HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0042.009 2004-2006 ;'i ~Li; ,iii 1 ( 18 Dec 2004
To: Hawaii County Council Members
From: John Y. Ota
Ref: Bill 163, General Plan for the County of Hawaii
I was born and raised in the County of Hawaii. Today, I am a retired citizen of this
County. I retired from the Military, having served in Combat in Korea and Viet Nam and
many other places in this world. I also retired from the Aviation Industry.
I would like to specifically address the Hawaii County General Plan and highly
recommend that the issues I present before the Council Members today be included into
the General Plan. A Time Table for action to rectify the problems should also be
included into the Plan. The issues I address concerns the health of the Populace, a
permanent solution to flooding of Kamehameha Avenue, and Contamination of Rivers
and costal Ocean waters. These issues are a reminder to the Council Members that
permanent solutions have not been found to the problems.
1. Cesspool/ Septic Tank/County Sewage System
2. Aleanio Canal
3. Contamination in all Rivers/Ditches from Hilo to Hamakua
1. Cesspool/ Septic Tank/County Sewage System. Sewage disposal became a huge issue
for the County to address a number of yeazs ago. The existing system today is a
combination of Cesspool, Septic Tank and Sewage System. The County created the
disparity of the Sewage problems when Sewage lines were installed from Papaikou to
Hilo. Many homes did connect to the Sewage Line, however there are also a number of
homes especially those very close to the shoreline, that did not connect to the Sewage
System. The reason for this disparity given by the County was insufficient funds to add
the additional pump stations to a 30 year old Blue Print and an attempt to meet the
deadline to use all of the Federal Funds that were available. This is Crisis Management
at its very best. In Kona, there are areas that were designated "above the main road
install Septic Tanks, below the main road Septic Tanks are not required. There are
homes on River Banks today that use Cesspools also. Control and disposal of human
Sewage is a health problem to all Citizens of this County. The laws created by the County
to address Sewage issues must apply to all businesses, homes and structures, regazdless
of who owns the property. Is there a relationship between Cicatena and human Sewage?
2. Aleanio Canal. The County has closed Kamehameha Avenue about 5 to 6 times in
recent years due to flooding. Routing the rain waters from Aleanio Canal into the Wailoa
Estuary is the cause of the flooding on Kamehameha Avenue. The County created this
situation. The quick remedy for one problem caused yet another problem at the same
time. This is a good example of Crisis Management. Clean up of the road and the
surrounding area was conducted by the County and some support groups. Tax payers
money was used each time to clean up the mess. Why is this repeat process not
eliminated? Surely the County could use the Tax Dollars more effectively for other
projects? The closure of Kamehameha Avenue each time heavy rains appear above Hilo
Comm. No. Z , q
Ref. 70; ~
Ref. Uate. nFr 2
do cause inconveniences for the workers, businesses and general public. Will the County
find a solution to this problem to the satisfaction of everyone? How will the University
Terrace project approved by the Council recently, affect the amount of additional rain
water into Aleanio Canal?
3. Contamination of Rivers/Ditches and Shoreline Ocean waters. The Sunday edition of
the Tribune Herald (19 Dec 04, page 3) contained an article about Dioxin and its effects.
I believe that the majority of the Council Members and the Public may not be awaze that
this same agent was applied and evaluated in Hawaii County by the Federal Government,
prior to use in Viet Nam. A news article appeared either in 1998 or 1999 in Seattle,
Washington while I was still working there, concerning this application and the Federal
Government paid the State of Hawaii $200,000.00 for not receiving permission from the
State to conduct such a test. Whether the same article appeared in the News Media in
Hawaii is not known. The Federal Government did send a group of scientists to Viet
Nam 20 yeazs after the end of that war to conduct tests to determine the effectiveness of
the chemical. While the full details of the evaluation were not revealed to the Public, it
was determined that the chemical was still affecting many of the residents of that country.
YellowBrown substances flow in many of the Rivers today in Hawaii County that were
not there when I was a youngster growing up in this County. These same substances
eventually flow into the Shoreline of the Ocean as well. Hawaii County is the only Island
affected by this test and the other Islands were not affected. Could this be the reason why
the Koa Trees in the higher elevation all of a sudden died? Is this the reason why the
State DLNR is making all attempts to sell lease or get rid of these lands? What about the
contaminated Koa Trees? What about the Populace and their health? What about the
Fish on the Shoreline that people normally consumes? What about the infection seen on
turtles (endangered species) behind their eyes, especially the turtles found from Hilo to
Hamakua? It would be in the best interests of all people on this Island, including
businesses and for the sake of the Tourists who arrive here daily, that the County Counci]
address this serious matter and take positive remedial action.
John Y. Ota
Retired County Resident