HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.118 2022-2024 _ Iona Noil and Water Coynservatio i District
81-948 Wa a Oi .na o.
iii -ti n Kealakekua, HI 96750
(808)339-9042
July 9, 2024 P/CoUncJ
Mr. Zendo Kern Ca114.861,
Planning Director
Mr. Jeffrey Darrow
Planning Deputy Director
cz
Mr. Steve Pause, P.E. c -�
Director of Public Works
Maxine Cutler = s
Property Management Technician
County of Hawai'i
Planning Department
Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3, Hilo, HI 96720
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. E, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Property Management Division
25 Aupuni Street Suite #1101
TMKs: (3) 7-6-021:016 & 017
Aloha Mr. Kern, Mr. Darrow, Mr. Pause, and Ms. Cutler:
I would like to add further input for the need to create a "Kona Floodway Park".
Over the years, Kona Soil and Water Conservation District has seen firsthand how the effects of
climate change are growing, not only in frequency but as well as intensity. We must prepare
for the inevitable deluge we will receive—even if it is just from our 100-year flood events.
• The November 2000 flash flood event on the Island of Hawaii, the Big Island, produced
the largest single-day rainfall total ever recorded on the island and the second largest
24-hour total in the state's history.
• In March 2006, a rare continuous 40 days of rainfall occurred in the Hawaiian Islands
causing massive coastal flooding.
• In 2018, a home on,Plumeria Rd. in Kailua Kona was flooded out twice in one week as a
result from Kona floodplain water courses. As climate change continues, this will happen
to more homes, and more propertie§`'''�� ""'��� '
JEFF KNOWLES GREG HEN:DRICKSON u JENNIFER ANDERSON STEVE F( COMM. ; O. D I. Si
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FUNDING PROVIDED BY COUNTY-OF HAP ATI DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH Ai JUL0 2024
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KonaiFSodl a d Water Conservation:DiA uc.t
81-948 Waenalte na oop.;:
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Please watch ns.t� iS video: � (808)339-9042
https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2015/09/18/video-kona-home-flooded-
twice-in-two-weeks/
One way to prepare for flooding events is to minimize the creation of hardscapes. Once
hardscapes have been created, they never go back to being landscapes. This is just a plain and
simple fact of urban living.
When it comes to green spaces available for public use in the local Kona area, they're far and
few in between. Creating this park will provide residents with a place where they can take part
in nature, help plant native trees and plants, have learning adventures, participate in healthy
lifestyle activities, etc.
Opportunities for the Hawai'i County to provide spaces for well-being and outdoor activities to
our community are rare now and will become even more rare as time moves forward.
Converting the two parcels referenced above into a "Kona Floodway Park" that has been
created with riparian buffer areas is likely to increase the amount of water absorption - even
more so when compared to the vegetation that is there now.
As suggested in a letter from our chairman "Implementation of riparian buffers and engineered
infiltration basins, along with designing and integrating a native food forest could amplify these
benefits even further.
These parcels are traversed by flood corridors across both the northern and southern portions
of the property and currently function to infiltrate stormwater, thus recharging aquifers,
reducing sedimentation of reefs and pollution of coastal water. These are just some of the
ecological benefits this land can offer, benefits that will disappear forever if the land is
developed."
When we consider climate change, and the atmosphere's ability to hold greater and greater
volumes of water, we can see from world events what happens when the atmosphere decides
to release that water. Hawaii island is not immune from the devastating events we have seen
around the world, and creating riparian forest areas will help address this increase in rainfall.
Thank you for your time, and hearing our voice of concern.
Very kindest regards,
Digitally signed by ROBIN HILL
Robin Hill ROBIN HILL (Affiliate) (Affi )
Date:liate 2024.07.09 12:50:06-10'00'
Conservationist Assistant
Kona Soil and Water Conservation District
JEFF KNOWLES GREG HENDRICKSON JENNIFER ANDERSON STEVE FOELBER I IKANOE MAIL
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