HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.012 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERKPM-
COUNTY OF HAWAII
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From: Koohan Paik-Mander Date O2_/ 1/ (et
To: Poindexter,Valerie;Chung,Aaron;Lee Loy,Sue;Kierkiewicz,Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder,Matt;David,Maile;
Villenas,Rebecca; Eoff,Karen;Richards,Tim;Council Testimony
Subject: OPPOSE Bill 16-NO water bottling plant near Wailoa Park in Hilo
Date: Monday,February 18,2019 11:45:04 PM
Aloha Councilmembers, -
Water, a public trust resource, would be taken from a deep, untouched aquifer, despite the
objections of native Hawaiian leaders and dozens of testifiers. The water would be shipped off-
island to profit a few people.
Pi'ilani would extract up to 200,000 gallons a day. It could use three bottlefuls of water to produce
one finished bottle of water. Much of the waste water from production would be contaminated and
discarded.
Aquifers are only recharged with water and kept pure if watersheds aboveground are cared for.
This requires time, energy, and taxpayer and private money. Pi'ilani Partners at first refused to
pay any fees for the aquifer water. Then they offered a$100,000 scholarship--a fraction of likely
profits. But in the past, Earthjustice has questioned whether community benefit payments fulfill
public trust obligations.
Only three people supported the plant at several Planning Commission meetings. All three are
paid by the owners. Dozens opposed it.
The only hydrologist supplying information on the well drilling and aquifer is working for Pi'ilani
Partners.
Plastic dust may contaminate soil around the plant and be spread by wind.
Noise from delivery trucks and industrial bottling would disturb peaceful Wailoa Park nearby.
Pi'ilani Street would be upgraded and the sewer line extended, attracting even more development
in the future, destroying our cherished Wailoa Park.
The plant could generate over 1 million plastic bottles a day, contributing to the already
overwhelming impacts of plastic waste on wildlife, on human health, and on taxpayers paying for
cleanup.
Bottled water contributes to the worldwide privatization of water. The rich can afford to live where
there is clean municipal water, but the poor must buy bottled water or(as on Hawai'i Island) travel
to spigots.
The Pi'ilani parcel was granted "industrial"zoning, though everything nearby is zoned for other
uses. It simply does not fit in with the surroundings.
Please oppose Bill 16. Thank you.
Koohan Paik
Comm. No (Pit(2
Ref. To: PIK
Ref. Date FEB 1 9 2019