2007-10-18 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 October 18, 2007 instructions given by Dr. Stevens at 9 am. Hualalai Landscapers planted some trees on the roadside to replace some that did not survive. Waterline was installed for new trees. Water Allotment Director Engelhard reported that she wrote to Major Mitsuyoshi and to Kukio Resorts Community Association relating to water commitment (copies of correspondence sent to all Committee Members with October's Agenda); she has not yet received a response. She will let water situation ride until they discover that they need water and say they will cut our supply. She made commitment to Major Mitsuyoshi if we have to cutback water usage in order to get facilities that the veterans want, the watering of trees will be the first to cut back. We need approximately 20,000 gallons of water a day in order to include watering of trees. An estimated 10,000 gallons per day will be needed to maintain both sides of the cemetery, restrooms and maintenance area. We have a commitment for 3,600 non - potable and 4,200 potable gallons per day, which does not total the required 10,000 gallons. Not having additional water may hang up future development. She said at the last meeting Chairman Highley spoke about obtaining a grant through the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Expansion and Development Association to dig a well. The wells in the area cost approximately 5 or 6 million dollars. Whether or not its potable water just depends on what you hit when you drill. Chairman Highley commented that 3,600 gallons is not potable water. It comes from Kukio via a waterline they installed. He asked if the balance of 4,200 gallons is potable water and Director Engelhard responded that its suppose to be potable, however, we haven't gotten that yet since we have to install the line. Chairman Highley asked if the state or the county is responsible for line installation. He feels it's the State's responsibility since the County is only responsible to maintain the cemeteries. Chairman Highley said a meter was installed and a total of 10,343 gallons per day was used the day it was calculated. 5,840 Gallons for sprinkler irrigation and 4,503 gallons for reforestation project to supplement all the plants (there are some trees, but mostly plants such as ground cover and flowering bushes that are indigenous plants). He feels there is some confusion about additional water needed to supplement reforestation project. It's not to supplement 2,000 trees because there are 3,000 plants, which has been planted over a period of 2 years. 2,000 additional plants will be planted over a period of another 2 years so it isn't like 10,000 gallons per day will be used tomorrow, its only 4,000 gallons per day. It's a dryland forest, which should grow on its own, so usage should stay around 4,000 gallons per day since the older plants would be weaned off watering. Chairman Highley would like Dr. Stevens to attend a meeting in order to explain the water usage for reforestation project. Chairman Highley said potable water should be used for restroom facility instead of irrigation purposes and feels that 4,000 gallons per day should be enough to supply restrooms and other needs the cemetery has. As far as watering the lawn, which currently takes over 4,000 gallons per day, when the expansion is complete may require a total of