HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0620.005 2022-2024 P/Council
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From: Rebecca Azar COUNTY CLERK
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2023 6:17 PM COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
To: Council Testimony jECEIVED
Subject: Written Testimony re: Resolution 372-23 Time b ,�y�
Date DEC LLUU
Aloha Chair Kimball and members of the Hawaii County Council,
My name is Rebecca Ellanne Azar and I am from Honaunau, Big Island, Hawaii.
I am writing to you today to urge you to reject the funds requested by the mayor to hire outside counsel to fight Hui
Malama Honokohau v. County of Hawai'i and instead approve the restricted use of the funds for the sole purpose of
hiring outside counsel to negotiate a settlement with Hui Malama Honokohau.
For decades, the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment plant has released millions of gallons of treated sewage into
groundwater that flows into our HonokOhau Harbor, causing irreversible damage to the surrounding nearshore waters
and the countless lives that depend on them. Maui County spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over eight-plus years
fighting a similar lawsuit over their Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant, ultimately losing in the US Supreme Court.The
county of Maui v. Hawai'i Wildlife Fund has now set a precedent for Kealakehe and many other groundwater
polluters. Please do not let Mayor Roth make the same mistake as Mayor Victorino. Do not approve the funds
requested by the mayor and use your powers to urge the administration to settle the litigation, upgrade the Kealakehe
Wastewater Treatment Plant, and do what is right for Hawai'i's environment and people.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Ellanne Azar •
96726
Comm. N 0. S
Ref. To: rt i �IL
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Ref. Date AEC - 6 2023.