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DIRECTOR’S QUARTERLY INFORMATIONAL REPORT
TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
October 30, 2024
Agenda item VII
1. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
1. County Council (Since last report posted on 7/26/24)
ITEM DESCRIPTION CURRENT STATUS
Completed items
Ord 24-57
(Bill 140)
Requires all solid waste facilities used for
disposal, collection, and transfer of
household waste be operated and open
to the public at least two days per week.
PCIA: 3/19 Ref. to EMC and
DEM; Pos. rec. 6/4; Council:
6/19, 7/10; Mayor veto 7/24;
Veto overridden 8/7
Current items
Bill 214 CIP Budget, increases appropriation for Hilo
WWTP Rehabilitation and Replacement
project, $116 million
FC: 10/1 Pos. Rec.
Council 1st read: 10/16
Bill 215 Authorizes issuance of up to $150 million in
general obligation bonds.
FC: 10/1 Pos. Rec.
Council 1st read: 10/16
Res. 633-24 Authorizes acquisition of private property by
eminent domain re a portion of TMK 9-5-
007:016 for the Na‘alehu Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
LAAC: 10/1 Pos. Rec.
Council 1st read: 10/16
Future items
Bill - Adopts new Wastewater Management
Code
In development
2. State Legislature: The 2025 regular session will open January 15, 2025.
3. SOLID WASTE DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES
RELOAD FACILITY UPDATE (new data shaded in gray)
Month/Year
Total Tons Taken
to Sort Station
Oct 2023 4,125.99
Nov 2023 3,996.96
Dec 2023 4,427.42
Jan 2024 4,220.64
Feb 2024 3,642.65
Mar 2024 4,195.64
Apr 2024 4,084.12
May 2024 4,394.12
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WHSL MONTHLY LANDFILL TONNAGES
June 2024 4,510.37
Jul 2024 4,456.70
Aug 2024 4,402.42
Sep 2024 4,391.13
Total 50,848.16
Oct 2023 16,426.09
Nov 2023 16,825.36
Dec 2023 17,550.13
Jan 2024 17,638.46
Feb 2024 16,626.57
Mar 2024 17,451.76
Apr 2024 17,080.26
May 2024 24,172.41
Jun 2024 24,421.38
Jul 2024 22,511.93
Aug 2024 18,738.11
Sep 2024 17,348.57
Total 226,791.03
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep
WHSL tonnage
WHSL tonnage
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MONTHLY TRANSFER STATION TONNAGES
The above table includes data on the waste disposed in the landfill (not the greenwaste or
recycling data).
1. Recycling, Greenwaste, and Landfill Diversion updates
Events
• Upcoming closures: October 26 (Kealakehe TS and WHSL only for Ironman);
November 28, December 25, January 1.
• December 2024: Abandoned Vehicle Auction
• March 1, 2025: Household Hazardous Waste Event in Waimea
• March 2, 2025: Household Hazardous Waste Event in Pāhoa
Month/Year EHRSS WHSL
Oct 2023 3,286.29 3,632.70
Nov 2023 3,148.48 3,608.37
Dec 2023 3,556.53 3,938.45
Jan 2024 3,920.43 3,924.51
Feb 2024 2,797.54 3,564.28
Mar 2024 3,292.98 3,829.17
Apr 2024 3,193.07 3,718.34
May 2024 3,478.43 3,808.48
June 2024 3,635.16 3,824.64
Jul 2024 3,542.62 4,241.96
Aug 2024 3,547.31 3755.57
Sep 2024 3,547.44 3,815.57
Total 40,946.28 45,662.04
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EAST HAWAII ORGANICS FACILITY (EHOF)
DATE GW Residential Drop Off
EHOF (Tons)
GW Commercial Drop Off
EHOF (Tons)
GW Transfer Stations
Drop Off EHOF (Tons)
Total GW At EHOF
(Tons)
JUNE 2024 571.53 302.06 161.82 1,035.41
JULY 2024 598.07 188.85 139.03 925.95
AUGUST 2024 583.53 200.71 158.86 943.10
SEPTEMBER 2024 678.52 222.53 177.28 1,078.33
OCTOBER 2024 0.00
NOVEMBER 2024 0.00
DECEMBER 2024 0.00
JANUARY 2025 0.00
FEBRUARY 2025 0.00
MARCH 2025 0.00
APRIL 2025 0.00
MAY 2025 0.00
JUNE 2025 0.00
TOTAL 3,982.79
DATE KEAAU (Tons)PAHOA (Tons)VOLCANO (Tons)TOTAL TO EHOF
(Tons)
JUNE 2024 39.87 99.83 22.12 161.82
JULY 2024 45.16 68.05 25.82 139.03
AUGUST 2024 41.90 87.60 29.36 158.86
SEPTEMBER 2024 46.54 104.01 26.73 177.28
OCTOBER 2024 0.00
NOVEMBER 2024 0.00
DECEMBER 2024 0.00
JANUARY 2025 0.00
FEBRUARY 2025 0.00
MARCH 2025 0.00
APRIL 2025 0.00
MAY 2025 0.00
JUNE 2025 0.00
636.99
TRANSFER STATION GREEN WASTE
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WEST HAWAII ORGANICS FACILILTY (WHOF)
DATE GW From Residential To
WHOF (Tons)
GW From Commerical to
WHOF (Tons)
GW From Transfer
Stations To WHOF
(Tons)
Total GW At WHOF
(Tons)
JUNE 2024 644.00 1,444.00 483.96 2,571.96
JULY 2024 701.53 1,696.78 233.89 2,632.20
AUGUST 2024 723.21 1,359.66 536.95 2,619.82
SEPTEMBER 2024 701.00 1,525.20 559.66 2,785.86
OCTOBER 2024 0.00
NOVEMBER 2024 0.00
DECEMBER 2024 0.00
JANUARY 2025 0.00
FEBRUARY 2025 0.00
MARCH 2025 0.00
APRIL 2025 0.00
MAY 2025 0.00
JUNE 2025 0.00
TOTAL 10,609.84
DATE KEEI (Tons)KONA (Tons)WAIMEA (Tons)TOTAL TO WHOF
(Tons)
JUNE 2024 11.00 364.94 108.02 483.96
JULY 2024 26.04 146.44 61.41 233.89
AUGUST 2024 103.67 328.99 104.29 536.95
SEPTEMBER 2024 39.42 353.78 166.46 559.66
OCTOBER 2024 0.00
NOVEMBER 2024 0.00
DECEMBER 2024 0.00
JANUARY 2025 0.00
FEBRUARY 2025 0.00
MARCH 2025 0.00
APRIL 2025 0.00
MAY 2025 0.00
JUNE 2025 0.00
1,814.46
TRANSFER STATION GREEN WASTE
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DATE WHOF Mulch Delivered
To Kealakehe (Tons)
WHOF Mulch Delivered
To EHOF (Tons)
Total Mulch Delivered
(Tons)
JUNE 2024 242.22 250.90 493.12
JULY 2024 191.02 509.03 700.05
AUGUST 2024 276.58 797.82 1,074.40
SEPTEMBER 2024 829.67 0.00 829.67
OCTOBER 2024 0.00
NOVEMBER 2024 0.00
DECEMBER 2024 0.00
JANUARY 2025 0.00
FEBRUARY 2025 0.00
MARCH 2025 0.00
APRIL 2025 0.00
MAY 2025 0.00
JUNE 2025 0.00
1,539.49 1,558 3,097.24
DATE KRTS Mulch to Public
(yards)
KRTS Mulch to
Commercial (yards)
EHOF Mulch to Public
(yards)
EHOF Mulch to
Commercial (yards)
WHOF Mulch to Public
(yards)
WHOF Mulch to
Commercial (yards)
Total Mulch Given
Out (Yards)
JUNE 2024 864 0 700 2,122 90 2,976 6,752
JULY 2024 1,082 228 838 2,332 85 3,077 7,642
AUGUST 2024 920 597 800 3,293 30 1,578 7,218
SEPTEMBER 2024 1,087 1023 820 2,377 81 1,358 6,746
OCTOBER 2024 0
NOVEMBER 2024 0
DECEMBER 2024 0
JANUARY 2025 0
FEBRUARY 2025 0
MARCH 2025 0
APRIL 2025 0
MAY 2025 0
JUNE 2025 0
3,953 1,848 3,158 10,124 286 8,989 28,358
Provision of Mulch to Public:
EHOF 300 tons 1,500cy
WHOF 200 tons 1,000cy
KRTS 300 tons 1,500cy
WHOF Mulch Backhauled
Mulch to Public and Commercial
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2. Solid Waste Operational Study update
(Oral discussion)
3. WASTEWATER DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES.
1. Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu Large Capacity Cesspool Closure AOC 1
Both communities
The County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management held its most recent semi-
annual community informational meeting August 22, 2024, at the Nā‘ālehu Community Center.
The next semi-annual meeting will be held February 2025 in Pāhala.
Pāhala
In compliance with the federal consent order, the County has released the Final Environmental
Information Document. The Final EID explores and compares environmental impacts for each of
the four feasible options, and discusses the County’s selection of a wastewater treatment plant
with a new collection system (also known as Alternative 1). The Final EID is available at
the Pāhala Public and School Library. EPA approved the Final EID, and therefore the County's
selection of Alternative 1, on September 27, 2024.
The County is overseeing the design and engineering, and the acquisition of necessary land and
easements, for the collection system, treatment plant, and disposal system. The County is
currently pursuing right-of-entry agreements to allow construction of sewer improvements within
affected properties.
The Implementation Plan is being submitted to EPA prior to its deadline on October 25, 2024.
The final deadline for the County to close the large capacity cesspools is January 22, 2027.
Nā‘ālehu
The County has issued its Draft Environmental Information Document, which was released
through the State’s Environmental Notice on September 8, 2024, for public review and comment.
The Draft EID identifies the preferred action as a new collection system and new package
wastewater treatment plant (Alternative 1). A public meeting to solicit comment on this Draft
EID was held October 10, 2024, at the Nā‘ālehu Community Center. The comment period closed
October 21, 2024, and the new due date for the Final EA to EPA is April 24, 2025.
In June 2024 the County began sending right-of-entry agreements to owners of affected
properties in Nā‘ālehu. This agreement, when signed, allows entry by the County and its
consultants onto properties to design a sewer collection system.
The final deadline for the County to close the large capacity cesspools is December 31, 2027.
2. Hilo WWTP and collection system upgrades and extensions
1 VI.3.1: Ka‘ū - https://www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects/pahala-na-alehu-large-capacity-cesspool-closures
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The County is pursuing funding authorization from the County Council in anticipation of making
an award for construction of the Hilo WWTP replacement and rehabilitation project.
3. Countywide AOC submittal: Preliminary Priority Ranking for capital projects 2
4. Wastewater Plans
1. Report by DEM on limits placed on IWMP’s scope of work due to issues such
as the Konno decision and other challenges.
(Oral discussion)
5. STATUS OF EXISTING STAFF VACANCIES AND RECENT HIRES
(Oral discussion)
6. QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS
1. Wouldn’t it be faster to purchase the land for the Nā‘ālehu sewer plant rather than use eminent
domain? (McIntosh)
Yes. However, DEM does not have the luxury of time to be able to pursue solutions
consecutively. The County and the landowner intend to work together to reach a solution that will
protect the groundwater from cesspool pollution and preserve the parcel’s significant cultural
features.
2. Can Department of Research and Development provide an update to the upcoming
Request for Proposal regarding Waste to Energy? (G. Adams)
R&D response: The Draft RFP is in development and is expected to be released in the coming
months.
2 VII.3.3: AOC submittal: https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/DocView.aspx?dbid=1&id=140076
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TOSS YOUR TIRES: MAHALO HAWAIʻI
ISLAND FOR A SUCCESSFUL
RECYCLING EVENT
The County of Hawai‘i Department of
Environmental Management is thrilled to
announce the success of our Toss Your Tires
recycling event on September 21, 2024. Thanks
to our community's incredible support and
participation, we collected approximately 5,000
tires from 472 vehicles, filling 23 roll-off
containers—all in just five hours! This massive
effort is a huge step in keeping our island clean
and protecting our environment from potential hazards like mosquito breeding and illegal
dumping. The recycled tires are being repurposed into useful products and fuel for energy
production outside Hawaiʻi.
"Sustainability on our island depends on each of us playing a role in caring for our ʻāina, our
community, and our invaluable natural and cultural resources," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "We are
deeply encouraged by the community members who responsibly disposed of their tires this past
weekend. Their actions have contributed to making our island cleaner, healthier, and more
resilient."
The success of this event would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of
our staff, partners, and volunteers:
Department of Environmental Management, Recycling and Solid Waste
Department of Health
Lex Brodie’s Tires
Kea‘au Middle School “Greenwaves”
Big Island Scrap Metal
An Important Reminder for Future Tire Disposal
While this event was a great success, we encourage everyone to utilize existing tire disposal
programs. State law requires tire retailers to accept used motor vehicle tires for recycling or
disposal when you purchase new tires. This means you should turn in your old tires right at the
point of sale, avoiding the need to store them at home. Turning in your tires when you buy new
ones is the best way to keep them out of our landfills and our environment.
Thank you to everyone who came out and participated. Together, we have made a significant
impact in protecting our ʻāina.
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EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Chang Aiona V, Equipment Operator
III
DEM Nominee, Employee of the Year
Craig Kawaguchi, Recycling Coordinator
County of Hawai‘i Supervisor of the Year
HE MEA NUI ‘OE award recipients
BOBBIE JO BOTELHO – WWD – Program Support Tech
ANTOINETTE “TONI” NAKATANI – WWD – Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
CHANG AIONA – SWD – EO III
LESLIE “DAWN” MILLER-SABLAN – SWD - SWFA
NADINE POLA – SWD – Clerk III
JUSTYNE RAFAEL – SWD – DAV Clerk III
CHANNING TOKESHI – SWD – Supervisor
BRITTANY WULFERT – SWD – DAV Coordinator, East Hawaii
Anyone may recognize any County employee for doing an outstanding job via the link below or by scanning the
QR code:
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/our-county-our-kuleana/compliment-an-employee-sep-dec-2024