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4 • DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY • COUNTY OF HAWiI
345 KEKUANAO'A STREET, SUITE 20 • HILO, HAWAII 96720
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TELEPHONE (808) 961-8050 • FAX (808) 961-8657
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May 27, 2022 .c -"-
TESTIMONY OF KEITH K. OKAMOTO, MANAGER-CHIEF ENGINEER
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY, COUNTY OF HAWAII
HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE; WATER, ENERGY&
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.
DATE: Tuesday, May 31, 2022
TIME: 9:30 am
PLACE: Hilo Council Chamber
BILL 180 -AN ORDINANCE TO INITIATE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VIII OF THE HAWAII
COUNTY CHARTER(2020 EDITION), RELATING TO THE WATER BOARD AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY.
Honorable Chair Tim Richards, Vice-Chair Holeka Inaba, and Council Members,
The Department of Water Supply, County of Hawaii (DWS) opposes Bill 180. The proposed County
Charter amendments included in the bill are neither necessary nor appropriate.
Bill 180 proposes to add a Department of Hawaiian Homelands representative to the Water Board.
This is not necessary as we support the need for, and share the desire to see progress on DHHL
projects and place lessees on the lands.
The DWS has and continues to work with DHHL over the past many years, to deliver potable
water to Hawaiian Homelands developments island-wide. In addition, DWS has considered
and provided water to DHHL projects, over and beyond the general water availability
guidelines when and where feasible.
DWS has also collaborated with DHHL on water infrastructure development agreements that
take advantage of partnering to allow for oversizing of infrastructure for each other's needs.
Some of the more recent projects include:
Villages of La`i`Opua (Villages 3,, 4, and Portion of 5)
- La`i`Opua 2020 Development
- Palani Transmission (DWS project- DHHL participation)
- Puukapu (Kuhio Village)
- Puukapu Farm Lots
- Puukapu Hybrid Water System/Lalamilo Subdivision (DWS Waimea Well—DHHL
participation)
- Honokaia Pastoral Lots
- Hilo Scattered Lots (Kaumana-Piihonua, Keaukaha)
- Panaewa Farm Lots
- Makuu Farm/Ag Lots—most recently DWS staff initiated an effort to provide an
additional 22 lots with access to DWS water instead of waiting for future well and off-
site infrastructure required by DHHL. Comm, No. 43V°\ •
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The Department of Water Supply is an Equal Opportunity provider and employer. Ref. Date 5131 1O4,) '
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`� DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY • COUNTY OF HAWAII
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345 KEKUANAO'A STREET, SUITE 20 • HILO, HAWAII 96720
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TELEPHONE (808) 961-8050 • FAX (808) 961-8657
The DWS is also actively participating/assisting with the planning and design of several future
developments requiring water infrastructure improvements including the following:
- Ka`u Pastoral Lots and future DHHL developments from the Naalehu-Waiohinu water
system
- Panaewa Lot 185
The DWS also feels that it is DHHL's prioritization of their projects that would drive
infrastructure improvements.
We agree more can be done to assist DHHL with water needs for their projects. However,
these actions can be implemented without additional legislation. The DWS believes that
continued participation and/or collaboration on future developments of either DHHL and/or
DWS improvements,would be most beneficial to both parties as well as to the communities
that are currently served by a DWS water system. It should be noted that each member of the
Water Board already represents the interests of all constituents within their Council District,
including DHHL.
This bill also includes language to comply with the State Constitution. This is also unnecessary as the
DWS is already required to do so.
Bill 180 proposes that the Manager-Chief Engineer provide an annual report to the council within
ninety days after the close of each fiscal year. This is neither necessary nor appropriate. Information
requested in this bill are provided either monthly or by request to our governing body, the Water Board
in accordance with HRS Ch. 92. Additionally, DWS already includes information in the overall County
of Hawaii annual report.
The training provision proposed in this bill is also not necessary nor appropriate for inclusion in the
County Charter.
Thank you for your time and consideration of DWS's testimony in opposition to Bill 180.
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The Department of Water Supply is an Equal Opportunity provider and employer.
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