2024-10-07 Testimony - Protect Keopuka Ohana (PL-BOA-2024-000104 & 105)

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EXHIBIT A Protect Keopuka Ohana October 6, 2023 County of Hawaii Department of Public Works Engineering Division Chief Alan Keone Thompson P.E.ioi Pauahi Street, Suite 7 Hilo, III 9672o Dear Sir: On July 17, 2021, a large rainfall event triggered flooding in the South Kona Water- course No. 3,which is established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). South Kona Watercourse No. 3 is located primarily in Onouli 2 Ahupua'a to the south of the Hokuli'a development. During this event, the floodwater did not follow its normal path,which would have deposited it into Hokuli'a stormwater retention basins. Instead, it followed the path of a recently cleared ranch road on the neighboring property to the south, (TMK 3- 8- 1- oo7- 045),owned by the C &J Coupe Family Limited Partnership (Charles W. Coupe,PO Box 87,Kealakekua,HI 96750). Due to the bulldozing that took place along this ranch road sometime between July 2019 and February 2021,the floodwaters bypassed the retention basins that had been installed by Hokuli'a at great expense.These retention basins had performed as engineered until the illegal and un-permitted bulldozing of the property line. This bulldozing led to stormwater runoff in a location that had not been previous- ly impacted by flooding.The stormwater broke through a ranch-era stone boundary wall and flowed onto the Hokuli'a property. Continuing makai, the stormwater im- pacted a Som segment of the Ala Loa Stepping Stone Trail alignment, depositing a significant amount of boulders and cobbles on top of the ancient trail at a point where it aligns with the Old Cart Road,which is also a historic site.The runoff also scoured away some of the sediment on and adjacent to the trail alignment. Please see Figure 1,which provides an overview of the area impacted by stormwater,and Figure 2,which offers a close-up of the flood damage. Figures 3,4,and 5 show a timeline of the changes made to the border area by the un-permitted bulldozing that resulted in flood damage to the Hokuli'a property, as well as to State of Hawaii property traversing the area.