zero testing within the biosolids dumpsite and didn’t take samples from that area to calibrate their test. When asked whether DOH directed him to stay away from the site Dubinsky didn’t answer the question. Neither did the DOH representatives at the meeting.”
DOH explains water study, citizens concerned
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2019/07/27/hawaii-news/doh-explains-water-study-citizens-concerned/
There is an issue about whether the PhyloChip, a method not approved by the EPA, is effective. Are its results reliable? The following was stated in the PhyloChip Study:
“In the majority of samples, CP and ENT were unassociated with molecular evidence of fecal contamination, and thus the potential health risks indicated by these bacteria are likely overestimated if they are assumed to be fecal in origin. Conversely, a few samples with strong human fecal signatures and known wastewater origins, including samples from cesspools and wastewater injection wells, had unexpectedly low CP or ENT concentrations and were clearly
false negatives.”
During the public meeting, which was recorded and reported on by TGI, the Study author and developer of the PhyloChip instrument and methodology, stated in the first 30 minutes that, “We are not completely ruling out the presence of human contamination in the water.”
At 60 minutes into the meeting he said, “If it is a human source we want to know because it is the worst possible source you could have.” For more on the issues and reliability of the PhyloChip Study, attached are a couple recent articles from the Star Advertiser.
By way of background for the meeting tomorrow, Monday, here is a BOD, Basis of Design, for a Koloa-Poipu Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant prepared in 2008 and submitted to Sina Pruder, Wastewater Branch Chief who presenting at Monday’s meeting. The other presenter is from the R. M. Towill corporation, here is a link to their website, http://www.rmtowill.com.
The last link here is for the Final EIS which was accepted in 2009 and may or may not be valid for any current project because of the change in density for this area, http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/EA_EIS_Library/2009-12-08-KA-FEIS-Acceptance-Koloa-Poipu-Wastewater.pdf
Mahalo,
Posted 7/11/2019: Water Quality Matters! Throughout our fight to keep an industrial dairy from operating dangerously close to our drinking water and ocean, we were always concerned about the outrageous fecal bacteria counts in the Waiopili Stream.
The State DOH knew that they had granted permits to Aqua Engineers for 11 years (2003-2014) to use 54 acres of Grove Farm Maha`ulepu Valley land below the old mill as a human bio-solids dumpsite. DOH also knew that there was some fecal bacteria still in the waste that was spread on the land. They have never tested the ground water or soil below the site for bacteria. The nearby Waiopili Stream was found to have a significantly high fecal bacteria count when first tested by Surfrider Blue Water Task Force in March 2014. The State and EPA standards report water as contaminated if water quality tests reveal fecal bacteria in excess of 130 per 100 cc’s. There has not been any month since March 2014 when the fecal bacteria, enterrococcos, has been in range. Rather, the numbers have always been in the thousands, ranging from 4,000 to 27,000 fecal bacteria colony forming units in just over 3 ounces of water. Much of the time, the count detected in the Waiopili Stream exceeds all other test sites added together… chronically the most polluted body of water accessible to the public on island.
When DOH could not explain the source for the bacteria, they convinced the EPA to spend $100,000 on a “PhyloChip Study”. The PhyloChip had no track record for source determination but EPA felt it was worth a try… because DOH couldn’t imagine where all that fecal bacteria was coming from. The PhyloChip was used to test known sources of bacteria, like cesspools in the Koloa Poipu area. It was also used to test the Waiopili Stream. Unfortunately the test results were negative for human waste in the residential cesspools, where DOH knew there was human waste, and some of the samples from the Waiopili were positive and some were also negative. On review of pages 19-20 of the attached PhyloChip report, the authors recommend that further study is needed and express concern for the obvious false negative study results from the human cesspools tested.
DOH was more interested in assuring the public that the stream and the ocean where the stream drained was safe to swim in. Because FOM worked with Carroll Cox, Oahu environmentalist, on a request for documents from DOH, we were able to acquire a series of emails that showed DOH convinced the lab that produced the study to alter their findings and “soften” their conclusion… even thought the body of the report made it clear that the false negatives called into question every aspect of the study’s results. See entire email chain in the link that follows with pertinent comments highlighted.
As you may recall, FOM objected, see link below, to this clear and unacceptable departure from scientific integrity. A fraud was committed on the public when they were told it was safe to swim in the Waiopili… if you follow the DOH recommendation, based on the PhyloChip results, it would be safe to swim in the cesspools tested.
Emails from DOH confirm PhyloChip study results ‘softened’
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2019/06/27/opinion/emails-from-doh-confirm-phylochip-study-results-softened/
Needless to say, we are seeking a retraction of the ridiculous article prompted by the DOH press release claiming the obviously contaminated waters were safe for swimming. Senator Mike Gabbard, who has over-site over DOH has scheduled a meeting for July 23 with FOM, Kauai Surfrider biologists and our Senate President, Ron Kouchi.
On another important water note, Grove Farm has been operating a surface water treatment plant (SWTP) in Waiahi since 2004. The SWTP receives water from the Kapaia reservoir, which when treated, is sold to the County for drinking water. The Problem: DOH correspondence with Grove Farm reveal a long standing and serious concern by DOH for the amount of free aluminum, a heavy metal, and other contaminates in the SWTP waste water. After many years of threats, DOH finally refused to renew the Grove Farm SWTP NPDES waste water permit in May 2016. Despite that fact, the State has allowed Grove Farm to continue selling the water they remove from the Kapaia Reservoir to the County for at least $2 million and now $2.4 million per year. The water to fill the reservoir is taken by KIUC and Grove Farm from streams fed by Wai`ale`ale in the Wailua watershed. FOM was very concerned after review of the DOH records, about the high levels of aluminum in the waste water. What’s in the drinking water sold by the County to 15,000 residents and businesses between Puhi and Kapaa? FOM sampled drinking water from homes and public sites with the help of Surfrider Kauai and the results all exceeded acceptable safe limits:
After receipt of these results obtained via ICP mass spectrometry, FOM has decided to conduct a larger sampling. Anyone between Puhi and Kapaa willing to have their drinking water tested, please send us an email asap so we can arrange for a coordinated date and time at no cost to you.
Finally, good news for West Kauai and the Surfrider Clean Water Act case, congratulations Earth Justice.
www.thegardenisland.com/2019/07/11/hawaii-news/judge-ocean-illegally-polluted/
Mahalo,
Posted 6/25/2019: Water Quality Issue! We should be able to rely on the Department of Health to protect us and at least give us honest information about the water quality in our streams and near shore water where we swim and wade. Sadly that is not the case.
Recent documents/emails released by DOH in response to a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that DOH had the Conclusions changed in the PhyloChip Study reported on by TGI June 6.
Emails release from DOH show that the initial reaction to the Study was “baffling and disturbing”, because the lab had tested cesspools, where human source was the known cause for the fecal bacteria and the PhyloChip was unable to confirm that the fecal bacteria it was testing was from humans. DOH persuaded the lab to change the report and “soften” their conclusion that the data showed clear evidence of “false negatives”. See the email chain between DOH and Berkeley Lab and guest commentary sent to the paper in response. It may not get published but I wanted to share this significantly disappointing and deceptive manipulation of data by DOH.
Water is life and we don’t want anyone getting sick.
Posted 5/2/2019: Success!!!! The Water Theft Bill is Dead! Thanks to a well directed effort on the part of our members, HAPA, Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow, other organizations and individuals, HB1326 failed to become law. That bill would have relieved water diversion permit holders from compliance with a State statute that regulates the diversion of water for another seven years. 3 years ago ACT 126 was passed and water users received a 3 year holdover/extension on completing required environmental studies and other previsions of their lease application process. HB1326 was designed to extend ACT 126 an additional 7 years.
During the hearings it was evident that there were several large diverters, special interests, who wanted to continue to take the State’s water without disclosing the impact to the environment or the people of the State. After much testimony and hard work, we were successful in persuading the Senate that special interests legislation and a pass from following the law would violate the State Constitution and would not protect one of Hawaii’s most precious public trust resources, water. Please take the time to call Senate President Ron Kouchi, 808-586-6030, and Senator Kai Kahele, 808-586-6760, and thank them for their strong leadership. The pressure was great as multiple news coverage has reported. Alexander and Baldwin reportedly will have to rebate $62 million to the purchaser of 40+ thousand acres of A&B land on Maui now that the bill designed to give them a pass from following the law has failed. It is a great day for water and its preservation!
There are some who contend that the failure to pass HB1326 will cause small farmers on East Kauai to lose their water. If you want to understand how DLNR has fostered that concern, a concern that the Senators did not buy, here, here and here are the 3 testimonies offered by DLNR Chair, Suzanne Case. In the two testimonies filed when the bill was in the House, 2/8 and 2/20/2019, DLNR never suggested the bill had to be adopted in order for farmers to continue to get their water. There was no suggestion that the water RPs couldn’t be renewed. That changed April 2 and DLNRs testimony was filed late and was not convincing.
The AG and DLNR had 3 years to consider the consequence of the sunset of ACT 126 and has had 4 years but did not conclude Carmichael applied statewide to all water permits until April 2019. Contrived legal theory??
If necessary, Kia`i Wai and FOM will seek the support of our entire collective effort to rise up and protect the small farmers and underfunded water RP holders. There is no question that the groups who fought the water theft bill were successful. Thanks to all who gave such great testimony and who called Senators to encourage compliance with the law rather than offering another seven year pass from the law There truly is strength in the collective effort of our group.
The following is a link to an article today that details the magnitude of our victory after many years of struggle. All water users need to comply with the law.
5/2/2019
This Native Hawaiian Taro Farmer Has Been Fighting A&B For Decades
https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/05/this-native-hawaiian-taro-farmer-has-been-fighting-ab-for-decades/
Posted 4/22/2019: Has The Water Bill Drowned Yet? Just wanting to share two excellent analyses of the water bill which the Governor asked the Senate to resurrect last week. Nothing happened today and the bill, HB1326 HD2, wasn’t even mentioned on the Senate floor today. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted.
Posted 4/11/2019: Help Needed on Water, Good Results So Far. Our hard work has paid off with the legislature. Due to strong opposition, a bill (HB1326) designed to give stream diverters another 7 year pass from complying with State law has failed. There is speculation that some last ditch push will be made because one of the stream diverters (A&B) will lose $62 million if unsuccessful in obtaining an extension of their permits (RPs) to divert up to 450 million gallons daily from streams on Maui. The following link gives a comprehensive detailed account of the fight that’s been mounted at the legislature.
4/10/2019
Nothing Is Dead in the Land of the Zombies: The twisted legislative saga of the “Corporate Water Theft” Bill
https://mauitime.com/news/politics/nothing-is-dead-in-the-land-of-the-zombies-the-twisted-legislative-saga-of-the-corporate-water-theft-bill/
Here is a copy of the testimony submitted on behalf of FOM and Kia`i Wai o Wai`ale`ale. The following link is to the hearing where many of us testified. Strong testimony was offered by myself, Gary Hooser, Anne Fredrick, Hope Kallai, Noelani Josselin and at least a half dozen others from Kauai. Kia`i Wai testimony starts at approx. 2:14:00 mark. In the 40 mins prior, the Chair of DLNR, Suzanne Case, tried unsuccessfully to argue that HB1326 needed to be passed or current holders of revocable permits for water “may lose” their right to continue diverting water. There is noting in current law or the extension from 2016 that supports her clam and that was nicely exposed by Senator Kahele.
WTL and WAM Senate Hearing and Testimony 4/2/19
http://olelo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=71353
WTL and WAM Senate Hearing and vote 4/4/19 (approx 58 min)
http://olelo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=46&clip_id=71381
Under State law a revocable permit to use State water has to be renewed each year. The statute calls for the RPs to be converted to leases. When a lease is created, the diverter will pay a fee and that fee will support the DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources), DHHL (Department of Hawaiian Homelands) and OHA (Office of Hawaiian Affairs). In 2016, the legislature passed a law that gave a 3 year extension to the one year revocable permits. That law ends this year, 2019. After these 3 years, DLNR, however, is still not prepared to issue water leases. In fact, only one lease applicant has completed the required environmental studies, HELCO on the Big Island.
As evident from Chair Case’s testimony, rather than comply with the law, her department has been advocating for a pass or exemption from following the law for another seven years which just happens to benefit KIUC and Grove Farm who sells diverted stream water to the County. Grove Farm also passes on the KIUC power bill for operation of the Waiahi surface water treatment plant to the County and and our water bill. Our water rates are some of the very highest in the State.
On Monday at 8:30am, Suzanne Case will be up for confirmation of her position as Director of DLNR, Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) and Chair of the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM). We encourage you to watch her testify before the Senate in the above links. DLNR has not done its job with her as Director. Her testimony attempted to support the confusion advanced by A&B on the water issue. Kia`i Wai and FOM will be opposing her confirmation. Please click here to email opposition or support(?) by 5pm Saturday to all 5 Senators on the Committee who will vote on her confirmation Monday at 8:30am.
Your voice makes a difference as evident from our success with HB1326.
Posted 4/1/2019: FRIENDS OF MAHA’ULEPU CELEBRATES! On March 17th at Po’ipu Beach pavilion, a celebration was enjoyed by the community who supported and worked hard for our success in defeating a dairy that would have all but destroyed our precious Maha’ulepu environment. View pictures of the event!
Posted 3/31/2019: URGENT! Testimony Needed The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. In the text that follows, you’ll see why we are asking for emails to be sent before 10am tomorrow to Senate Committees poised to hear 2 very important water bills. There is no resting on our laurels. We were worried about where the water would come from if the Waita was to give the dairy operation 3 million gallons daily. From that inquiry we learned that KIUC was pulling over 30 million gallons daily out of the Wailua watershed with diversions that took 100% of base flow. Some FOM members asked that we look into and help restore the dry stream beds that spanned anywhere from 100 yards up to a mile in one of the most beautiful streams on island. We got involved and this past December the Land Board ordered an end to a 100 year old practice of taking all of the base flows from 2 of our most revered streams, Wai`ale`ale and Waikoko. We’ve been up on the mountain several times since and KIUC has yet to comply. The Land Board has ordered KIUC and community groups to return and report on the status of those streams and KIUC’s take.
Bigger problem, in the course of working on this issue, one of the things that came to light is that KIUC is helping Grove Farm get the water after passing through KIUC’s hydro plants. Grove Farm takes the water without a permit or payment to the State, stores it in the Kapaia Reservoir and directs it to its Waiahi surface water treatment plant operational in 2004. At issue, neither KIUC nor Grove Farm has ever done environmental studies for this area. State law requires environmental studies for any commercial use of State water.
Unfortunately, without the environmental studies which includes public hearing and sharing information with the public, the high aluminum content from the bauxite in the soil in the Waiahi area remained unknown. Grove Farm does not have a valid permit from the State to divert. Now, we learned they lost their Surface Water Treatment Plant NPDES permit (permit to handle the wastewater), because of the excessive aluminum contamination in that water. The State document timeline also shows excess turbidity and other contaminates in excess of the amount allowed. The Department of Health refused to renew their NPDES permit in May 2016 and they have been unable to get another NPDES permit since.
People on Kauai have been asking about the “red water” coming out of their pipes. Before this past week we didn’t know why. People were told by KDOW and TGI reported that the water was ok to drink because it had been purified. Purification does not remove aluminum. In researching this further, we actually found Water Board minutes about Wilcox hospital patients adjusting to drinking “red water”. It doesn’t take much research to learn aluminum is particularly toxic for chemo patients, dialysis patents, the old and the very young and the agricultural crops they asked the State to let them dump it on. Thankfully, the State declined.
How despicable to give us toxic water rather than do an environmental study before starting a surface water treatment operation. This is particularly true because in Grove Farm’s own 2017 bid to CWRM for a liner, they admit that the presence of aluminum has been known because of companies who came between 1950 and 1960, proposing to mine aluminum in the very area of the reservoir. Instead, Grove Farm choose to produce bad water for which Grove Farm has been paid over $30 million by KDOW and us, the rate payers.
We need your help. There are 15,000 accounts receiving the water from Grove Farm’s aluminum laden Kapaia reservoir. Here’s the problem, Grove Farm takes water after KIUC diverts it under a revocable permit from the State and takes from other streams in the Wailua watershed and stores it over concentrated bauxite in the soil of the reservoir. No environmental studies have been done for KIUC’s take or Grove Farm’s unpermitted use. Had those studies been done as required, the heavy aluminum/bauxite concentration in the soil of the earthen reservoir should have been detected.
Grove Farm does not have any permit from the State to take and now they have no permit to dispose of the aluminum laden water. When they deliver the water to the County, they treat it for bacteria and microbes. We can’t find that they test the County water for aluminum but we do know the waste water from their treatment plant has for years had as much as 10 times more than the allowed level of aluminum.
Please submit an email with brief testimony to each of the following links before 10am tomorrow. In the subject of your emails, it is helpful to say, “Oppose the Bill”. When you click the following links, you will see the agenda for each bill. Below the agenda is a link “submit testimony” click to open and submit testimony. Please feel free to remove the suggested testimony and write your own brief statement as your own words are better. In the body of your brief testimonies, please add your personal comment to your plea that the Senate Committee members vote NO on both HB1326 and HB1171. These bills will be heard at 10:45 am Tuesday. Each bill extends the time to comply with environmental studies required under the law. How many more will suffer so corporations don’t have to spend the money they should to operate their businesses safely in Hawaii.
We’ve done good work but there is more to do to keep our water safe. The following is a recent TGI article acknowledging FOM’s work. Our hui did good. Looking forward to your continued help.
3/31/2019
Hoping to heal Maha‘ulepu
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2019/03/31/hawaii-news/hoping-to-heal-mahaulepu/
Posted 3/19/2019: ‘Friends’ have good reason to party. HDF, despite its best intentions, was fighting an uphill battle from day one. It never gained strong community support for this project, billed as a way to provide fresh milk for keiki and create a few jobs. The focus of its opposition was always on the threat to the environment this dairy represented and HDF couldn’t get shake that possibility. Read the article.
Posted 2/10/2019: It’s About The Water. We are all relieved that the cows won’t be coming to Maha`ulepu. As you can see from the Surfrider water quality results below, the Waiopili Stream at Maha`ulepu remains extremely polluted with fecal bacteria. Please avoid any contact with the Stream and don’t wade or swim in the ocean near the stream’s entrance.
It is well established that uninterrupted healthy/adequate stream flow is essential to clean stream and ocean water. Our work is not done. We will continue our mission for the health of the waters of Maha`ulepu and Kauai.
We can take comfort in Ulupono’s recent decision that an already very polluted waterway, the Waiopili Ditch and Stream will not be made worse by a large industrial herd of dairy cows. Look for an email soon and the announcement for a gathering at Poipu Beach where we can take time to celebrate our victory. Thanks for you support. Be sure to let us know if you did not receive and would like an acknowledgement of your donation for your 2018 tax return.
In case you missed it, there was a good letter to the editor about the ongoing pollution at Maha`ulepu by Carl Berg, PhD, who heads up the Surfrider, Kauai Chapter’s Blue Water Task Force:
2/6/2019
Give credit to Friends of Mahaulepu
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2019/02/06/opinion/letter-for-wednesday-february-6-2019/
Posted 2/1/2019: IT’S OFFICIAL!!! NO DAIRY FARM!!! Ulupono and HDF will not be operating their planned dairy at Maha`ulepu. Thank you all for the hard work and financial support. With your support, all Kauai and our South Shore has been spared. We plan and know that our work will continue as we strive to protect the fresh water and environment of Kauai. FOM was asked to respond to Amy Hennessey’s quotes in the Ulupono press release today, Read more.
Posted 1/25/2019: BIGGEST NEWS YET! Although Hawaii Dairy Farms has not made a statement to the press or others to our knowledge, we found a very interesting auction ending in the next 27 days. It appears that Hawaii Dairy Farms may be selling it all! We called the auction house and learned that the farm equipment is in Koloa. Photos even show a bumper sticker on the back of the truck that reads, “Pull For Milk.” While HDF has not formally announced the end of their planned industrial dairy for Maha`ulepu, we expect it will come within days if not hours.
Posted 1/10/2019: Recent news articles have made us cautiously optimistic that we may have good news in 2019. For those of us who live on Kaua`i, the tropical climate and rainy weather make obvious the island’s volcanic topography and natural drainage to the ocean. It all flows down hill. Add to that the clay soils of Maha`ulepu with poor absorption and increased risk for runoff left most very concerned about any land based animal waste operation. Pam and Pierre Omidyar likely thought they would be helping Kaua`i and the State by proposing an industrial for Kaua`i with more to follow on other islands. Our climate and topography has pretty well established that any large scale operation that deposits animal waste on the ground will result in animal waste in our streams and ocean because that is how these islands drain. Big Island Dairy is now slated to close because their waste cannot be contained and they are having regular releases of manure laden waste water into the gulch streams that drain through their property and run through O`okala on their way to the ocean. After four years of working to avoid contamination of our fresh and ocean waters, Ulupono is on the verge of making a good decision for Kaua`i and the health of our environment:
“Ulupono is now considering whether or not the Kauai dairy may be a good investment, said spokeswoman Amy Hennessey. There’s been no onsite work on the project in over a year, and Hennessey said Ulupono should come to a decision next month.”
Let’s all think good thoughts and pull for the Omidyars to do the right thing in 2019! We don’t need to repeat here what is happening on the Big Island.
Posted 8/1/2018: We can’t explain why Pam and Pierre Omidyar, Ulupono Initiative and Hawaii Dairy Farms fail to recognize the environmental and economic devastation that would befall Poipu and Kauai, if they are permitted to proceed with the industrial dairy they propose to operate at Maha`ulepu Kauai. In a very recent article in The Garden Island, Amy Hennessey is quoted to say that they are intent on developing their concentrated dairy at Maha`ulepu: Read article.
Posted 3/18/2018: FOM requested help from EPA when DOH refused to warn the public of the serious and significant fecal bacteria polluting the Waiopili Stream. In late July 2017, EPA told DOH that they “must” post appropriate warning signs. They also questioned DOH’d evaluation of the likely source, noting that DOH conclusions were unsupported by their own data. Finally, they admonished DOH to do more to determine the likely source of the pollution. To date, that has not been done. Now, EPA has released the final list of impaired waters of the US and the Waiopili Stream is officially included on that list.
Posted 2/13/2018: Recent Surfrider research shows that the Waiopili is still outrageously contaminated with fecal bacteria. View report.
Posted 2/2/2018: FOM reached out to knowledgeable sources, universities and others to best understand and respond to HDF’s proposed industrial dairy at Maha`ulepu. Yesterday, we received a very detailed letter from Johns Hopkins University that was sent to DOH Director, Virginia Pressler and OEQC Director, Scott Glenn. The letter details the serious risks to public health and the environment posed by Hawaii Dairy Farms proposal. Read the letter.
Posted 1/27/2018: Ulupono, Hawaii Dairy Farms and Grove Farm refuse to recognize why a proposed industrial dairy is not sustainable and why it would be irreparably harmful. Despite two separate court losses (one Federal and one State), the defendants publicly state their intent to proceed at Maha`ulepu. HDF now plans to amend HRS 343 directly to obtain a statutory exemption for their project. They have hired 3 well-known, connected lobbyists with the theme “We’re local ag, HRS 343 harms ag, so the state should support changing this law.” Although we anticipate a return of some funds from the successful Federal Court award for the attorney fees and costs FOM was forced to spend, it now appears we may need to mount another expensive effort as we protect Maha`ulepu. The cost to lobby the entire State Legislature, file another suit in State Environmental Court and prepare for State Supreme Court will be great. Please donate to defend Maha’ulepu!
Posted 12/26/2017: Our work and successes this year would not have been possible without the generous support of OUR MEMBERS. At the request of some donors, FOM has opened an account with Edward Jones to accept donation via stock transfers. If you WISH to take advantage of this 501(c)(3) option, please contact us for more information.
Posted 12/12/2017: Ulupono/HDF requested the Environmental Council (EC) TO allow developers to batch public comments submitted during an EIS process and permit the developer to respond to a comment they determined was representative of the batch. Two FOM Board members attended an EC meeting on Oahu 10/31 AND offered oral and written testimony to respond to the environmental regulation change proposed by Ulupono/HDF. Thus far, the EC has agreed that the environment is better served by requiring a developer to answer comments, point by point, if they are not a form letter. We felt the trip was very successful and we continue to remain engaged in the process of the States update of its Administrative Rules which the State adopts to comply with the Environmental Protection Act. Read FOM’s Comments/Testimonies. The entire EC thanked FOM for taking the time to participate and share why comment batching and batch responses by the developer are a bad idea.
Posted 12/10/2017: FOM attended a 2 day symposium sponsored by Omidyar’s Ulupono and Civil Beat. Oahu environmentalist Carroll Cox covered the symposium, highlighting Amy Hennessey’s comments on HDF’s EIS, which were not accurate. Basically, the symposium was suggesting ways to minimize public impact. View show.
Posted 11/14/2017: THE FEDERAL COURT AWARDED FOM $506,328.64 FINDING THEM THE PREVAILING PARTY, AKA THE WINNER! Much of the award will cover attorney fees and costs that our legal team agreed not to bill us for once they were quite sure we would win. We have no way of knowing when our legal team will receive the award. Clearly the Court has validated FOM’s work. Defendants may appeal the Court’s Order. View a copy of the 71 page Order and our Press Release.
Posted 9/18/2017: WAIOPILI STREAM TEST RESULTS STILL ABYSMALLY HIGH. Surfrider Kauai Blue Water Task Force water quality test results were recently released. The Waiopili Stream is, by far, the most contaminated stream on Kauai. We are still waiting for the DOH phylo chip study, an effort to determine the source of the ongoing chronic pollution and part 2 of the Sanitary Survey.
Posted 8/30/2017: SIGN PETITION TO PAM AND PIERRE OMIDYAR TO STOP DAIRY! We are hoping for over 6,000 signatures to our plea to stop the proposed industrial dairy at Maha’ulepu. Please sign our online petition to let our voices be heard!
Posted 8/14/2017: FRIENDS OF MAHA’ULEPU MAKES NEW YORK TIMES! The recent Times article, “EBay’s Founder Has a New Idea: Build a Dairy in Hawaii”, released 8/13/2017, balances many competing issues. When it comes to Kauai and our effort to preserve and protect a spectacularly beautiful coastline, home to some of the healthiest reefs in the State and many endangered or protected species, the article did not address some critical facts your readers may find interesting. A 35 foot vegetation buffer along the Waiopili Stream, that now collects all flow from Omidyar’s proposed dairy site, will not do anything to stop the manure that would drain into an extensive ditch network running through Omidyar’s pastures, emptying directly into the Waiopili via deep channel ditches as it flows to the ocean. There is no mention of the USDA NRCS study that found 80% of Omidyar’s acreage primarily clay soil. They concluded the site is at high or very high risk for runoff. Also missing is Omidyar’s withdrawal of his Final EIS after the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) recommended against DOH approval. Why is Omidyar willing to risk the health of such a beautiful environment when he has to import his herd’s feed and export the milk to another island for processing and packaging? If nothing else, the Times article unfortunately confirms Omidyar’s intent to proceed despite abundant evidence of serious harm that out weighs any benefit (pollution/contamination of ground water, drinking water and the ocean vs milk). Read the NY Times article.
Posted 6/5/2017: Friends of Maha’ulepu’s Federal Clean Water Act case against Hawai’i Dairy Farm, Ulupono Initiative and Maha’ulepu Farms has come to a successful conclusion! Judge Kobayashi ordered the entry of a Consent Judgement for Friends of Maha`ulepu. While HDF and has always maintained they did nothing wrong, nor violate the law, FOM’s decision to file the Clean Water Act case has been vindicated by the independent Comments filed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in FOM’s case. DOJ identified the Clean Water Act violations and concluded that the Consent Judgement does provide the necessary injunctive relief and financial payment to fund a Supplemental Environmental Project, instead of other civil penalties. View the Consent Judgement with its exhibits.
Posted 5/4/2017: Join Carroll Cox for an episode of Eyes on Hawaii with guests Genard Frazier from O`okala on the Big Island, and Bridget Hammerquist from Koloa, Kauai. They review and discuss the concerns members of the O`okala community have raised regarding the “significant” impact the Big Island Dairy has had on the community from untreated waste runoff. The Big Island Dairy is an industrial dairy operating up slope from the town. View Video.
Posted 4/29/2017: One driving force behind FOM has been the desire to preserve/protect our drinking water, the Waiopili and the ocean. FOM and Surfrider joined forces and filed a Petition with HDOH to list the Waiopili Stream as an impaired water body of the US and State. By filing the Petition and assuming the Waiopili was listed as impaired, that listing would then restrict permits issued to any operation with the potential to add additional pollutants. Once listed, no likelihood of an NPDES wastewater permit being issued in the area of the Waiopili. Due to chronic and consistent levels of significant pollution documented through water quality testing, the Waiopili is on the draft proposed list. Read the joint Comment filed by FOM and Surfrider with the expert input by the Law Offices of Charlie Tebbutt. Without help from so many, we would not have come this far. Please continue to keep FOM in mind and donate now to FOM’s tax deductible 501(c)(3) effort.
Posted 4/11/2017: STRIKE THREE? As of 10pm on April 5, HDF, Ulupono, and Mahaulepu Farms, all signed a Consent Decree that will be entered by Court Order prohibiting them from any further construction, development or ground-disturbing activities for the proposed industrial dairy operation. Read and enjoy FOM’s accomplishment by viewing our recent Press Release. Without help from so many, we would not have gotten this far. HDF plans on appealing the decision, so please continue to keep FOM in mind and donate now to FOM’s tax deductible 501(c)(3) effort.
Posted 3/23/2017: STRIKE TWO! On Tuesday, Judge Randal Valenciano revoked all developer permits and approvals for construction of a dairy at Maha’ulepu, pending an environmental assessment. The motion for summary judgment would require HDF to follow Hawaii Revised Statutes 343. The statute requires an environmental assessment at minimum and, possibly, an environmental impact statement. Without help from so many, we would not have gotten this far. HDF plans on appealing the decision, so please continue to keep FOM in mind and donate now to FOM’s tax deductible 501(c)(3) effort.
Posted 3/11/2017: Read more about HDF withdrawing their FEIS and view photos and videos of Maha’ulepu after recent heavy rains.
Posted 2/26/2017: MAJOR SETBACK! Hawaii Dairy Farms reported to media and the public that they withdrew their Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) from Hawaii Department of Health to improve their FEIS answers to public and agency Comments. HDF’s decision to withdraw followed a finding by the director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) that their FEIS was so deficient he recommended DOH not accept HDF’s FEIS. Without help from so many, we would not have gotten this far. It’s going to be a fight so keep FOM in mind and donate now to FOM’s tax deductible 501(c)(3) effort.
Posted 2/26/2017: BIG NEWS! HDF withdrew their FEIS from the Department of Health. There is no longer any decision for Dr. Pressler to make on February 24th, 2017. HDF also withdrew their application for the required NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) General Stormwater Construction permit. What does this all mean? We are taking heart from the Hawaii Administrative Rule, which indicates that the consequence of withdrawing their FEIS means that HDF has to start the process all over and file a new EIS, assuming they intend to re-submit a more complete study to overcome the deficiencies identified by the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control.
Posted 2/18/2017: STRIKE ONE! We received news that the state’s Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) sent a recommendation of NON-ACCEPTANCE to the Department of Health (DOH) regarding Hawaii Dairy Farm’s Final Environmental Impact Statement. A final decision will be made on February 24th, 2017 by the Department of Health. Read OEQC Director, Scott Glenn’s recommendation against DOH acceptance of HDF’s FEIS. HDF has stated they are determined to proceed. Without help from so many, we would not have gotten this far. It’s going to be a fight so keep FOM in mind and donate now to FOM’s tax deductible 501(c)(3) effort.
Posted 2/17/2017: Our dairy fight is heating up! Last Thursday, Council member Derek Kawakami and Dee Morikawa decided to endorse the industrial dairy proposed for Maha`ulepu. Our District Representative, Dee, did say she was “a little concerned” about the location. Their endorsement, however, appeared to be based on misinformation. FOM responded! If you missed it in TGI, view the full page coverage, The Truth, printed 2/15/17.
Posted 2/11/2017: FOM Board members met with Senator Ronald Kouchi and his Chief of Staff on Oahu. We look forward to the Senator supporting our attorney’s demand of the Department of Health. We also testified before the Kauai County Planning Commission. Based on testimony received, the Kauai Planning Department requested that the Planning Commission defer any action on the Kauai County General Plan. This will allow the Planning Department to modify the plan, which will be submitted in the form of a new draft. A strong statement was submitted by the Koloa Community Association directed specifically to the preservation of Maha`ulepu. Read Statement.
Posted 2/11/2017: A strong formal response has been filed by FOM’s attorney, the Law Offices of Charles Tebbutt, with the Department of Health to support our demand that HDF’s FEIS be rejected. Read Response.
Posted 1/30/2017: NOW IS THE TIME! With the release of the Final EIS, Hawaii Dairy Farms intends on fighting Friends of Maha’ulepu, South Shore residents and all of Kauai, who oppose their industrial dairy. The only way to shut down this operation for good is to challenge any approval of HDF’s FEIS in the State Environmental Court and, if necessary, the State Supreme Court. We have only 60 DAYS from any approval to submit our challenge and it will take a significant amount of money. Now is the time to open your check books and send the largest possible tax-deductible donation to FOM.
Posted 1/25/2017: FOM was the featured guest topic for the first hour of the Carroll Cox show. Carroll called later to share that he received quite a few phone calls from concerned listeners. Listen to the show.
Posted 1/25/2017: Hawaii Dairy Farms Final EIS was filed with the State Department of Health on January 17, 2017. At best, it’s self serving since it only means that Group 70 International, the same company that prepared the dairy plan, is also filing the final part of their report claiming no significant environmental impact from the proposed industrial dairy operation. To date, there has been no independent engineering review of the Group 70 claims. You can and SHOULD send a written response if the dairy’s response to your Draft EIS Comment was “not satisfactory” or failed altogether to address your concerns. Our time is short! The recommendation will be either to “accept” or “reject” the EIS on or before February 10, 2017. We need financial help now more than ever as we marshal our experts and respond to the FEIS. READ MORE ON WHAT YOU CAN DO.
Posted 12/2/2016: COURT FINDS HAWAII DAIRY FARMS AND ULUPONO INITIATIVE VIOLATED FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT – Case against billionaire investor Pierre Omidyar’s flawed plan to go to trial. On December 1, the federal district court of Hawaii issued a decision finding that Hawaii Dairy Farms, Ulupono Initiative, LLC and Maha’ulepu Farm, LLC, owned by internet billionaires Pierre Omidyar and Steve Case, violated the federal clean water laws by beginning construction of a proposed 2,000-head dairy on the south shore of the Garden Island of Kauai without first obtaining proper construction permits. Read the full Press Release and the Summary Judgment.
Posted 11/13/2016: Read our recent letter to EPA Staff Members concerning FOM’s request that the Hawai’i Department of Health impose fines and deny Hawaii Dairy Farms (HDF) any NPDES permit. The letter includes photos that support Mr. Wong’s letter to HDF from Hawaii DOH, informing HDF that a Federal Stormwater NPDES permit is required to cover the site construction activities HDF planned. The photos clearly demonstrate the many ditches draining surface and groundwater from HDF’s proposed industrial dairy site where massive amounts of wet manure will be left sitting ready to flow as runoff to the Pacific Ocean.
Posted 11/2/2016: Read our recent letter/demand to Virginia Pressler, Director Hawaii State Department of Health. The letter includes photos demonstrating one of the large channel ditches, draining water from the site, less than 12 feet from one of HDF’s main cow raceways. That raceway, sloped for drainage, will collect wet manure and urine from the cattle which will drain to this and other extensive ditch networks on site. HDF seems to believe that the tall grasses, which have regrown between the raceway and ditch will be sufficient to contain the wet manure and urine falling from the initial 699 cows. Plans are for all waste to be left where it falls or sprayed back on to the property with either effluent spraying or pumping out of manure sludge solids from their effluent ponds. HDF acknowledges that “Surface waters draining the project site meet Waiopili Ditch, and will eventually reach the ocean.”
Posted 11/2/2016: View our photo essay demonstrating the many ditches draining surface and groundwater from HDF’s proposed industrial dairy site, showing the direct flow path to the Pacific Ocean. They support Mr. Wong’s letter to HDF from Hawaii DOH, informing HDF that a Federal Stormwater permit is required.
Posted 10/4/2016: AN URGENT REQUEST FOR YOUR KOKUA. As we await the Federal Court’s ruling on our Clean Water Act case, Friends of Maha’ulepu (FOM) must replenish its operating funds. Since April 2014, FOM has educated the public and responsible agencies on the devastation that would occur from HDF’s proposed industrial dairy at Maha`ulepu. Donations have covered the Clean Water Act case thus far. Critical data obtained from the site inspection, the foundation for FOM’s DEIS response, will also support and be used in the Clean Water Act and State court cases. The expert costs are paid, but we must raise at least $50,000 by October 31st to conclude the Clean Water Act case through trial. See how FOM has used previous donations to help save Maha’ulpeu. Please mail your tax deductible donation to Friends of Maha`ulepu, P.O.Box 1654, Koloa, HI 96756 or donate via our GO FUND ME website.
Posted 10/4/2016: DID YOU KNOW? Based on years of evaluating communities impacted by factory farming and related peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Kilpatrick, an expert in economic analysis focusing on complex real estate issues such as development and preservation, concluded that nearby residences to the proposed HDF industrial dairy could lose up to 88% OF THEIR CURRENT PROPERTY VALUE. Remaining residences in the South Shore would likely lose up to 50% OF CURRENT VALUE. DONATE NOW! We need your help to stop the desecration of Maha’ulepu and protect the South Shore’s quality of life and property values!
Posted 9/19/2016: Ten FOM members attended the Federal Court hearing before Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi on FOM’s Clean Water Act Complaint against Hawaii Dairy Farms. The Judge stated she was not inclined to grant Defendants Motion for Summary Judgement seeking to have FOM’s Clean Water Act case dismissed for lack of standing. She found Alan Faye’s declaration, filed by FOM, as support for standing and that his testimony qualified him as a lay expert witness. The Defendants’ attorney argued that the Court should throw out FOM’s case altogether. A trial date is currently set for February 2017. Read the Full Story.
Posted 9/19/2016: Fundraiser for Friends of Maha’ulepu! 100% of artist proceeds from the sale of Eileen Kechloian’s oil paintings will be donated to Friends of Maha’ulepu. Come enjoy wine, pupus, art & music on September 24th, 2016, 6-9pm at the Art House Gallery in Koloa (3440 Poipu Road), the little red house just one building from the gas station. You can go early for advanced viewing of Eileen’s new pieces. If unable to attend on 9/24/16 you may purchase the piece and retrieve it after the event. Come have a good time even, if you can’t find a piece that works for you. Hope to see you there!
Posted 9/19/2016: We’ve been hard at work for more than 2 years. Costs have been substantial and our bank account is now low, but it’s been worth the fight! We’ve kept HDF from operating their dairy at Maha`ulepu. Please mail your tax deductible donation to Friends of Maha`ulepu, P.O.Box 1654, Koloa, HI 96756 or donate via our Go Fund Me website.
Posted 8/24/2016: FOM filed a Federal Lawsuit 6/1/2015 which has progressed and received several favorable rulings from Judge Leslie T. Kobayashi. In 2/16, she issued an order allowing FOM site access to inspect the proposed dairy while conducting water quality and soil analysis. Based on evaluation and test results with consulted experts, it has been concluded there was evidence that HDF is, and has been, violating the Clean Water Act due to grubbing and digging on over 480 acres of the proposed site. On 7/1/2016, FOM asked that the Court enter a partial Summary Judgement on the pollution violations. If it is determined that there has been a breach of the Clean Water Act, HDF, and other named defendants can be fined up to $37,500/day. Read the Partial Summary Judgement and supported pleadings.
Posted 8/24/2016: FOM is excited about the upcoming hearing on September 12th before Judge Kobayashi, as the evidence is strong. We are inviting all members of the hui, who are able, to attend the oral argument at 10 am in the Federal District Court on Oahu. Let’s fill the courtroom and let Judge Kobayashi know how important this issue is for all of us.
Posted 8/16/2016: Department of Health has finally posted signs to warn the public of the serious bacterial pollution in the waters of the Waiopili at Maha’ulepu Beach. After two years of chronic exponentially high fecal bacteria levels, DOH failed to warn. With a mandate from the EPA and a further nudge from our very own Kauai Senator, Ron Kouchi, currently the President of the Hawaii State Senate. Read the letter he sent to DOH Director, Virginia Pressler, MD and Deputy Director, Keith Kawaoka, PhD.
Posted 8/16/2016: With the skilled offices of our attorney, Charlie Tebbutt, Esq., FOM filed an excellent Comment in response to HDF’s Draft EIS. The Comment, a 43 page document, details not only HDF’s extensive misstatements and inaccurate information, but the supporting documents prepared by a wide range of scientific experts confirms that the proposed industrial dairy operation at Maha’ulepu would be an environmental, ecological, archaeological, cultural, sociological and economic disaster for the island of Kauai. FOM’s entire formal comment can be accessed via Dropbox or Google Drive.
Posted 7/28/2016: Listen to FOM’s latest public service announcement with one of our members who actually suffered from an infection acquired in the ocean waters off the Waiopili. Listen now.
Posted 7/28/2016: EPA has concluded that warning signs must be posted on the Waiopili where it crosses the beach at Maha’ulepu. Bottom line, EPA agreed that what FOM did in May of 2016, in fact, should be done and must be done now. View letter written to DOH and read FOM’s Press Release.
Posted 7/6/2016: Listen to Friends of Maha’ulepu’s recent radio spots combined with beautiful footage created by one of our members! View now.
Posted 7/1/2016: Join Friends of Maha`ulepu and financial expert John Kilpatrick, PhD. on Thursday, July 14, 2016 at the Koloa Neighborhood Center. Learn more about the harm to our island, economy and property values and how you can help. View Flyer.
Posted 6/20/2016: HDF went to the public 2/15/15, insisting their dairy plan was safe and claiming they would prove it with a voluntarily EIS. When they filed their Draft EIS (DEIS) on 6/8/16, 18 months later, they did so without disclosing that HDF had first quietly delivered major dairy plan modifications to DOH Waste Water Branch Chief, Sina Pruder on 6/1/16. DOH announced and published the DEIS but no one told the public that the supposed safe dairy plan, had been changed! How safe was HDF’s plan, supposedly formulated over years, if 27 major modifications had to be slipped in 7 days before they submitted their DEIS?
Posted 6/20/2016: How safe is their Plan? Yes, they just rolled out a Draft EIS (DEIS) 6/8/16. Did the EIS tell the public that just 7 days before they quietly slipped in 27 changes to their Dairy Plan? Did FOM get any notice that HDF had filed a “Waste Management Plan Update” (WMP) with Sina Pruder, Waste Water Branch Chief and the person responsible for approving HDF’s dairy operation? No. HDF did not disclose or give the public any notice of the changes they are asking DOH to accept as they continue to seek approval to operate a large dairy at Maha’ulepu, Kauai. If it were not for the right questions being asked during depositions of the farm manager, Jim Garmatz, 6/14/16, none of us would have known that HDF had changed their plan: HDF WMP – Updates for Review. Exactly which plan is the public supposed to comment on during this 45 day comment period?
What can the public do to help? Call, write and demand that HDF withdraw its documents, resubmit a comprehensive Plan with all parts of the Plan in one document so the public can knowingly comment: Contact List.
Posted 6/8/2016: PLEASE HELP! Hawaii Dairy Farms has released their draft EIS. All responses are due 45 days from June 8, 2016. Responses must be post marked no later than July 25, 2016. Download or view the DEIS.
Posted 5/6/2016: Learn about corporate outsiders, their plans for Kaua‘i and the risks they may pose to our water, ‘aina and way of life. Hear Paul Cienfuegos, nationally renowned ‘Community Rights’ educator and organizer, will share information on what we can do now to protect our precious Kaua‘i from harmful industrial operations. You are invited to attend any of the five island wide community meetings. View the schedule.
Posted 3/9/2016: Judge Leslie Kobayashi issues Ruling in FOM’s Clean Water Case currently pending in Federal Court. In granting FOM the right to inspect the proposed dairy site, Judge Kobayashi clarifies that land owner, Grove Farm and tenant, Hawaii Dairy Farms, are incorrect in their contention they are no longer in violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) because construction activities have been suspended. The Judge ruled once ditches, raceways or other conduits are created enabling debris run-off, soil, bacteria or other prohibited substances, the CWA violation continues though construction has concluded.
Posted 2/25/2016: Three FOM representatives flew to Oahu due to pending amendments to the Farm Bill which, if passed, would produce even greater difficulty to keep HDF’s dairy from operating at Maha’ulepu. Read More.
Posted 6/2/2015: Friends of Maha’ulepu has filed a Complaint in the Federal District Court for the District of Hawaii against the proposed Hawaii Dairy Farms mega-dairy for failure to obtain a required stormwater construction permit before beginning ground disturbing activities that will further degrade Waiopili Stream and the area of Gillin’s Beach. View Press Release.
Posted 5/20/2015: FOM has just been made the beneficiary of a $50K challenge, promising to match $ for $ all donations up to $50K. The donor has chosen to remain anonymous. Please donate now to help us reach our goal!
Posted 5/13/2015: Groups Petition State to Protect Kauai’s Most Polluted Stream – Waiopili Stream average results from all the stream water samples tested, for more than a year, were 275 times higher than permitted State limits View Press Release, Petition and Petition Exhibits.
Posted 5/11/2015: Friends of Maha’ulepu has served a Notice of Intent to Sue under the Federal Clean Water Act to Hawa’i’i Dairy Farms and Grove Farm. View the Notice of Intent to Sue and Press Release. Read more in The Garden Island article.
Posted 3/12/2015: Listen to Bridget Hammerquist, Jay Kechloian, and other Friends of Maha’ulepu members as they discuss the current status of the proposed large industrial dairy on the Carroll Cox Show. Listen to the broadcast.
Posted 3/9/2015: Friends of Maha’ulepu member, Jay Kechloian, has graciously agreed to match donations made between March 1st and May 15th, up to $100,000. Double your gift by giving now! Send donations to: Friends of Maha’ulepu , PO Box 1654, Koloa, Hi 96756 or online at GoFundMe. Read more about Jay’s matching donations on the front page of The Garden Isle.
Posted 3/1/2015: PLEASE HELP, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! FINAL DAY TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT TO HAWAII DAIRY FARM’S EISPN proposed industrial dairy at Maha’ulepu. Learn how to submit your comments!
Posted 2/19/2015: Listen to Carroll Cox’s recent radio interview with Dr. Carl Berg of Surfriders Foundation, Kauai Chapter, and Bridget Hammerquist of Friends of Maha’ulepu concerning opposition to the proposed industrial dairy at Maha’ulepu.Listen to program.
Posted 12/16/2014: View Hawai’i News Now Exclusive – Opposition Mounting to Kaua’i Dairy Farm. View video and article.
Posted 12/12/2014: Friends of Maha‘ulepu will be hosting a community meeting and will be filmed by a news crew from KGMB. The meeting will be held on December 11th at the Koloa Community Center at 6:30 pm to provide updates and answer questions concerning the proposed industrial Hawai’i Dairy Farm. View flyer.
Posted 11/26/2014: Friends of Maha‘ulepu brought together experts in several fields to discuss the facts about the Hawaii Dairy Farm. Watch the video…
Posted 10/27/2014: You are invited to join Friends of Maha‘ulepu to learn about legal remedies concerning the proposed industrial dairy. Thursday, October 23, 2014, 6:30 PM at the Koloa Neighborhood Center Read more…
Posted 10/11/2014: WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please sign our online petition to oppose Hawaii Dairy Farms’ Industrial Dairy in Maha’ulepu, Kaua’i! Read more…
Posted 9/28/2014: Malama Maha’ulepu says ‘no’ to dairy proposal! Malama Maha’ulepu has announced its formal opposition to Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed dairy operation on 578 acres in Maha’ulepu Valley. The nonprofit organization says its decision comes after “months of careful scrutiny, research and deliberation.” Read more…
Posted 9/19/2014: A review of NRCS Custom Soil Resource Report for area of proposed dairy operation concluded that “data are in direct conflict with the Plan’s claims that soils are suitable for an intensive confined animal feeding operation and animal waste disposal with land application and irrigation of effluent…Surface runoff from this site will contain manure contaminants that will be conveyed to streams, wetlands and coastal waters.” Read more…
Posted 8/13/2014: Legal council for Kawailoa, Hawaii-based owner of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, and the Poipu Bay Golf Course, submits powerful “Comment” document to the Department of Health concerning the legality and science behind HDF’s recent Waste Management Plan . Read more…
Posted 7/16/2014: Kawailoa, Hawaii-based owner of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, and the Poipu Bay Golf Course, file suit to stop proposed dairy farm. Read more…