Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Learns More About He’eia Wetlands Research Reserve Project

Conserving Kaneohe Bay was a key topic at our February meeting. Speakers told us that the federal government stands ready to work with local groups and the state to improve management of the state’s largest sheltered body of water.

The presentations came on the heels of federal designation of 1,385 acres around the He’eia Wetlands in the bay as a National Estuarine Research Reserve. The designation, announced in January, said the federal government will provide 70 percent of the project’s funding, about $700,000, with the state expected to pay the rest. The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, based on Coconut Island in the bay, is to manage the project.

Rob Toonen

Rob Toonen, a researcher at the institute, told our meeting that the project will integrate traditional management practices with modern science to manage the area. He said local nonprofit groups that are dedicated to those management practices initiated the process which led to the research reserve designation.

Board Member Mahealani Cypher told the meeting that the project will include educational programs for students in Grades K-12. And she said the project will develop facilities that will provide a long-term economic benefit to the Kaneohe Bay area.

Both speakers noted that the Legislature is considering two measures that would provide the state’s 30 percent share of funding for the reserve. The measures are House Bill 588 and Senate Bill 1178.

In addition to the funding, the bills would authorize four staff positions, all through the University of Hawaii. Those positions would be a reserve manager, education coordinator, research coordinator and cultural resources coordinator.

The text and status of House Bill 588 and Senate Bill 1178 are available online (click on the highlighted items for details).

We Welcome Your Comments, In Person And Online

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there. Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.  

Notes Of Community Interest From Kaneohe Neighborhood Board’s January Meeting

He`eia Community Development District: We learned that the federal government has designated 1,385 acres in Kaneohe Bay as a National Estuarine Research Reserve. The government’s announcement of the designation says the area “encompasses upland forests and grasslands, wetlands, reefs and seagrass beds, as well as the largest sheltered body of water in the Hawaiian Island chain.” The new designation will protect the area and fund research into ways to conserve its resources. The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology will manage the reserve. The federal government will provide 70 percent of the funding, with the state funding the rest. The new reserve is the 29th in the country and the only one in Hawaii.

The He'eia Fishpond is a key part of the new
He'eia National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Hawaii State Hospital: Administrator William May told us that the state is developing a list of bidder qualifications to build a major new treatment facility. The facility will provide 144 beds for high-risk patients, and is expected to cost $160 million. Mr. May said the state hopes to choose a winning bidder this summer, start building in 2018 and finish in 2020. The new structure will replace the Goddard Building, a 69-year-old treatment facility that was torn down in 2016 after going unused for more than two decades.

New Edition Of Kaneohe History Book: We learned that a second edition has been published of the book Partial History of the Japanese in Kaneohe 1898-1959. The author is Florence Chizuko (Iida) Fanning. Information about the author and the first edition of the book is available by clicking on this link to an archived article from Honolulu MidWeek. To obtain a copy of the new book, call 247-4241 or visit the office of T. Iida Contracting at 45-558 Kamehameha Highway (drive past Kokokahi Gymnastics to reach the entrance).

We Welcome Your Comments, In Person And Online

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.  

Funding For He’eia Research Reserve Is Urged At Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Meeting

The health of Kaneohe Bay was on our minds during our December meeting. Details are below. Click on the highlighted links for more information.

Research Funding Encouraged: During the meeting, our Board Chairman, Mo Radke, urged the Governor’s Office to seek state funding for the proposed He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. The reserve would encompass approximately 1,385 acres of Kaneohe Bay around He’eia State Park, as well as Moku o Lo’e (Coconut Island). It would join 28 other estuarine research reserves nationwide and would be the only one in Hawaii.

The federal government has proposed funding the majority of the project, but the state must match at least 30 percent of the federal dollars. Funds would pay to assess environmental conditions and possible conservation steps in the research area.

Rod Becker, director of the state Department of Accounting and General Services under Governor David Ige, said he would relay the request to the governor.

He'eia Fishpond and He'eia State Park fill the foreground in this photo.

A Diverse Environment: The management plan for the reserve describes a diverse environment. In addition to the state park and Coconut Island, it includes He‘eia Fishpond, He‘eia wetlands and “a large expanse of marine waters with patch and fringing reefs.” Also included are taro patches and gardens, and He‘eia Stream.

The area is actively used for traditional agriculture, fishing, tourism, recreational boating and education.

A Top Priority – Gathering Information:  The management plan says the project will focus on gathering information about past sustainable practices in the area, as well as current conditions such as water quality, coral habitats, and plants and animals living in the bay.

The plan envisions using the information to assess human impacts on the area and improve management strategies there.

Learn More: Besides the management plan, the final environmental impact statement for the project is available online. 

He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Final Management Plan (FMP) for the designation of the proposed He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve.  NOAA anticipates providing official notice of these two documents in the Federal Register December 16, 2016.  At that time, the FEIS and FMP will be available for viewing at www.coast.noaa.gov/czm/compliance.

Haiku Road And Waikalua Road Scheduled For Major Work, Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Learns

Roadwork was an important topic at our October meeting. Details are below. We’ll touch on other issues from the meeting in posts over the coming days.

Consultant Jim Niermann explains the
plan for sewer work along Haiku Road.

Haiku Road Sewer Project: A city consultant described a plan to install a larger sewer line on Haiuku Road. 

The work will take place from the Kahekili Highway to the Kamehameha Highway, starting next June and running through December 2018. The project will involve some disruptions and night work.

The consultant, Jim Niermann of R.M. Towill Corp., said the project is part of a federally mandated effort by the city to provide reliable wastewater collection and reduce sewage spills into Kaneohe Bay. 

Among the key elements of the project:

• Most of the work will take place during normal working hours as a trench is dug for the new line.
• Water and sewer service should continue without interruption.
• Driveway access should continue without interruption.

The city is applying for a noise variance to do several weeks of nighttime work. The night work primarily will be where Haiku Road meets the Kahekili and Kamehameha Highways, as crews build new sewer manholes and other structures.

Details of the project work, along with a draft environmental assessment, are on the city Department of Design and Construction website.

Waikalua Road Repaving: We heard from Lori Kahikina, the city’s Environmental Services director, that crews should put new paving on Waikalua Road in November. The project has been a frequent topic of community questions at our meetings.

In addition to Waikalua, crews will be repaving along Kokokahi/Mahiuni, Pikoiloa and Puohala Village. The total project involves 24.9 miles of streets and is expected to cost $8.4 million. Details of this and other city paving projects are available on the Department of Design and Construction website.

We welcome your comments, in person and online

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.

Charter Amendments, Sewer Project, Mosquito Control On Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Agenda

The agenda is set for our meeting on Thursday, October 20, and we hope you will join us. Details are below. To review the complete agenda online, click on this link.

Follow the banner to our October meeting!

City Charter Amendments:  Representatives of the Honolulu Charter Commission are expected to describe the 20 proposed charter amendments that are up for voter consideration in November. At our September meeting, we voted 12-0 on a resolution asking the Charter Commission to inform the public about the amendments.

Haiku Road Sewer Project: City representatives will describe a plan to install a larger sewer line on Haiku Road from Kahekili Highway to Kamehameha Highway. Work is expected to take place next year. The project is part of a consent decree between the city and the Environmental Protection Agency to deal with sewage spills into Kaneohe Bay.

Mosquito Abatement Resolution: Our vice-chairman, Bill Sager, will present a resolution supporting research on eliminating mosquitos from the state. The resolution will ask the Legislature to authorize the University of Hawaii to do the research. A decision on the resolution is expected at our meeting.

Other Business: Our agenda always includes time for reports from the Fire and Police Departments, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, elected officials from the state and local levels, community organizations, and our Board committees.

Vacant Seats: Three seats are currently open on the Board. They represent Sub-District 6, Waikalua; Sub-District 8, Kapunahala; and Sub-District 12, Pikoiloa. The Board is authorized to fill vacancies by appointment. Community members may indicate their interest by contacting Board Chairman Mo Radke or by attending a Board meeting. A map of the district is available online, as is a street index that is organized by sub-district (search for District 30 in the index, then find the sub-district).

Details: The Board meeting will take place in the cafeteria of Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road, starting at 7 p.m. 

Click on the highlighted links above to read the full agenda and find more information about agenda topics. The minutes of our September meeting also are now available. Click on the highlighted link to read them.

We welcome your comments, in person and online

Please join us for all of our meetings. If you are unable to attend, you may provide testimony online and contact Neighborhood Board members directly.

Comments on this blog are welcomed. To add a comment, please click on the link below. Also, please like us on Facebook and comment there.

Hovercraft coming to Kaneohe Bay

A new source of noise for Kaneohe.  

 Report says the LCAC vehicles will make no more noise than the aircraft currently using the Marine Corp Base Hawaii.  One difference, LCACs don't fly away.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser | Feb 22, 2016 | by William Cole
Marine Corps Base Hawaii is looking at repurposing at least one of its pre-World War II seaplane ramps -- which figured in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack -- for a 21st-century need: big hovercraft that ferry equipment from ship to shore.The Landing Craft, Air Cushion vehicles, with two giant fans for propulsion, are more often seen hitting the beach at Bellows during training by visiting amphibious ships.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/02/22/marines-seek-new-use-for-old-seaplane-ramps.html

Kaneohe's Doing The Wave, For Real Power

In what could be a step toward sustainability, Kaneohe Bay now boasts the first wave-energy generator in the U.S. that is connected to the power grid for independent evaluation.

The Azura generator went on line earlier this month in the U.S. Navy's Wave Energy Test Site. The generator will feed power to Marine Corps Base Hawaii during a 12-month test period.

Sea Engineering, based in Honolulu, deployed the generator, which was built by Northwest Energy Innovations of Portland, OR. The Navy, U.S. Department of Energy and University of Hawaii are funding the project.

The university will collect, analyze and report data from the project to validate its performance.

Sustainability is a priority for the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board, which supports livable-community initiatives like the Blue Zones Project. Renewable energy also is a priority for the Marine Base, which is a regular presenter at Neighborhood Board meetings.

Speak Up, Kaneohe: Comments Are Sought On Alcohol Ban, Age-Friendly Environments, Ag Land

Kaneohe residents can make their voices heard in April on three important issues for our island: alcohol and drug use on the Kaneohe Sandbar, age-friendly environments and protections for agricultural land.

The alcohol proposal would make permanent a ban against alcohol, drugs and disorderly behavior at the Kaneohe Sandbar during three-day holiday weekends. The ban has been in effect since 2012 but will expire this year without changes.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on the proposal from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, at the Heeia Elementary School Cafeteria, 46-202 Haiku Road, in Kaneohe.

Mail & E-mail Encouraged For Age-Friendly Plan

The age-friendly proposal would establish guidelines for outdoor spaces, transportation, social and civic involvement, and community support, such as health services.

 

For example, the proposal is designed to encourage outdoor spaces that are multigenerational, accessible, clean, crime-free and close to other services and amenities. 

The City and County of Honolulu will accept written comments through April 28. Mail your thoughts to University of Hawaii, Center on Aging, 1960 East-West Road, BioMed T-705B, Honolulu, HI 96822. Send e-mail to Kupuna2Keiki@gmail.com.

The age-friendly proposal mirrors some elements of the Blue Zones Project, a neighbor-to-neighbor initiative designed to improve the living environment so that residents can live longer, happier, more productive lives.

Windward Meeting Scheduled On Land Proposal

The agricultural land proposal would create tighter rules against urban development for 56,000 acres, including some tracts in the Kaneohe area. The land would have to be currently in agricultural production, have enough water and offer productive growing conditions.

The City and County of Honolulu will hold three public meetings on the proposal. They include a meeting on April 15 in Hale Akoakoa Room 105 at Windward Community College from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. A map of the proposed tracts is available online.

Impact Of Tunnel Trucks May Speed Road Repairs

Concern is growing about street damage from the new Kaneohe-to-Kailua sewer tunnel.

The Kaneohe Neighborhood Board learned at its March meeting that the city likely will speed up a plan to repave Kulauli Street because of damage caused by heavy trucks working on the project.

Street Serves Neighborhood, School

Kulauli Street runs through a residential neighborhood and past Puohala Elementary School before ending at the Kaneohe Regional Wastewater Pre-Treatment Facility. The pre-treatment facility is one end point for the tunnel, which will carry sewage to a treatment plant in Kailua.

When competed, the tunnel's 3-mile route will take it southwest from the pre-treatment facility and under Kaneohe Bay Drive. Then it will make a gradual turn under the Oneawa Hills until it heads northeast to the Kailua plant.

Project Designed To Cut Pollution, Protect Bay

The tunnel project is expected to cost $200 million. It is part of an agreement between the federal government and the city to reduce sewage pollution and protect natural resources such as Kaneohe Bay.

The construction management team has set up a hotline for the tunnel project at (808) 445-9079 and info@kktunnel.net.

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Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Mtg, 7/18/13

Loren Lasher presented a list of concerns regarding current uses and administrative failures related to Kaneohe Bay.  He asked for KNB support in a community effort to remedy these problems. 

KANEOHE BAY CONCERNS July 2013

Bottom Line:  We believe there are GROSS abuses by some of the Commercial Operators in Kaneohe Bay.   We need clarification of the rules and enforcement of such rules.  We would like a review of and a renewal of the application of the Kaneohe Bay Master Plan.  Our intent is to work WITH DLNR to resolve these issues.

Specifically, it appears that the Rules are unclear and importantly they are not enforced.  There is a documented INCREASE in the Commercial operations (see photos).

In checking with HAR, Hawaii Administrative Rules which are available online at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dbor.  and the Master Plan visit http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dbor/pdf/kbaymasterplan.pdf

It appears that the rules are unclear. 

We are requesting THREE immediate actions…

1. Clarifcation of the RULES and GUIDELINES for Commercial Operations

2. An AUDIT of all Commercial operations in reference to the Rules and the Kaneohe Bay Master Plan.  And ENFORCEMENT of the Rules.

3. Harbor Agent coverage of Oahu’s Harbors on the weekends.

In addition, immediately, we would like SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING…

1.    The number of Commercial operations – Permits in Kaneohe Bay?  And what is the scope of the each permit?  Who ‘owns’ the permits?

2.    The number and ‘Locations’ on the bay where they are to operate?

A map would do.

3.    The number of Boats at each location?  This would be in the permits

4.    The number of People (customers) at each Location or Per Boat.

5.    The hours of Commercial operations

6.    WHAT IS THE ENFORCEMENT of the ‘rules’

OTHER CONCERNS FOR KANEOHE BAY

COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS:

PARKING at He’eia Kea Harbor

There are a number of abuses from the Commercial Operators which affect EVERYONE who uses the Harbor.

1. With an increase of Commercial Operations, there is an increase in the vehicles by the workers.  It is impossible to find a parking place near the restaurant for ‘locals’ to visit.  There is parking abuses from the employees of the Commercial Operations.

2. Busses and Vans are parking in areas designated for vehicles with trailers and in ‘no parking’ areas.

3. With large busses driving and parking in the He’eia parking lot, damage of the pavement has increased.

4. Safety is a major concern with the increase of traffic from the busses and vans.

JET SKIS
1. According to the Master Plan ALL Jet Skis are to operate in a designated areas.  Confirm what Commercial Operators have Jet Ski permits.

COMMERCIAL SLED PULLING

1. This is a major SAFETY concern as the Commercial Operators have NO SPOTTER or mirrors.   UNSAFE

OTHER COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS - QUESTIONABLE
1.  Kama’aina Kids is a non-profit but their other business, Holokai, Kayak & Snorkel business sure looks commercial???  Kama’aina Kids and Ray are a good thing which we support.  However, Holokai is a tourist/commercial business and is questionable.

2. There appears to be other operations in the Bay, however with clarification of the legitimate operations, we can better identify those who are questionable.
 
HARBOR OPERATIONS:

1. As He’eia and other harbors have much recreational weekend use, we find it NECESSARY that we have Harbor Agents present on the weekend.  This is a SAFETY, SECURITY, and SERVICE issue.