HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0046.075 2024-2026Lanihau Properties, LLC
P.O. BoV 9032
Kaifua-Kona, ffl 96745
Phone: (808) 93 6-7129 • Ta)c: (808) 329-8044
Emad rsmith@fanihau.net
January 28, 2025
Holeka Inaba, Chair
Hawaii County Council
Via Email: counciltestimony(cDhawaiicountV.qov
P/6, cowclt
GOEAC-:2
C4014M. N (I
RE: Special Meeting of the Hawaii County Council
GOEAC-2; Letter of Support: Appointment of Wesley Segawa as
Director of Environmental Management
My name is Riley Smith. I am the President/Chief Executive Officer of Lanihau
Properties. I am also a licensed engineer, in the State of Hawaii (since 1980).
1 am writing in strong support of Wesley Segawa, as Director of the
Department of Environmental Management. I have known Mr. Segawa since
1993, when I moved to Hawaii island and assumed the role of Deputy Chief
Engineer at the Department of Public Works, under Mayor Stephen
Yamashiro's administration.
Mr. Segawa is extremely qualified to lead this Department. He is very capable
of managing and completing the improvements to the Hilo WWTP, the
Kealakehe WWTP, as well as the obligations for sewer service within the Kau
District, that the Council will be funding. He knows how to design projects and
manage their construction, in order to stay on budget and more importantly, on
schedule.
In the four decades in which he has owned and operated Segawa &
Associates, they have designed, managed construction, as well as performed
forensic analysis for the insurance company that provides errors and
omissions coverage for most Engineers and Land Surveyors, within the State
of Hawaii (Design Professional Insurance Corporation). He is exactly the type
of leader that DEM needs. He knows how to do what needs to be done,
because he's done it! Also, he knows how to manage his staff, to ensure that
the designs that are bid and constructed are sound, free of defects.
For the past four years, I have diligently tried to work with the prior Director at
DEM, in order to convey to the County, the sewage pump station site, within
our lands. The transfer of this land, would have enabled the County to
construct a regional sewage pump station/SPS (at West Hawaii Business
Park). This proposed SPS will serve, not only our lands, but those in the
region (lands within the ahupua'a of Kaloko and Honokohau). We were not
successful in our efforts to assist the prior Director to move forward wit t
Comm.
County's plans to design, build such infrastructure. This lack of progress has
forced us to pursue other alternatives.
We are also the former owner of tmk (3) 7-4-8: 77 (31 acres), that was sold to
Queen's Medical Center. This is the same location, that Queen's has
announced its plans to invest $500 million into our community, to design and
construct a 250,000 sf full service hospital, physician's office building,
outpatient services building, as well as 150 housing units for their staff.
In the last few months, I have met (on multiple occasions) with both Wes
Segawa, as well as his Deputy, Craig Kawaguchi, in order to explore ways to
collaborate with the County, as well as nearby stakeholders, in order to move
this project forward. The preliminary concept is that Lanihau would donate the
land for the pump station, vicinity stakeholders would collaborate on the
funding to design/construct and DEM would end up operating the system.
Wes and Craig are very supportive of this collaborative approach and have
committed to ,fully participate in this effort. Although, still in its infancy, we
have made more progress in the last two months, than in the prior four years.
Supporting Mr. Segawa's appointment to lead DEM, will enable this much
needed project to move forward, that will help to protect our groundwater
resources, as well as enable a much -needed hospital, to be constructed in our
community and serve our residents and guests.
Very truly yours,
( � a��7z
Riley W. Smith, P.E.
President/Chief Executive Officer