HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication number 2017-13 Puako Community Association Capital Improvement Program RequestTmake
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
November 27, 2017
Mr. Michael Yee
Planning Director, County of Hawaii
Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi St. Suite 3
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Subject: Request for CIP funding for a wastewater treatment system for Puako
Dear Mr. Yee:
Communication no. 2017-13
The Puako Community Association (PCA) voted at its board meeting on November 6th 2017 to
submit a request for inclusion of funding for a Puako community wastewater treatment system
on the CIP list of projects for the next fiscal year. Our South Kohala CDP Action Committee
member, George Robertson, will ask that the matter be approved by the A/C at the November
27th meeting with other recommendations of the A/C for CIP funding.
Our request is for $5 million from the County. We are engaged in a campaign to obtain similar
funds from the State and Federal Governments. Representative Cindy Evans has offered her
help and we have contacted U.S. Senator Brian Schatz for his kokua. We will likely seek a
Chapter 32 facilities district designation to enable the project. The total project cost is
approximately $15 million. The community has contributed $2.5 million for planning and
science purposes and that work has been completed. The Coral Reef Alliance has
administered these funds for us and assisted in much of the planning.
Except for Puako, most of the South Kohala shoreline is served by wastewater treatment
systems provided by the resorts. The coral reefs located along the South Kohala Coast are
some of the most intact and ecologically important reefs in the State of Hawaii. NOAA has
designated this area as a Coral Priority Management Site through the Habitat Blue Print
Program.
The reef at Puako is a precious resource for all of Hawaii Island, our residents and visitors alike.
Unfortunately, the health of the reef is not good. Wastewater which seeps from cesspools and
septic systems contains harmful bacteria, pathogens, and nutrients such as nitrogen and
phosphorous, pharmaceuticals, and other household chemicals. Pathogens have been linked
to coral disease and human health concerns. Algal blooms caused by excessive nutrients can
kill corals and damage the coral reef ecosystem. The community's goal is to eliminate
cesspools and septic systems entirely.
The PCA respectfully asks for your help in bringing this important project into reality and to
place this matter on the November 2017 A/C meeting agenda.
Aloha,
ZZ 4�'G
Peter Hackstedde SCANNED
President, Puako Community Association
NOV 2 1 701?
By°�._�.L�Q_ ,
Puako Community Association, P.O. Box 44345, Kawaihae, HI 96743