by Gregory Field

Members of the community, the Neighborhood Board, and elected officials met with representatives of City and State departments to take a first step at determining responsibility for the maintenance of streams, irrigation ditches, storm drainage ways, and reservoirs. The meeting, held at Waimanalo Library on March 2, 1996, began with an overview of the flooding, pointing out many locations where flooding caused damage. Three specific sites were focused on and a description of the what occurred during the flooding was provided by an area resident. The attendees visited the sites and reconvened at the Library to discuss what they had seen and to determine next steps.

Kailua Reservoir:

David and Kimberly Kalama described how for 30 years water has overflowed the spillway of this abandoned reservoir. In times of heavy rain, debris--including logs and refrigerators--is washed over the spillway and into their yard. The valve to release water from the reservoir is difficult to access during flooding and the culvert is often clogged with debris. In the recent flooding, a portion of the concrete spillway was washed down into their yard.

Kahawai Stream near Kakaina and Waikupanaha Streets

Tom Grande described how a culvert that passes under the small private road became clogged with debris causing the culvert to act like a dam. The water eroded edges of the stream adjacent to a residence. Water rushed over the private road. Grande also described that the emergency outlet for the 60 million gallon reservoir is up this same stream. The EIS prepared before construction of the reservoir recommended Dept. of Agriculture maintenance of the stream to insure a pathway in the event a spill was necessary. The document also noted the size of the culverts downstream but did not analyze them for their capacity. Grande also noted that another stream, directly below the reservoir, had been diverted to this stream.

Saddle City Road

Tony Gabriel described conditions at the bridge and below near the residences during the flooding. He reported seeing Marines with heavy equipment clearing the stream. He feels a lack of maintenance and buildup of debris downstream contributed to flooding in his area. Saddle City is near where the Kahawai and Waimanalo Streams converge.

Emerging Ideas

The City Dept. of Public Works is willing to do what it can. The community can adopt a stream for maintenance. Darwin Hamamoto of the Department of Public Works explained the Adopt a Stream program. Neighbors work together to clean streams. Waimanalo Watershed Council has adopted and cleaned the Kahawai Stream by Frankie's Drive Inn. Other areas could be adopted by neighbors. The Kailua reservoir could be adopted in a similar way. The DPW can fine people who dump in the streams. If people see debris piled at the edge of streams or have other environmental concerns they should call DPW at 527-5091.

Next Steps:

The community will make a list, prioritize problem areas, and come up with possible solutions, keeping the whole watershed in mind. Members of the Waimanalo Watershed Council will be meeting with members of the community in small groups to gather information on specific sites and to look at possible solutions. Contact the Watershed Council at 259-7195. A community meeting on May 4 will take an overall look at the problems and solutions, so that localized solutions don't cause problems elsewhere.

The community will get this information to the government agencies and have a meeting of community and government on May 18, 9:00 am at the Waimanalo Library, to discuss implementing the solutions, and where responsibilities lie. The point persons for the community will be Gregory Field (259-9558), and Representative Eve Anderson (586-8520).

Government representatives at the meeting included:

Nick Houtman (Mayor's Office), Sterling Yong (Dept. of Land and Natural Resources), Cecil Santos (Dept. of Land and Natural Resources), James Nakatani (Dept. Of Agriculture), Paul Matsuo (Dept. Of Agriculture), James B. Respicio (Dept. Of Agriculture--Waimanalo Irrigation), Darwin Hamamoto (Dept. of Public Works), Captain J. Arciero (Honolulu Fire Dept.), Bruce Eguires (Oahu Civil Defense, 4th District), Robin Hayden (Counclilmember Felix Office), Senator Whitney Anderson, Representative Eve Anderson.