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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0413.002 2000-2002 Nov. 17, 2001 Mr. James Arakaki, Chair, Hawaii County Council Mr. Leningrad Elarionoff, Chair, Public Works Committee Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street ~ ~ ~ Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 ~~i+~-~ ~ j~r~;,p_.. Counsy C®un~:~~ P; Re: Public Works Hearing, Tue. Nov. 20, 2001, 10:00AM Waiakea-Uka Flooding and repairs Dear Chair Elarionoff and Chair Arakaki: Many thanks for your prompt responses to the referenced concerns. This week, Mr and Mrs. Cabral and I received correspondence from Dennis Lee, Director Public Works regarding plans for interim repairs to be conducted within the next sixty days. These plans will certainly solve immediate problems and we are most appreciative of the efforts made by Public Works staff and area and subject-matter Council members. I am not able to present this letter in person due to a prior commitment in Honolulu, and have asked that Mr. and Mrs. Cabral present on my behalf in addition to their testimony. We are most grateful for the concern and support shown for the residents of Waiakea- Uka whenever flooding occurs in the area of I~Ioaka Road, Mala'ai, Alawaena and environs. We have tried to be "good neighbors" since the severe floods on Nov. 3, 2000, and then again during the last two weeks. We are equipped with appropriate access vehicles, although there have been occasions where we have been completely cut off from our homes. One of the "charms" of Waiakea-Uka is the paniolo lifestyle where neighbors help each other and assist with livestock or emergency access problems, and in general we try to be very self-sufficient in keeping with the rural nature of the community. We recognize that there are serious maintenance problems around the County that require attention, and that budgetary constraints simply are not sufficient for the magnitude of requirements. Therefore, we respectfully suggest along-term planning initiative be considered to address all flood control measures for the Waiakea District. Whatever immediate initiatives are undertaken along the course of the current roadway, they are short-term "band-aids" and will not serve the long-term permanent solutions needed to resolve constant and worsening flood conditions in upper Waiakea-Uka. Most engineers and county officials are aware that grading work five miles upslope during the last twenty years has altered the original stream flow and has continued to increase risk in the area. A permanent long-term solution will require stream realignment further ~d~ s ]l~l~ ~3~ Wit'. lr3a:~~ z~fi~ upslope and to the Puna side of the current Waiakea stream, perhaps beyond 4-mile bridge into the Panaewa area, and will definitely need a much more comprehensive study and engineering design than is presently contemplated. As long-term residents, we are certainly willing to work with the County to ensure that the necessary planning commences, and even if this is a ten to twenty year plan, it should be initiated as soon as possible. Most of the stream flow now winds up affecting the greater Hilo area, and it is essential that we start to consider the various options. The conservation district above Waiakea Farm Lots is also affected, and state DLNR must ultimately become involved in long-term solutions as well as federal NRCS, FEMA and other resources as well as the Army Corps of Engineers. We respectfully suggest that you convene an initial working group to examine flood control issues composed of county, state, federal and private landowners in the area. While most of these lands are not in any immediate danger and drainage is generally good, the actual roadbeds are the most affected and the most heavily impacted. This creates a constant need for repair and maintenance, unsafe road conditions, constant undermining, access for emergency vehicles, and generally unfortunate circumstances in what is otherwise one of the most beautiful areas of Hilo. It may be that there are simple access and/or technical solutions that could be considered, which can be identified through a comprehensive planning process. Thank you for your consideration. Again, we always appreciate the Public Works, Civil Defense and Council's quick responses and hope that this suggestion can be useful for our community. Yo incerely, e i ~ ~ ~ , ~ Paula Z. Helfrich 575 Alawaena Hilo, Hawaii 96720 808-959-0888 home 808-966-5416 office cc: Dennis Lee, Director, Public Works. Nancy and Al Cabral, 591 Alawaena Street, Hilo, 96720