REP PWIRC 021 05/15/2007 2006-2008

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_ ~ . PWIRC Rept. No. 21 May 15, 2007 Page 3 said that the Pace Development project (Hokukano Ranch) worsened runoff on the 15 percent grade lands above Kainaliu. He has had six to eight feet of water on his lot. Chazles Flaherty testified that the Department of Public Works stated that flooding is a land use issue and that the department mitigates after the land use occurs. There are two major problems, that existing laws aze not enforced and that the laws do not provide for good floodplain management. Sherry Berman has lived in Hualalai Farms (in Holualoa) since 1976. On July 29, 2006, there was a flume of water neaz her house and on October 17 after the earthquake and rain the Mamalahoa Highway had to be cleared of debris from flooding. Margazet Wille from Waimea testified that she supports efforts to stop severe erosion and flooding. She would like to change the definition of "flood prone azeas," because this definition states that floodplain requirements only occur after places have already been damaged. In her neighborhood water jumped the road and entered the area flooding homes. Andy Andersen, who resides in the Wai`aha drainage area in Holualoa, stated that his whole neighborhood lives in fear of their lives. The mauka property is a five acre subdivision, Arianna Farms, where the entire property has been graded. The flooding from the grading above his property has undermined the Mamalahoa Highway, washed enough debris onto the road to make it impassable, and overflowed drywells. The stop order given by the Public Works Department was not obeyed because the grading has continued. Mr. Pilago questioned Mr. Anderson about what plans had been submitted to the County and if the developer had followed any of the plans. Mr. Anderson answered no, the neighbors had not seen the revised plans that were requested by the County as part of the stop order, and the original plans were never followed by Arianna farms anyway. Shannon Rudolph of Holualoa testified that she had been in the area for 21 yeazs and that the piecemeal development was causing ponds to form at the bottom of her driveway. Terry Lutterman testified that he is one of the most affected of the Wai`aha residents in Holualoa. He cleared his land by hand and now the water from Arianna Farms runs off to his farm and cazries the topsoil from his coffee plants, leaving the roots exposed gullies have on his property; his coffee plants are dying. Mr. Pilago asked if there was anyway to regain what he's lost on his farm. Mr. Lutterman replied that you could never replace the soil that's been lost. Ms. Naeole commented that she had bought her land in 1985 and understands that Puna is flatter than Kona, but she understands that the Kona side has big problems. Bert Onaka, who lives in the Wai`aha area, stated that Wai`aha means "Where the water collects," and he believes that prevention is the key to the problem. He is womed that the people below Wai`aha in Kailua View Estates should be warned. There has been damage to the Mamalahoa Highway, the road is cracking, and the shoulders are crumbling. The Hualalai Farms area needs to be cleaned off after every rain. Mr. Pilago asked how long his family had been in the area, and Mr. Onaka replied that they had been raising cattle since 1914. His father and grandfather would swim the cattle out to the boats at Kailua Harbor and have always been caretakers of the land. Arianna farms should be respectful and control their water so they don't hurt the neighborhood.