HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1137.037 2016-2018 Eileen O'Hara f-• Phone: (808) 965-2712
�`� Fax: 808 961-8912
Council Member �P•��,��'� '•�.;��.. ( )
Council District 4 -",C��'�'"' Email: eileen.ohara@hawaiicounty.gov
JVice Chair:Planning Environmental ••.6- "-;;r - Committee and
Management Committee oF•;o• Agriculture, Water&Energy
Sustainability Committee
County of Hawaii
Hawaii County Council
c
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 0 ==
—i'
--C--y
-� cD
rn
DATE: November 14, 2018 W
TO: Valerie T. Poindexter, Chair N !_
Hawai`i County Council
FROM: Eileen O'Hara, Council Member
Hawai`i County Council
SUBJECT: Materials for Resolution 732-18; A RESOLUTION URGING THE
COUNTY OF HAWAII TO MAKE RECOVERING THOSE
SECTIONS OF COUNTY HIGHWAY 132 THAT WERE INUNDATED
WITH LAVA FROM THE MAY 3, 2018 VOLCANIC ERUPTION A
TOP PRIORITY IN PUNA'S RECOVERY EFFORTS, AND
COMMENCE PLANNING THE FUNDING AND ROUTING OF A
REPLACEMENT ROAD AND IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTS OF
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.
Attached please find materials related to Resolution No. 732-18 for dissemination to all Council
Members for the Council meeting on November 20, 2018.
Thank you for your timely consideration of this communication.
EO:bl
Att.
Comm. °�' 101 •T1
Ref.To: l�u �
Ref. Date N O V 1 4 2018
Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
LETTER TO THE Editor of Hawaii Tribune Herald—08 November, 2018
Regarding Resolution 732-18
Dear Editor:
I am glad that the County Council is now taking the lead on efforts to restore public
road access to lava-isolated areas in Puna. The people whose homes were destroyed by lava
have it tough—but the hundreds of those whose lava-surrounded homes were fortunately spared
by Pele also have it tough, are anxious to return, and Government should help them with access
as soon as possible.
Restoration of roads is not such a big deal, and rough, but safe and passable roadways
can be bulldozed through on top of flows quickly and inexpensively. Making Public roads such
as Highway 132 passable needs to be made an urgent priority. Private rough roads can be
opened for low cost by affected private landowners once the public arteries are accessible.
Modern large bulldozers are amazing machines, and with little excavation, rough roads can be
cleared over lava flows in only a few weeks time. Large amounts of crushed rock need to be laid
down to make roads passable by ordinary vehicles, and local crushing plans can be set up
quickly where that rock will be needed—to avoid long transport from Hilo area quarries (that's
one blessing left by Pele—Puna now has lots of easily crushable rock!). Restoration of paving
will eventually be appropriate, but that's a long way down the road—after volcanologists are
sure Pele is pau erupting for now—which she almost certainly is....
The concerns about"molten rock"underlying fresh lava are unwarranted. With the
heavy rains of the past summer, no molten rock remains, and the possibly that still incandescent
rocks lie within the thickest flows are not a problem. The County should never consider
removing lava to original depths except where very thin. When Pele covers roads deeply(flows
are over 75' thick over parts of Hwy 132!), extensive excavation should never be considered, and
new roadways belong above, and not within the lava flows. Deep roadcuts are dangerous,
restrict views, and make access to side roads difficult.
Besides allowing access to now isolated homes, roads are needed so that farmers can
return to their lands as soon as possible. Papayas are amazing plants, and grow well with little
soil. After the 1955 eruption,papayas planted by resilient farmers were again fruiting less than a
year after those flows cooled. In fact, fresh lava contains no soil pathogens or weeds, and are
ideal for growing papaya!
I'm guessing that Pele will be sleeping within Kilauea for a long time, as she warms
her fires beneath Mauna Loa for her next eruption up there on Kilauea's big sister. So, let's get
on with it now and help the people of Puna return to their land and rebuild their lives and
livelihoods where possible. Government has a critical role to play in this recovery—and
restoration of roadways is the first priority!
John Lockwood
Hilo