SENATOR MAILE SHIMABUKURO 2023 HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE
Ka‘ena - Makahā - Waiʻanae - Nānākuli - Mā‘ili - Ko Olina
AUGUST 2023
LATEST COMMUNITY UPDATES URGENT WAI’ANAE COAST INTERGOVERNMENTAL STRATEGY SESSION US Congresswoman Jill Tokuda with Councilmember Andria Tupola convened a meeting with federal, state, and county agencies to specifically address a number of urgent issues specific to the westside as a tactical strategy session. Present at the July 31st meeting at City Hall were staff from my capitol office (Chief of Staff, Keahi Renaud) as well as Dorene Eddy from Rep. Darius Kila’s office, and also members from the Mayor’s Office, Honolulu Department of Facilities Maintenance, Road Maintenance, State Department of Transportation, Dept of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The top issue was ULEHAWA STREAM and how to promote & maintain free flow to the ocean and prevent the back-up issues of stagnation odors, garbage, and various health concerns from drainage & pollution. The following timeline below was provided. Collaborative discussions were engaged on how best to coordinate all the agencies to meld the planning, permitting, and funding from all levels of government to implement a long term solution in the most efficient fashion at the lowest cost for all parties involved. Additional discussion involved the negotiation of Makua Valley and the military determining if it still requires some access to Makua or not. The deadline for public comment & testimony is September of 2023. Deliberations also entailed the Kolekole Pass as an alternate access road for the westside. The Navy may need to make road upgrades & repairs on some parts. The last topic was about DOT acquiring Pa’akea Rd. and also having the military address the chronic flood condition from Lualualei. MAHALO NUI to everyone for participating !!
~ Maile