October 21, 2005

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

CONTENTS

People often shake their heads at the length of time it takes government to construct a major project. A good example is building a new road. Once a decision has been made that a new road is needed, the County begins a long process that is largely defined by fiscal and legal requirements.

A new road is expensive. A major two-lane road will cost the County between $7 million and $10 million per mile to build, based on recent actual construction bids. Getting the money to pay for a road is the first step in the process. (How the County pays for roads will be the subject of another article.)

Once money is found, the steps involved are:

• Planning – takes at least one year
• Design and land acquisition – takes at least one and a half years
• Construction – takes at least one year, depending on the length and complexity of the road

As you can see, if all goes very well, a new road takes at least three and a half years from the start of formal planning to end of construction.

Planning - How can this take a whole year? Depending on the size of the project, state law (and federal law if federal money is used) requires that either an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) be prepared. This document must include:

• Traffic study to determine the capacity and design elements such as the number of lanes necessary to take care of the traffic now and in the future
• Corridor alternatives for the road, which are the general routes the road can take; and for each route:
• The natural environment in the area, how the project will affect it, and how any negative impact will be minimized. This includes whether any endangered species will be affected and similar concerns.
• The historical and archaeological significance of the area, how the project will impact this, and again how any negative impact will be minimized. This must include a survey of archaeological features such as Hawaiian burials and heiaus. If Hawaiian burials are affected, a plan of how these burials will be treated must be approved by the island’s Burial Council, which comes under the administrative control of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
• Any socio-economic impacts that will occur as a result of the project.

After a draft of the EA or EIS is completed, it is sent to various government agencies for comment and also made available to the public for comment. All written comments received are used to help select a preferred route for the road, and are included in the final EA or EIS document.

After the EA or EIS is completed and the road corridor has been chosen, a preliminary engineering report must be prepared. This report includes:

• Design elements (number of lanes, shoulders, bikeways, pedestrian paths, etc.)
• Right-of-way needs (the land that needs to be obtained from other parties to build the road)
• Estimates of how much it will cost to build the road

Both the preparation of the EA or EIS and the preliminary design work is usually done by private companies specializing in such work. The County enters into a contract with the private companies because with its limited staff, it does not have the time or specialized knowledge necessary to prepare these complex documents. It would take even longer if County staff tried to do this in-house.

Design and Land Acquisition – Why does it take at least eighteen months for this?

This step includes:

• Development by an engineering firm of the actual design documents, specifications, and contract documents based on the preliminary engineering report. These documents are necessary to present to contractors so they can bid on the job.
• Obtaining the necessary permits and authorizations. This includes Special Management Area permits (this is required if the road will be located in an area near the coast, this can take from three to six months if not contested); National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES), Underground Injection Control (UIC) and Conditional Letters of Map Revisions (CLOMRs).
• The entire route of the road must be surveyed before the County can begin to buy the land for the road. Often, the roadway needs to be subdivided out from larger parcels of land so the County can obtain only the land needed for the road. The subdivision process can take six months.
• When the construction design documents are 90% completed, the County can begin to acquire the land it needs for the road. Appraisals must be done to determine the fair value of the land the County must obtain. The County must pay owners the fair value of any land it needs for the road.
• Negotiations with the owners of land, and purchase of the land needed can take quite a while. If owners do not want to sell their land, the County must go to Court to condemn the land, which again is a lengthy process requiring County Council approval for condemnation, then action in Circuit Court. If the owner does not agree with the value of land based on the appraisal the County had done, another appraisal will be necessary.

Construction – Does it really take at least a year to build a road? Yes, depending on the complexity and length of the road, at least one year is necessary for construction to be completed. Weather can be a factor in the construction time. Also, if an unanticipated Hawaiian burial, for example, is found during construction, that can cause further delays while the State is consulted on how to properly treat it.

Additional factors. Please note that the time estimates given above are optimistic, meaning that the time could be much longer depending on what is found during the first phases of work. Especially in West Hawai‘i, archaeological issues are of significance and can make it difficult to estimate the time required to build a road, from planning to completion.

For further information, please contact the Department of Public Works at 961-8321.

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The public is advised that construction work for Mamalahoa Highway/Hina Lani Street traffic signals in North Kona will commence on or about October 24, 2005.

The roadway work includes traffic signal improvements, excavation, and roadway signing and striping. The final pavement marking and striping will be done towards the end of the project so as to provide a better final surface.

The work is expected to take approximately six months, weather permitting.

Motorists are urged to use extreme caution when driving through this area since heavy equipment will be in use. Lane closures, and delays can be expected, and motorists should plan their trips accordingly.

Lane closures will only occur at night and/or on weekends.

There will be no lane closures from 5 am to 7 pm weekdays. No pneumatic hammer work will be permitted from 10 pm to 7 am. No vehicle backup alarms will be permitted from 6 pm to 6 am.

For a more detailed schedule information, please contact T&T Electric, Inc. at 935-9029.

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Start your Halloween fun off with a celebration of Kealakehe's recycling project at the Kealakehe Transfer Station. Join project participants on Monday, October 31 from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. for an event dubbed "Trash or Treat."

The event marks a milestone for the area's recycling efforts over the past year. Since the Kealakehe Recycle project began in October 2004, more than 660 tons of traditional recyclables, not including metal or green waste, have been diverted from our landfill.

This West Hawai`i recycle project has evolved in response to community input. Project goals included:

• maximum recovery of resources
• on-island reuse
• composting and recycling
• involvement of the commercial sector in recycling
• compliance with state waste management goals.

A two-stream sort method at Kealakehe simplified recycling, and the landfill diversion rates climbed.

Originally contracted to Business Services Hawaii by Hawaii Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB) and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Recycle Hawaii was contracted to provide education and training for the project. Since June 2005, County of Hawaii has managed the facility.

"HIEDB congratulates all parties involved that have helped make the Kona pilot demonstration project a success," said project manager Skylark Rossetti. "The project proves that with just two recycle containers in your home, we can all make a difference for our island."

The Halloween afternoon event is sponsored by County of Hawai`i, Environmental Protection Agency, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Recycle Hawai`i and Business Services Hawaii.

Please RSVP to Skylark Rossetti or Liz Barton at HIEDB at 935-2180.

Drive mauka towards the police station off of Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kona and travel a short distance beyond the Hawaii Humane Society.

HIEDB (Hawaii Island Economic Development Board) is a private non-profit corporation organized in 1984 for the purpose of furthering balanced economic development and job creation on the Island of Hawaii.

For information on the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, please contact the HIEDB office at 935-2180.

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Join with members of our Hawai`i Island community to help the families of servicemen and women deployed overseas.

In many cases, the families of our deployed servicemen and women need a hand with chores or homework -- needs that would normally be dealt with by the service member.

While the National Guard has a Family Assistance Coordinator in the County of Hawai`i who handles these needs for the more than 250 Hawai`i Island families of the Guard and Reservists, he and the families could use our help.

Mayor Harry Kim and Council Chair Stacy Higa have put out a call to County workers to volunteer time to help their neighbors whose loved ones are deployed.

We welcome anyone in our community who is willing to offer aloha and a small amount of time and to help the families of our deployed servicemen and women.

To offer your help, please contact the Guard's Family Assistance Coordinator David Ferreira at 933-0931 or 756-0370.

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Hawai`i County is currently recruiting citizen volunteers to serve as commissioners on the Cost of Government Commission.

This Commission was created by Charter amendment in 2000. The Commission serves for a period of 11 months only, and is empaneled one year after the Mayor is elected into office.

Their mission is to study and investigate present operations within the County of Hawai`i, and make recommendations to the Mayor and Hawai`i County Council on how improvements in County government may be made.

Amid rising demands placed on the County, limited resources and the need to provide our citizens the very best service, the importance of this Commission is evident. Please consider volunteering your time and life experience to help your County government to better serve you and your fellow citizens.

Completed applications can be dropped off at the above County offices.

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Residents can once again recycle many of the same types of items that they used to bring to the now-closed Community Recycling Center on Railroad Avenue in Hilo.

At the Hilo Transfer Station (just beyond the HI5 Redemption Center), residents can now recycle the following:

• Cardboard and brown paper bags
• Newspapers and magazines
• Glass (mayo jars, wine bottles, etc.)
• Aluminum (pie tins, etc.)
• Plastics #1 & #2 (milk jugs, detergent bottles, etc.)
• Office paper (white, ledger, colors – no brights)

Got recycling questions? Call the County Recycling Specialists at 961-8527, 961-8549 or 961-8554.

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Waimea area residents can now recycle non-HI5 glass and other recyclables at the Waimea Transfer Station, just opposite the transfer station chutes.

Two separate containers are accepting the following:

• Glass – all non-HI5 glass, such as mayonnaise jars and wine bottles;
• Mixed Recyclables – flattened cardboard and boxboard, newspaper and magazines, mixed office paper, junk mail, phone books, rinsed aluminum and tin cans, plastics #1 and #2 (rinsed & no caps).

What happens to these recyclables?

The glass is crushed and used on the Big Island. The mixed recyclables are bailed and shipped to mainland sorting facilities, where they’re earmarked for new product markets.

Got recycling questions? Call the County Recycling Specialists at 961-8527, 961-8549 or 961-8554.

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With the Pacific hurricane season now upon us, it is very important for all of our Hawai`i residents to be familiar with hurricane preparedness measures.

The County of Hawai`i’s Civil Defense Agency reminds the community that all areas of our Island of Hawai`i can be prone to hurricane hazards.

Residents must be aware that all parts of Hawai`i Island could be exposed to hurricane hazards, despite a common belief that our mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa shield parts of the island from hurricane winds.

We hope our residents will take the time to familiarize themselves with hurricane preparedness measures by reading the County of Hawai`i’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide.

The Hurricane Preparedness Guide is now available on the County’s website . To access the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, click on http://co.hawaii.hi.us/cd/hpg/main.html . There is also a link to the Civil Defense page http://co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_defense.htm .

If you’d like a hard copy of the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, copies will be available from the Civil Defense Agency after July 1.

For further information, contact the Civil Defense Agency at 961-8229.

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The County of Hawai’i’s beverage container redemption sites have new hours of operation beginning August 1. There is a new site that recently opened in Hawi on Saturday, August 20. Hawi now has official certification and is open Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am-4:30 pm, closed from 1-1:30 pm for lunch.

Qualifying Beverage Containers:

What’s IN: Eligible (redeemable) beverage containers include: soft drinks, soda, water, juice, tea and coffee drinks, and low alcohol content drinks (beer, malt beverages, wine coolers, mixed spirits) in metal, glass or #1&#2 plastic, 64 oz. or less.

What’s OUT: Ineligible (unredeemable) containers include: milk, wine and liquor containers.

Qualified beverage containers may be redeemed for cash at the following locations:

**Transfer Station centers closed daily from 1:00-1:30pm for lunch.**

Please contact Atlas Recycling LLC at 935-9328 (Hilo) or 329-6868 (Kona) for further information about additional scrap value paid on aluminum cans and their mobile redemption sites in rural communities.

Certified redemption centers are now accepting flattened aluminum and plastic HI5¢ beverage containers.

Flattened containers are weighed at redemption sites to determine deposit payment. The public is reminded that reverse vending machines will not accept flattened or crushed containers.

Please call the Recycling Specialists with the Department of Environmental Management, County of’

Hawai’I, at 961-8527 or 961-8549 for information about the HI5¢ program or visit:

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Construction work to widen Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Hualalai Road, commenced on November 8, 2004.

Kuakini Highway will be widened to four lanes for automobiles, including two through-lanes in each direction, and a pocket lane for left turns where appropriate. In addition, there will bicycle lanes on both sides throughout most of the project. The construction will last 18-24 months.

One lane will be open at all times from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. while construction is in progress. Outside of these hours, one lane in each direction will be open.

The contractor, Hawaiian Dredging, will work with the adjacent businesses and residences to assure that a reasonable access to the businesses and residences will be maintained throughout the construction period. However, motorists traveling in the area should drive with caution.

We are most grateful for the public’s patience and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The public is invited to a weekly update on the Kuakini Highway, Palani Road to Hualalai project every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Kona Mayor’s West Hawai`i Office conference room at Hanama Place. Light refreshments will be served.

Representatives from the contractor, Hawaiian Dredging, and the County, Public Works Department are available at the meetings. Everyone is welcome at these informal "talk story" sessions.

A large project map and a complete set of plans are available for reference at the Kona Mayor's office.

Information is also available via the County website at co.hawaii.hi.us.

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Or call our 24/7 Job Hotline: 961-8618

Click on employment opportunities to download all of the forms.

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The Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group is seeking volunteers for a cleanup project of 4 Mile Beach in Keaukaha on Saturday, October 22. This community effort to clean up and record debris is part of the Make a Difference Day 2005 commemoration.

Where: Along 4 Mile Beach from James Kealoha to Carlsmith Park off Kalanianaole Ave.

When: Saturday, October 22, from 9:00 a.m.

Gloves and litter bags will be provided.

For further information, call Carey Yost at 982-7292, email:kidsdivein@usa.com . Check out the project homepage at http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/seagrant/hilobaywatershed.php

A Firewise workshop on brushfire safety will be held Saturday, October 22, 2005 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Konawaena Elementary School Cafeteria in Kealakekua. The workshop is free.

Please bring your own bag lunch.

This information-packed workshop, taught by Denise Laitinen, the Firewise Community Coordinator for Hawaii, will cover key components of how to protect your home from brushfire.

Homeowners will learn why some homes are destroyed in a fire while others survive, how to create defensible space around a home to prevent it from burning; as well as how to use simple and easy landscaping practices to reduce your risk to brush fire.

Firewise Communities is a national program that works with community members to protect themselves against wildfire. Since 1987 the Firewise program has educated communities and encouraged action to minimize home loss to fire in the wildland urban interface, which is anywhere wildlands and houses meet.

Firewise is a collaborative effort of multiple organizations, including the fire department, government agencies, and will be hosted by the South Kona Community Emergency Response Team (SKCERT) and Neighborhood Watch.

Waikoloa residents created a Firewise Committee more than two years ago and held a community workday in July to clear brush along the mauka boundary of the neighborhood, which reduced the brush fire threat.

To sign up for the free Firewise workshop, please contact: Brenda Ford at 323-2323; email: labford@turquoise.net  . For more information on how you can make your home Firewise, contact the Firewise Community Coordinator at (808) 281-3497 or by e-mail at dlaitinen@firewise.org .

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The Waikoloa community is cordially invited to a presentation by the County of Hawaii Planning Department and the Department of Research and Development and community planning consultants which they employ.

WHERE: In the restaurant portion of the Clubhouse, Waikoloa

WHEN: Wednesday, November 2 AT 6:30 pm

A Regional Community Development Plan that is being worked on with the North and South Kona communities. The County aims to go around to all of Hawaii Island's regions and create a specific plan for the future development of the various regions of the island.

All districts will have the opportunity of formulating Community Development Plans. This planning effort is unprecedented in Hawaii County's history. For the first time, communities are being asked to develop Community Development Plans that will be adopted by ordinance and become law.

Waikoloa residents are encouraged to play an active role in the development of the plan for the Waikoloa community. Please come to the meeting November 2 so that you can become involved in the process.

This meeting is an opportunity to learn about the planning process from the County departments that are involved, and to hear from consultants assisting with creating the Community Development Plans.

This will be the start of a process that will result in planning for the future needs of the Kohala region.

So, please attend the meeting if you can. Please tell your friends and neighbors who live in Waikoloa about the meeting. This is an opportunity to learn and to begin giving meaningful input.

The folks in Waimea and Kohala are already organizing their input. Check out their websites www.waimeaplan.org  and www.kohala.org .

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The 2005 Carousel of Care-Caring for Family, Caring for Yourself conference, aimed at offering practical help to caregivers, will be held on November 30 at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

This conference offers a wealth of information for caregivers, featuring expert speakers, resource exhibits of local agencies and organizations and volunteer coaching.

This conference aims to help caregivers get through their daily routines safely and easily. Moreover, the conference provides an opportunity to network with other caregivers.

Volunteers from the community coach the caregivers in a variety of leisure activities like art therapy, scrap-booking, tea ceremony and flower-arranging, and provide therapeutic services like massage, Healing Touch, and music therapy.

When it started back in 1999, the Hawaii Community Caregiver Network (HCCN), assisted by the Hawaii County Office of Aging (HCOA) and the Alzheimer’s Association had a pretty good idea that family caregivers needed as much help as they could get.

Caregivers are the true heroes of health care in our nation.

HCCN recognizes that caregivers need to preserve their own health and maintain a balanced lifestyle and designed this all-day caregiver conference to help caregivers do just that. According to the response that first year and every year for the past seven years, they were right.

Caregivers need to share experiences and learn what works and what doesn’t. They can take comfort from others who empathize with the emotional roller coaster ride they all experience.

Deadline to register: November 14. Space is limited and attendance will be on a first come, first served basis.

For more information or an enrollment application, please call the Hawaii County Office of Aging at 327-3597.

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FREE MULCH is now available at both the Hilo and Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe) Transfer Stations. At the present time, no loading fees are being charged, although the public is advised to ask the operator for loading assistance. There may be a short wait time if the operator is busy.

The public may drop off green waste at either facility between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm seven days a week. Loading assistance is available at the Hilo and Kailua-Kona processing sites Monday through Saturday.

Residents are encouraged to contact any of the local trucking firms to arrange for delivery of large loads of mulch to their homes or places of business. Although there is no charge for the mulch and loading fees are waived, the public will need to pay their own delivery charges as negotiated with a local trucking firm.

EKO Composting Systems has assumed the operations of the County of Hawaii’s green waste drop-off and pick-up areas at the Hilo and Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe) Transfer Stations as of July 1, 2005.

The County is working on the development of a composting facility at the materials recovery area of the West Hawai`i Sanitary Landfill, which will also include receiving bays for used cooking oil and grease trap waste. When the new composting facility is completed, EKO will commence the production of high quality, U.S. Council certified, compost.

In addition, EKO Composting Systems along with partner company Pacific Biodiesel will be initiating the capture of waste oils for the production of biodiesel.

The public should be aware that there are size requirements that must be met in order to drop off residential and commercially hauled green waste at the processing facilities at Kailua-Kona and Hilo green waste yards.

These size requirements must also be followed for any green waste dropped at the Keaau Recycling and Reuse Center, as well as for any green waste disposed of at one of the County’s 21 residential solid waste transfer stations.

At this time, no pallets may be delivered to the green waste processing facilities although the County intends to begin receiving pallets for chipping starting next year.

If loads delivered to the green waste drop-off sites and/or County transfer stations do not meet these criteria, the other option will be to dispose of the load at either the County’s South Hilo or West Hawai’i Sanitary Landfills. Green waste loads that do not meet acceptable requirements will be charged a special handling fee of $85/load in addition to the tip fee of $65/ton IF taken to either County landfill.

For further information, please contact the County’s recycling coordinator at 961-8942.

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The Kailua-Kona Lions Club is organizing its First Annual Flea Market, Car Show & Swap Meet on Saturday, October 22, from 7 am-4 pm at The Swing Zone in Kailua-Kona.

We are actively seeking people who have something they want to sell, crafters, and musical groups who want to show their talent. In addition, any group can hui together to sell those items that have been gathering dust around the house and garage all these years.

One person's trash may be another person's treasure.

The Car Show will feature all types of vehicles from antiques, hot rods, custom cars and pickups to motorcycles and low riders.

The cost to rent a 10x10 ft space is $20 for the entire day. Proceeds from the space rentals benefit local high school seniors through the Lions Scholarship Fund. For information, call Sonia at 329-7133.

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Under a new law effective January 2005, all recreational thrill craft (personal watercraft) operators must complete a certification class offered by an accredited institution of higher education on the safe use and operation of a thrill craft.

Hawaii Community College OCET will offer this course on Saturday, October 29 in Hilo and Kona from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tuition is $109. Please call 974-7531 for more information and to register.

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The Hilo-based Japanese Community Association of Hawaii is putting out a call for Hawaii residents to share their personal internment stories at the Japanese Culture Day in Hawaii celebration on November 19, 2005, 10-2 pm at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Sangha Hall.

The story of Hawaii residents who were taken from their homes and relocated to internment camps on the U.S. Mainland during World War II is an important family story in the Japanese-American community. This occasion is an opportunity to share those experiences.

Anyone interested in sharing his or her personal story is invited to send in a written submission using the following questions:

• What is your most vivid memory of internment?
• How did internment affect your life afterwards?
• What lessons did you learn from the experience?
• What would you like to share with future generations?

The committee is planning for several relaxed settings in which the people who have stories to share can "talk story" prior to the Japanese Culture Day on November 19.

Later, several will participate onstage at Sangha Hall in a facilitated talk story session led by Randy Hirokawa, UHH dean of arts and science.

Those with a story to share should send their written submission by September 26, to Japanese Community Association, P. O. Box 1124, Hilo, HI 96721 or fax to 935-8314. Please Include your full name and contact information.

There will be a display of personal mementos during the Japanese Culture Day in Hawaii.

The event will also offer demos and displays including Tea Ceremony, bonsai, ikebana, traditional crafts such as oshibana, chigiri-e and shishu, as well as mochi-tsuki, kendo, and Japanese food. Entertainment includes taiko, koto, song and dance, as well as, Calligraphy and Shichi-go-san Kimono Dressing for children ages 7-5-3.

For more information, please contact Jan Higashi at 961-6848.

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(All project schedules based on weather permitting.)

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The County of Hawaii would like to encourage the public to report streetlight outages to enhance safety during Halloween activities. Please report any streetlight outages before Wednesday, October 26, 2005 to allow for timely repairs.

The public is also reminded that information such as street name, pole number and specific location (the specific address or intersection) will help ensure that the lights are repaired in an efficient and timely manner.

You may contact the Department of Public Works, Traffic Division at 961-8341. Please leave a message if calling after 4 p.m. on weekdays, weekends or holidays.

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Motorists are advised of the following lane closures and work locations as contractors begin installing a fiber optic cable conduit system in the Hilo area.

From Monday, October 24th through Friday, October 28th, Willocks Construction will be boring and trenching in the following locations:

• Along Waianuenue Avenue between Ululani Street and Lele Street. At this time, no work will be done in the area to affect school parking.

The work will start at 8:30 am and continue until 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time.

Contractors are in their third week of work and estimate the work to be completed at the end of February 2006.

For further information, please contact Chuck Eckman (Resident Engineer), Mid State Consultants, at 640-9509. Mahalo for your patience and cooperation.

For further information, please contact Chuck Eckman (Resident Engineer), Mid State Consultants, at 640-9509. Mahalo for your patience and cooperation.

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We encourage everyone to use web-based calendar links. Please add your own events to the respective calendars so others can get the word and not conflict with your plans.

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Hawai‘i County ... a nice place to live.