HomeMy WebLinkAboutOkawa, Emiko
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Emmy <emmy96740@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, October 19, 2026 3:42 PM
To:Council Testimony
Subject:OPPOSITION to Bill 186 Waikōloa Green (Resubmitted Testimony)
Aloha Chair and Members of the Hawai ʻ i County Council,
My name is Emiko Okawa, and I am a resident of Hawai ʻ i Island.
I previously submitted testimony opposing Bill 186 regarding the proposed Waikōloa Green
development. I am writing again to reaffirm my strong opposition to this large-scale project.
I understand the need for housing and responsible community growth. However, development of more
than 800 residential units across approximately 716 acres raises serious questions about whether our
island’s natural resources and infrastructure can sustainably support such expansion.
My greatest concern remains our water resources.
I seriously question whether the Waimea Aquifer and surrounding groundwater resources can
sustainably support development of this magnitude while continuing to meet the needs of existing
communities, agriculture, emergency services, and future generations.
Water is not an unlimited resource. Before approving hundreds of additional homes, we must fully
understand the cumulative demand on our groundwater resources, including existing and proposed
developments.
I am not convinced that sufficient long-term water availability has been adequately demonstrated.
Equally important is what happens to the water after it is used.
I have serious concerns about wastewater management for a development of this magnitude.
How will wastewater generated by more than 800 residential units be collected, treated, and disposed
of? Will the existing wastewater treatment infrastructure have sufficient capacity, or will a new treatment
facility be required?
If treated wastewater is discharged into the ground, what safeguards will ensure that groundwater and
coastal ecosystems are protected?
Before approving this development, the public deserves a clear, independently reviewed wastewater
management plan demonstrating adequate treatment capacity, long-term reliability, and protection of
our groundwater and marine ecosystems.
I am particularly concerned about the potential impact of increased residential development on the
coastal waters of Puakō and Mauna Lani.
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Additional housing may increase wastewater, stormwater runoff, and other sources of pollution. The
potential pathways through groundwater and the cumulative impacts on coastal water quality must be
carefully evaluated.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I personally observed encouraging signs of coral growth and recovery
along our coastline. It would be heartbreaking to see these fragile marine ecosystems placed at risk by
development that has not adequately addressed its environmental consequences.
Our coral reefs are living ecosystems, not resources we can simply replace once they are damaged or
lost.
Waikōloa is also a dry, wildfire-prone region. Large-scale development would place additional demands
on roads, emergency services, evacuation routes, and water supplies needed for fire protection. These
cumulative impacts must be evaluated before any further development is approved.
Beyond these concerns, Hawai ʻ i Island is home to irreplaceable native ecosystems, endemic trees,
native birds, and other species that depend on the health of our land and water resources.
We have a responsibility to protect these natural treasures for future generations.
I am not opposed to housing or economic growth. However, responsible development must be based on
what our island’s natural resources, infrastructure, and environment can sustainably support.
We should not approve development first and discover later that our water resources cannot sustain it,
our wastewater systems cannot adequately manage it, or our coastal ecosystems have suffered
irreversible damage.
Once our groundwater resources are compromised, we cannot simply create another aquifer. Once a
coral reef is destroyed, its recovery may take decades, if recovery is possible at all.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Council to vote NO on Bill 186.
We have only one Hawai ʻ i Island.
Please protect our water, our land, our coral reefs, our communities, and the generations who will inherit
this island.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Emiko Okawa
Hawai ʻ i Island
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