is a nod to tradition and offers a taste of what’s next By Peter Boylan Editors' PicksPolitics Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading The East-West Center is offering buyouts to 80% of its 137 employees as federal funding concerns continue under Donald Trump’s efforts to slash the State Department’s budget by half next fiscal year The center has 127 employees in Honolulu and 10 in Washington Scott let employees know Wednesday that they have until May 9 to decide whether to accept a voluntary separation/early retirement incentives offer Employees who have been at the center less than a year and positions funded entirely by grants are not eligible for the voluntary separation incentives In a statement to the Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser officials said the continued delays in delivery of the East-West Center’s federal funding that was approved by Congress for the current fiscal year as well as lack of certainty surrounding the center’s appropriation level for the coming federal fiscal year starting in October prompted the buyout offers “as a means to further reduce expenses.” A hiring freeze and cuts to nonessential expenditures were implemented in mid-February Several programs are postponed or called off because of the funding issues “While we deeply regret the current circumstances requiring a reduction in staff we do at least want to give the Center’s dedicated workforce as much choice as possible rather than imposing an immediate mandatory reduction in force,” Scott said The necessity for further cuts would depend on funding developments over the next several months noting that the Center’s Board of Governors is exercising due diligence in conserving the institution’s fiscal reserve to the extent possible until the future of the Center’s federal funding is clearer An internal memo from the White House suggests that the U.S Department of State will request a $28.4 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct 1 — $26 billion less than what was on the books for fiscal year 2025 EWC received a federal budget appropriation of $22 million came from competitive federal grants and contracts many of which also have been “impacted by new federal policies.” The remainder came from institutions and private donors In response to the cuts threatened by the Trump administration the East-West Center’s alumni and donors committed over $530,000 for student and participant scholarships in the month spanning February and March Jerry and Tsue Ostermann met 60 years ago as graduate students living at the center and have been “actively involved in the EWC alumni community ever since.” our experiences at the East-West Center opened up a whole new world unknown to us until then and we very much want the young students today to have the same opportunities we had,” said the couple in a statement “When we were asked to consider providing additional financial help at this time said in a statement that he supports the center because it is a world-class organization with “top-notched programs that have cultivated many leaders around the world.” “We are fortunate to have an organization like this based in Hawaii,” Flores said The East-West Center opened as a University of Hawaii at Manoa faculty initiative in 1959 Congress set it up in 1960 to strengthen American academic cultural and political ties with nations throughout Asia and the Pacific through exchanges and research The center will mark its 65th anniversary May 14 It had been without federal funds for weeks after Trump took office and had to rely on its reserves to stay open although a $5 million funding allotment was released to it March 13 It has received the last of its expected federal funds under a previous short-term spending agreement We continue to design and install road landscapes featuring plants that require micro-climates and specialized maintenance sits a mini park that was destined to become “naturalized.” The 1,000-square-foot public space used to feature ice plant but it lasted only as long as the hand weeding Now all that is left is a shower tree and panax hedge both surviving despite the care they receive Evidence of this inevitable evolution continues to the east as 70% of the naupaka has died in the median strip at the entry to Hawaii Kai No one has repaired the irrigation systems It’s a systemic problem for public landscapes Some with missing tops have been cut to ground level are a living record of irrigation problems and inadequate maintenance the planters in the middle of the H-1 Freeway were first planted with spider lilies that thrived They were inexplicably replaced with Manila palms that struggled in the elevated freeway’s strong winds They in turn were replaced with bromeliads that thrived but were removed over concerns that they were a breeding ground for mosquitoes there is a healthy ground cover of invasive grasses Continuing in the Ewa direction and approaching Kaimuki the embankments used to be filled with Wedelia that survived as long as its irrigation system did instead of Wedelia there is a combination of grasses Christmas berry trees and a handful of other plants None of these naturalized landscapes are what the public paid for we should thank Mother Nature for her gift We’re not suggesting we plant invasives in our public spaces but we do think that our industry must take a long hard look at what we are doing and stop wasting the public’s money We’ve been in the landscape industry for close to 50 years now and we’ve learned over the years that if someone takes ownership consistent labor is equally scarce and unpredictable Yet Honolulu continues to design and install landscapes that often feature plants that require micro-climates and specialized maintenance just to survive We realize we are often not included in the decision-making process when planning these public landscapes but we as an industry should look the legislators in the eye and explain that their plans are unrealistic we should look at what has been successful and repeat what is working — large weed lawns but we would like to call your attention to our Polynesian forebears Early Polynesian voyagers assembled what would later be called “canoe plants,” important life-sustaining plants that could not only survive a long ocean voyage but would also be adaptable to the variety of conditions found in their eventual destination The Hawaii Sugar Planters Association with the help of Dr Lyon used the same criteria when selecting plants to restore Hawaii’s watersheds damaged by cattle Many of the plants continue to thrive at the Lyon Arboretum Botanical Garden in the back of Manoa Valley We think it’s time for us to compile a list of 21st-century canoe plants an updated and realistic listing of plants that can survive and thrive in todays and tomorrow’s conditions A few of us are making a very good living at the taxpayers (our neighbors) expense This should not be the definition of sustainable landscaping We’re inspired by young environmental activists in Montana who won their lawsuit claiming state agencies violated their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. The lawsuit inspired Hawaii’s youth with their own recently settled lawsuit But the fossil fuel industry is not the only one damaging the environment Honolulu Civil Beat is a nonprofit organization and your donation helps us produce local reporting that serves all of Hawaii Kevin Mulkern is president of Mulkern Landscape and Nursery and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects Susan Mulkern is vice president of Mulkern Landscaping and Nursery Ideas is the place you'll find essays, analysis and opinion on public affairs in Hawaiʻi. We want to showcase smart ideas about the future of Hawaiʻi, from the state's sharpest thinkers, to stretch our collective thinking about a problem or an issue. Email news@civilbeat.org to submit an idea Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed The state Commission on Water Resource Management just approved an Oʻahu-specific plan to guide water use until 2040 This week the water commission approved the East Honolulu Watershed Management Plan which estimates the region’s future water needs and management challenges traditional Hawaiian management principles and community input The plan is part of an ongoing update to the larger statewide Hawaiʻi Water Plan that hasn’t been changed in about 25 years The state water plan is meant to serve as a long-term guide for CWRM The commission is in charge of making decisions to protect manage and regulate ground and surface freshwater in the state planning really is intended to take a central role in future understanding of water resource availability and how we address issues and challenges and that's really what the Hawaiʻi Water Plan and its component parts are intended to do — provide that roadmap for the future,” said Katie Roth manager with CWRM’s Hydrologic Planning Program at a commission meeting The approved East Honolulu plan is one of eight regional plans on Oʻahu that contribute to the statewide water plan Several others are in the middle of updates to reflect the changing water needs of the state The CWRM-approved plan estimates the Honolulu Board of Water Supply will need just over 150 million gallons of water per day in 2040 which is about 10 million gallons more than what was needed in 2010 The change reflects an expectation that Oʻahu's population will grow by 15% by 2040 BWS supported the plan and said it “identifies sustainable policies projects and strategies for climate change maintaining traditional and customary practices access to mauka and makai areas and wildfires in East Honolulu.” Traffic State transportation officials plan to remove an unstable rocky outcropping above Kalanianaole Highway between the Lanai and Halona Blowhole lookouts A car is seen in this file photo traveling west on a stretch of the highway approaching Lanai Lookout Hawaii Department of Transportation officials said Kalanianaole Highway between Lunalilo Home Road and Kealahou Street in East Oahu will be closed Monday night for emergency work on the slope above the highway DOT officials said they plan to remove roughly 100 cubic yards of unstable material from a rocky outcropping over a section of the highway between the Lanai and Halona Blowhole lookouts DOT engineers have surveyed the slope and determined it needs to be removed to prevent rockfall and injury DOT said a resident expressed concerns about the area after heavy rain fell late last month and traffic will be detoured around Kalanianaole Highway using Kealahou Street The Hawaii Department of Transportation is holding a virtual public meeting at noon today about its intent to declare a traffic emergency zone on a section of Kalanianaole Highway — between the Lanai and Halona lookouts DOT officials say they plan to remove a rocky outcropping over that section of the highway in East Honolulu after a resident expressed concerns about it following heavy rains last month The public meeting is required within 24 hours of the designation “A traffic emergency zone declaration will allow HDOT to expedite procurement and permitting to take action to construct improvements to protect access to the state highway,” department officials said in a news release “Anyone wishing to comment on the designation of Kalanianaole Highway between Lanai Lookout and Halona Lookout as a traffic emergency zone may do so through a virtual public meeting to be conducted within 24 hours of the designation.” Editors' Picks Geological Survey map shows the approximate location of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake this afternoon off Oahu A magnitude 3.5 earthquake struck in the Kaiwi Channel off East Oahu and was widely felt throughout the island and on Molokai this afternoon The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the small quake did not pose a tsunami threat to Hawaii Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at about 1:53 p.m. and was centered about 19 miles east-southeast of East Oahu and 14 miles west-northwest of Maunaloa “Earthquakes in this region are not common but have occurred occasionally in the past 200 years,” officials with the USGS’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said in summary about the quake “These earthquakes are caused by bending of the crust beneath the islands and associated adjustments related to the weight of the islands.” Some East and Windward Oahu residents reported feeling a strong jolt to their homes and hearing a rumble while residents throughout Oahu also reported feeling some shaking The USGS’ “Did you feel it?” self-reported online survey for the temblor recorded over 200 immediate responses mostly from East and Windward Oahu but as far away as Pearl City and Mililani HVO scientists said that “aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks.” Hawaii American Water discharged effluent from the facility in exceedance of NPDES permit limits for ammonia nitrogen on 14 occasions The facility also failed to submit the required written noncompliance reports on two occasions The NOVO requires Hawaii American Water to pay a penalty of $47,750 and orders corrective actions to prevent future exceedances from occurring “Ammonia is derived from the breakdown of proteins and amino acids in wastewater,” said Kathleen Ho the deputy director for the Environmental Health Administration “High concentrations of ammonia can have toxic effects on aquatic organisms and contributes to excess nutrients in the water the discharge of ammonia above allowable limits into state waters is unacceptable.” government agencies and visitors must comply with environmental laws designed to protect Hawaiʻi Failure to comply with water pollution laws may subject violators to monetary penalties of up to $60,000 per day The DOH Clean Water Branch protects public health and the environment by prohibiting discharges which impair water quality keeping Hawaiʻi’s waters fishable and swimmable for everyone A press release states that owners and operators of wastewater systems must comply with environmental regulations that are in place to protect the public and responds to pollution of state waters Failure to do so results in legal action by the state Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Hawaii American Water was fined $47,750 and ordered to take corrective action for discharging excessive levels of ammonia nitrogen into the ocean on multiple occasions the state Department of Health reported on Friday Hawaii American Water is a subsidiary of the New Jersey-based American Water which identifies itself as the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States According to a notice of violation and order issued by DOH Hawaii American Water discharged into the ocean effluent that exceeded National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit limits from its wastewater treatment plant near Sandy Beach 14 times between August 2022 and April 2024 The facility also failed to submit required written noncompliance reports on two occasions “Ammonia is derived from the breakdown of proteins and amino acids in wastewater,” said Kathleen Ho “High concentrations of ammonia can have toxic effects on aquatic organisms and contributes to excess nutrients in the water the discharge of ammonia above allowable limits into state waters is unacceptable.” government agencies and visitors are subject to environmental laws In its release are subject to environmental laws designed to protect Hawaii Hawaii American Water filed a rate adjustment request with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission for its Hawaii Kai Mauna Lani and Waimea wastewater service customers to cover $41 million in local wastewater infrastructure replacement and upgrades in all three districts Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com flight disruptions and flooding affect thousands across Oahu Hawaii Photos By Nina Wu Health Hawaii health officials today said they have fined Hawaii American Water $47,750 for discharging effluent exceeding permitted limits of ammonia nitrogen into the ocean The state Department of Health has issued a notice of violation and order to the private water company for 14 such discharges from its East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant between August 2022 and 2024 deputy director for the Environmental Health Administration In addition to exceeding limits allowed under its state-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit the Health Department said the company also failed to submit required noncompliance reports on two occasions the notice requires Hawaii American Water to take corrective actions Honolulu-based Hawaii American Water owns and operates the East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant The treated wastewater is released into the ocean via an outfall at Sandy Beach government agencies and visitors must comply with water pollution laws and that failure to comply may result in penalties of up to $60,000 a day The department said it charged the company for 10 days of exceeding the limits rather than 12 because two were less than 1% over the permitted limit Hawaii American Water may request a hearing within 20 days of receiving the notice Hawaii’s congressional delegation has long supported the East-West Center but even their influence may not be enough to shield it from cuts a cornerstone of Hawaii’s diplomatic and educational landscape is facing the possibility of a significant funding cut that could jeopardize its future Established more than six decades ago to foster understanding between the United States and the Indo-Pacific region the center has become a key institution for educational exchange But shifting federal priorities and broader cuts to foreign assistance programs have put its financial stability in question East-West Center’s interim communications director said in an email that as of the last fiscal year the center was getting about 52% of its operating budget — $22 million — from federal funding The rest comes from public sources like grants and contracts include about 30% from private donors But that federal support has been the backbone of the center’s operations — and it’s now under threat The East-West Center recently laid off two employees whose positions were funded by a USAID grant that was abruptly canceled that’s the only direct consequence of the funding disruption But with the continuing resolution for federal funding set to expire at the end of next week the center’s long-term outlook remains unclear  “Like all organizations that receive federal funding we are concerned about the current environment and are in close touch with our federal liaisons and Congressional contacts to monitor events,” Ferrar added who sits on the House Appropriations Committee has been a vocal supporter of the center and has worked to secure funding in recent years But the current political climate has made that task more difficult “The East-West Center is one of Hawaii’s preeminent institutions and an invaluable part of our country’s interrelationships with the Indo-Pacific,” Case said in an email “It has been highly dependent on federal funding which I have strongly supported in my House Appropriations Committee and otherwise I have urged EWC for years now to diversify its funding sources to protect against attempted reductions in its federal funding.” Part of the issue stems from a funding pause by the Trump administration on Feb which halted the flow of money already appropriated for the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs — one of the center’s main funding sources “This pause was supposed to last for fifteen days but has extended into March causing great disruption in EWC’s external contracts and general finances,” Case wrote While a portion of the withheld funding has since been released following litigation Case acknowledged that “this does not solve the midterm challenge for EWC of continued attempts to reduce or defund altogether key federal programs and institutions that provide invaluable interaction with and assistance to our world.” The East-West Center was first envisioned by John A and then-Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson in 1959 Johnson first proposed the concept of an international center in Hawaii to serve as a meeting place for intellectuals from the East and West Oren Long passed a bill to establish the center with an initial appropriation of $10 million Since then, the EWC has become a hub for diplomatic and academic exchange in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the State Department’s FY 2025 budget justification the center has produced over 71,000 alumni including more than 30 heads of state or government 300 diplomats and many business and civil society leaders the Center serves as a primary institution to boost the Islands’ reputation as a hub for international affairs in the Pacific bringing more than $30 million annually into the local economy hosting well over a hundred public lectures and events and bringing in more than a thousand program participants each year,” Ferrar said in the email The center’s programs focus on issues like climate change Its hallmark leadership training programs have drawn participants from across the Indo-Pacific The East-West Center is currently searching for a new president — a process that began at the start of the year. The search announcement described the center’s vision as becoming “the premier institution in the Indo-Pacific to convene and equip a network of leaders to solve challenges of common concern.” While the funding outlook remains uncertain the EWC’s leadership is taking steps to brace for potential cuts Ferrar said the EWC has reduced nonessential expenditures but larger and longer-term cuts could affect the center’s ability to operate Brian Schatz has been a lead advocate for EWC funding throughout his time in the Senate As the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State Schatz is in an excellent position to secure funding for Hawaii-based programs like the East-West Center with the federal government making significant cuts to foreign assistance and cultural programs even Schatz may have limited ability to protect the center from budget reductions Its supporters are confident in its mission and impact — but whether that will be enough to withstand shifting federal priorities remains to be seen Weather low-lying clouds are seen above Makiki during a flood advisory today Heavy rain was falling over the Koolau mountains this morning The flood advisory for Hawaii island has been canceled The entire state remains under a flood watch through Sunday afternoon Forecasters said the Hawaiian islands will see periods of moderate to locally heavy rain spreading northwestward across the state today and Sunday with isolated thunderstorms possible over the eastern end of the state Light to moderate tradewinds are expected through this evening followed by “breezy trades with slightly drier conditions” next week A flood advisory for Hawaii island has been extended until 7:30 p.m radar indicated heavy rain over several areas of leeward Big Island with especially heavy rain from near Waikoloa to Honaunau,” forecasters said ” Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.” “Radar shows that the heavy rain has diminished and stream gauges show that water levels have dropped,” weather officials said The Big Island advisory in in effect until 4:30 p.m while an earlier advisory for Kauai has been canceled Flood advisories have been issued for parts of Kauai and Hawaii island this afternoon “rain gauges indicated heavy rain over windward portions,” especially over Wailua “radar indicated heavy rain over several leeward areas,” forecasters said A high surf advisory for all eastern shores The flash flood warning for Oahu expired at 1:15 p.m “Widespread heavy rainfall has diminished over windward Oahu but pockets of heavy showers continue to move ashore,” said forecasters “and the flash flood warning has been replaced with a flood advisory.” The flood advisory for the island remains in effect until 4:15 p.m with the potential to move into portions of Central Oahu where heavy rain has already fallen earlier today Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches an hour Some locations that will experience flooding include Honolulu A high surf advisory for all east-facing shores remains in effect through 6 p.m. and a flood watch for all main Hawaiian islands remains in effect through Sunday afternoon the National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Oahu until 1:15 p.m radar indicated heavy rain over central and eastern Oahu including communities in urban Honolulu,” forecasters said “Rain was falling at a rate of 1.5 to 3 inches per hour and was especially heavy from Halawa to near Pearl City Periods of heavy showers over already saturated ground may quickly lead to runoff and flash flooding “Water levels in already elevated streams could rise rapidly with additional heavy rain Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.” The flash flood warning for Oahu has been extended until 12:30 p.m radar indicated heavy rain over windward Oahu,” National Weather Service forecasters said “Rain rates as high as 1.5 to 2.5 inches per hour have been observed “Flash flooding is likely ongoing.” The flash flood warning for Maui has expired National Weather Service forecasters said heavy rain over windward Oahu at a rate of as much as 3 inches per hour “may quickly lead to runoff and flash flooding.” In an update to the flash flood warning for Oahu “Water levels in streams are expected to continue to rise Manoa Stream at Woodlawn has reached 10.5 feet which is known to cause impacts that include inundating nearby property Maui also remains under a flash flood warning but forecasters said rain is diminishing there “water levels remain dangerously high in most east Maui streams,” they said The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the main Hawaiian islands through Sunday afternoon “Flood prone roads and other low lying areas may be closed due to elevated runoff and overflowing streams Urban areas may receive more significant flooding and property damage A weather system moving over the islands through Sunday will result in “a very unstable atmosphere Conditions will be increasingly favorable for the development of heavy showers and thunderstorms especially over windward areas,” they said in the flood watch statement The flood watch is in addition to the flash flood warnings in effect for Oahu and Maui And a high surf advisory is in effect for all eastern shores Hawaii island Civil Defense said Bayfront Highway in Hilo is closed in both directions through today due to high surf and debris on roadway Flash flood warnings has been issued for Oahu and Maui this morning The National Weather Service in Honolulu said the warning lasts until 9:30 a.m radar indicated heavy rain over windward Oahu Rain rates as high as 1.5 to 2.5 inches per hour have been observed,” forecasters said “Periods of heavy showers over already saturated ground may quickly lead to runoff and flash flooding Water levels in streams are expected to continue to rise “radar indicated heavy rain over windward east Maui Rain was falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour The warnings replace flood advisories issued earlier today and may be extended if flooding persists Parts of Oahu and Maui are under a flood advisory this morning as a rainy weather system begins moving over the state according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu radar indicated heavy rain over the Koolaus Rain was falling at a rate of up to 2 inches per hour,” the advisory said radar indicated heavy rain over east and southeast slopes of Haleakala Rain was falling at a rate of up to 2 inches per hour,” the Maui advisory said In addition to the flood advisories a high surf advisory is in effect for all eastern shores through 6 p.m The weather service predicts large breaking waves of up to 8 to 12 feet this morning Hurricane Kristy in the East Pacific “is rapidly weakening” and expected to dissipate into a post-tropical remnant low by Sunday before reaching the Central Pacific according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami which was a major hurricane earlier this week far from land in the East Pacific had maximum sustained winds around 75 mph with higher gusts as of this morning Editors' PicksMauiMaui Wildfires CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM In response to the 2017 and 2018 wildfires in Kamilonui Valley firebreaks were cut to create defensible areas and have been maintained since dry brush and grasses line the Kaiwi coast lighting the sky above Kamehame Ridge in Hawaii Kai While West Oahu is well known as an area prone to wildfires due to its dryness East Honolulu is also vulnerable in its own ways are rated as at either high or extremely high risk for wildfires The nonprofit Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization developed the plan in partnership with various county state and federal agencies to identify fire risks and prioritize actions “Wildfires have repeatedly been a problem in East Honolulu particularly in Hawaii Kai which is exposed to trade­winds that originate from the north and wrap around the eastern end of the island,” said the plan Hawaii Kai is adjacent to lowland alien-dominated grasslands shrublands as well as cliffs and ridges which can experience periods of drought.” Steep slopes and strong wind in portions of East Honolulu along with a high percentage of ignitable vegetation and a history of human-caused fires puts the area at increased risk of wildfire,” said the report The East Honolulu area covered in the plan stretches across roughly 22,000 acres — from Waikiki and St Roughly 50,900 residents live in these neighborhoods many of which are nestled in valleys or up along ridges there have been notable wildfires throughout East Honolulu between 1999 and 2019 — from St Louis Heights to the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline on the southeastern tip of Oahu Louis Heights resident Brett Schenk has major concerns about low water pressure at area fire hydrants Schenk lives on a narrow street and says the fire hydrant there gets only 15 pounds per square inch He’s got 600-gallon drums he can fill up with water but wants a backup plan for wildfire emergencies He’s trimmed his lychee trees and created defensible space around his home but is well aware there are flammable ironwood trees nearby In Hawaii Kai there have been numerous fires over the years that resulted in the closure of Kalanianaole Highway There have been wildfires in Kamilo Nui Valley, Kalama Valley and Mariners Ridge that got dangerously close to homes is not surprised by the plan’s findings which she hopes will jump-start more action and help communities qualify for federal funding In 2017 the Kamilo Nui fires prompted her group to work with HWMO to establish Oahu’s first “Firewise” community Kamilo Nui farmers and Mariners Cove residents got together along with landowner Kameha­meha Schools community members must continue to maintain three firebreaks Kamilo Nui Farm Lots are rated as high-risk across three hazard categories which weighs in factors such as density and fire service access “It would be great if more neighborhoods would become designated Firewise communities,” she said “The only way to really get a handle on this is for the average resident to not be complacent.” Other East Honolulu communities — including Waialae Iki V Waialae Iki Ridge and Queen’s Gate II — are in the process of becoming Firewise communities Lani­kai is also working to become a Firewise community The vegetation across East Honolulu is dense The plan also noted that East Honolulu has a high density of both residents and visitors given that it is also home to key attractions such as Diamond Head State Park Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Preserve and Koko Crater Along the Kaiwi coastline there is a convergence of people with ignitable vegetation growing behind the firing targets Abandoned trash and vehicles are another problem in Kalama Valley and the Kaiwi coastline Reilly and the Livable Hawaii Kai Hui have for years overseen hundreds of acres of conservation lands including the vulnerable lands along the Kaiwi coastline including the Sierra Club and 808 Cleanups have been working diligently to restore the area — clearing out invasives and replacing them with natives every entity in Hawaii Kai would “look at all of this high-level fuel and start taking it down vegetative fire threats on Oahu include invasive guinea and buffel grasses which dry quickly and are easily ignitable even in humid conditions The lower-elevation forests of East Honolulu are filled with non-native trees, including kiawe, koa haole and Christmasberry, all of which are flammable. Koa haole pods are particularly worrisome because during strong wind events they can travel several miles The plan includes a list of recommended actions whether it be done by crews whacking down weeds or the deployment of goats and sheep It is also important to ensure that East Honolulu communities have two ways in and two ways out along with evacuation plans from each neighborhood board Neighborhoods located high on ridges generally have limited access there would be a system of alternative water resources tanks and swimming pools if needed for firefighting efforts Communities also need a reporting system so they are aware of problem areas and figure out how to contact absentee owners with overgrown vegetation on their properties All of these projects would require funding Reilly says she will bring the plan to the attention of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board to raise awareness of what needs to be done “I just want to make sure it doesn’t just sit on a shelf and collect dust,” she said She said remaining challenges include how to make sure easements including some that belong to Hawaiian Electric Kalama Valley residents are also concerned about their experiences with recent power outages she said — in which they lost cellular phone services — and want backup plans for maintaining communications during emergencies HWMO also expects to publish Community Wildfire Protection Plans for South Kona Northwest Hawaii island and Kauai County this year Lanai and Windward Oahu in following years Koko Crater burns to the edge of Kalanianaole Highway threatening a dozen homes and prompting evacuation of Sandy Beach Three intentionally set fires damage Kaiwi shoreline and endangered plants >> July 2010, 200 acres. Twelve fires set by illegal fireworks that landed in dry brush threaten $50 million worth of homes on Kamehame Ridge in Kalama Valley Downed power line sets fire near Mariners Ridge prompting shutdown of Kalanianaole Highway Koko Head Crater wildfire burns close to homes results in evacuation of animals from stable Kamilo Nui homes threatened by a dozen or so fires intentionally set in the area Kaiwi/Hawaii Kai fire threatens shoreline and native plants * Subdivision hazard includes assessments of home setbacks Vegetation hazard looks at proximity of flammable fuels and amount of defensible space around homes Building hazard looks at structural ignitability and utilities placement Editors' PicksHawaii islandKauaiWeather A woman with an umbrella crosses Vineyard Boulevard today during a lull in heavy rains Weather radar shows areas of moisture forming over the Hawaiian Islands today Windward Oahu is under a flood advisory through 11:45 p.m. radar indicated heavy showers and thunderstorms over the northern half of the Koolau Mountains with rain falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour,” according to the advisory Locations covered by the advisory include Punaluu Advisories for Kauai and Maui have expired The flood advisory for Maui has been extended to 10:30 p.m. radar indicated moderate to heavy showers repeatedly developing over windward portions on Maui Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour,” the updated advisory said The National Weather Service canceled the flood advisory for Oahu but issued an advisory for Maui as today’s intermitten showers moves east The flood advisory for the Valley Isle lasts until 8 p.m radar indicated heavy rain over leeward Haleakala slopes on Maui Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour,” forecasters said The flood advisory for Kauai remains in effect until 6 p.m The flood advisory for Oahu has been extended until 6:30 p.m the radar showed heavy rain falling over Windward Oahu at about 1 to 2 inches per hour a high surf advisory is in effect for the north- and west-facing shores of Oahu and the north facing-shores of Maui until 6 a.m Expect large breaking waves of 12 to 16 feet along the northern shores strong breaking waves and currents will make surfing and swimming dangerous A winter weather advisory for the Big Island summits is in effect until 6 p.m Friday with total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches expected A flood advisory in effect for Kauai has been extended until 6 p.m the radar showed heavy rain over Kauai at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour Some locations that will experience flooding include Lihue Forecasters urged staying away from streams drainage ditches and low-lying areas that are prone to flooding “Do not cross fast flowing or rising water in your vehicle don’t drown,” according to the forecast Heavy showers continue to soak parts of the state prompting the National Weather Service to extend a flood advisory for Oahu and issue a new one for Kauai radar showed rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over windward Oahu with ponding and minor flooding reported on roads The updated advisory is in effect until 3:30 p.m Forecasters urge residents to stay alert and avoid fast-moving water don’t drown,” the advisory warns a flood advisory is in effect through 3 p.m after radar detected similarly heavy rain over the island at 11:48 a.m The weather service said flooding could affect roads and trails Officials are reminding the public to steer clear of streams and flood-prone zones until conditions improve The flood advisory for Kauai has been cancelled but the National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a special marine weather warning for the waters surrounding the Garden Isle multiple strong thunderstorms were identified over waters surrounding Kauai,” the warning said noting the storms were packing wind gusts of 34 knots or greater and small hail “Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.” and northwest waters around the island until 12:30 p.m A large portion of Oahu is under a flood advisory until 12:30 p.m streams and areas with poor drainage possible Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour,” the advisory says The weather service said the public to stay away from streams drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding don’t drown,” the advisory says A flood advisory for Kauai is in effect until noon today radar indicated heavy rain over windward Kauai,” the advisory says “Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.” The flood advisory for Oahu has been canceled Radar showed the heavy rain over Oahu has diminished The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for Oahu as heavy showers continue to drench the island this morning but could be extended if flooding persists detected rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over East Oahu with the heaviest rain falling in areas between Waikiki and Hawaii Kai in low-lying areas with poor drainage and in streams Some locations that may experience flooding include Honolulu Residents are urged to stay away from streams drainage ditches and flood-prone areas until the advisory expires a winter weather advisory has been issued for summits above 11,000 feet from noon today through 6 p.m A slow-moving upper-level trough is expected to bring 3 to 5 inches of snow with blowing snow likely to reduce visibility to near zero at times The NWS warns that travel to the summits could become very difficult and advises caution for anyone planning to be in the area Forecasters say the state will remain in a convective weather pattern with light winds and scattered showers through the weekend Moderate tradewinds are expected to return by early next week but lingering moisture could keep showers active Another storm system developing west of the state may bring southerly winds heavy rain and thunderstorms by Tuesday or Wednesday Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - An extensive overgrowth of albizia trees is to blame for recent power outages in East Honolulu the Hawaiian Electric Company said Thursday HECO said helicopter inspections revealed that the albizia trees have been choking up critical transmission line corridors along the base of the Koolau mountains East Honolulu relies on these power lines crossing over the base of the Koolau mountain range from Windward Oahu “We have schedules we follow to cut back vegetation from critical areas but invasive albizia are especially challenging because they grow so quickly and have branches that can break off easily especially in heavy rains,” said Jim Alberts senior vice president and chief operations officer of Hawaiian Electric an albizia tree fell across one of the lines triggering power outages for portions of Hawaii Kai “We’re developing action plans to clear this area to ensure reliable service to the area,” Alberts added HECO said it spends approximately $12 million a year on vegetation management on Oahu This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A satellite this morning shows areas of moisture over the Hawaiian islands The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement warning of significant weather impacts across Hawaii from Wednesday night through early Friday An unusually strong low-pressure system is expected to pass north of the islands on Thursday and the potential for severe thunderstorms Damaging downsloping winds are forecast east of mountain ranges from Wednesday night through Thursday night Heavy rainfall capable of causing flash flooding is expected statewide with the heaviest rain likely over leeward terrain Intense rain rates and an enhanced risk of strong to severe thunderstorms are anticipated with the primary threat being damaging wind gusts especially over western areas of the state The earlier flood advisory for the island of Maui has expired Weather officials say heavy showers and thunderstorms are still hitting East Maui this morning with northern portions of East Hawaii island expected to see similar conditions later today Breezy and cool northerly winds will develop today as a cold front moves through the islands bringing temporary relief from heavy rainfall The National Weather Service has canceled a flood watch for Oahu but Maui County remains under a flood watch through noon today as heavy rains persist A flood advisory is also in effect for the island of Maui until 10 a.m after radar reports of heavy rainfall over East Maui with rain rates of 1 to 2.5 inches per hour Wailua and Hamoa are at risk of minor flooding in streams The advisory comes as a slow-moving cold front continues to affect Maui The NWS warns that heavy showers and thunderstorms triggered by an upper-level trough could result in flash flooding Officials urge residents and visitors in affected areas to avoid streams Urban areas could experience significant runoff and property damage in some locations Rainfall across Maui County is expected to taper off this afternoon as conditions improve Heavy rains on Oahu abated Sunday night but National Weather Service forecasters say Hawaii residents should expect more strong thunderstorms later this week “A potent winter low will affect the state Wednesday night through Thursday night bringing a significant threat of strong to potentially damaging southwest winds and strong to severe thunderstorms,” forecasters said “Impacts should diminish on Friday as the low races away to the northeast.” A fast-moving but powerful storm brought heavy rain and lightning throughout Oahu Sunday night leading to a flash flood warning for several hours for Windward and East Oahu and to temporary power outages affecting thousands of residents The warning expired but a flood watch remained for Kauai The flash flood warning for Oahu has expired but most Hawaiian islands remain under a flood watch “A trough developing near Oahu will merge with a front overnight and move slowly eastward,” National Weather Service forecasters said “An upper level trough will trigger heavy showers and thunderstorms along the trough The flood threat will decrease during the day on Monday.” Forecasters said that “a trough developing near Oahu will merge with a front overnight and move slowly eastward An upper level trough will trigger heavy showers and thunderstorms along the trough Much of Oahu is under a flash flood warning as heavy rain falls over a large part of the island tonight The National Weather Service in Honolulu says the warning is in effect until 10 p.m radar indicated heavy rain over eastern Oahu with the heaviest rain falling from Kaaawa to Manoa Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly,” the warning said The weather service also has issued a flash flood watch until late tonight for Kauai “A trough developing near Oahu will merge with a front overnight and move slowly eastward,” forecasters said Editors' PicksWeather A flash flood warning is in effect for all of Oahu through 2 p.m A woman cleared out floodwater from a business in downtown Honolulu A woman crosses South King Street in the rain Radar this morning shows areas of moisture over Hawaii The flash flood warning for Maui has been extended until 3:30 a.m radar and rain gauges indicated that heavy rainfall continues to move over Maui from the southwest,” forecasters said “Peak rain rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour have been occurring along the south facing slopes of the island The Maui Emergency Management Agency reported that Piilani Highway remains closed west of Kaupo All of South Kihei Road also remains closed.” They said heavy rain will continue to fall on Maui over the next several hours The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Oahu until 2 a.m radar showed a new line of heavy rainfall moving toward Oahu from the west,” the updated warning said “Rain rates within the line were 1 to 2 inches per hour This rainfall will be moving over already saturated ground which may quickly produce runoff and flooding.” The line of showers is expected to move across the island over the next couple of hours Oahu was drenched throughout Thursday with Waimanalo recording 7 inches of rain for the 24 hours ending at 9:45 p.m Other areas getting about 6 inches of rain or more included Hawaii Kai Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has issued a declaration of emergency in response to today’s storm that brought damaging winds The declaration will allow the city to suspend laws or regulations that could impede storm recovery efforts The flash flood warning for Maui and Molokai has been extended until 12:30 a.m Friday The National Weather Service said at 9:18 p.m heavy rain continue to fall over Maui with rain rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour moving over the central valley from Kihei and Wailea toward Upcountry Maui “The Maui Emergency Management Agency reported that South Kihei Road has already been closed The Piilani Highway is also expected to become impassable at several locations west of Kaupo Additional rainfall will be moving over Maui from the southwest over the next several hours,” the warning said a band of intense rainfall was moving over east Molokai near Kamalo and Pukoo with rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour The Kawela Gulch gauge indicated water levels that result in the closure of Highway 450 at several locations from Kaunakakai to Pukoo.” County officials said earlier this evening that the American Red Cross has opened three shelters on Maui this afternoon to prepare for potential severe weather impacts rns and the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) the American Red Cross has opened three shelters on Maui this afternoon to prepare for potential severe weather impacts >> Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center All Maui County offices will be closed Friday and are expected to reopen Monday The University of Hawaii Maui College campus in Kahului and the Molokai and Lanai Education Centers will also be closed on Friday with no in-person classes The state Department of Education said earlier tonight that all public schools in Maui County will be closed Friday The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the island of Maui until 9:30 p.m rainfall is increasing over east Maui with peak rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour over the southeast and east slopes of Haleakala,” the warning said “Additional rainfall is also starting to increase over West Maui Flooding is expected to close the Piilani Highway west of Kaupo at several gulches A high chance of flooding impacts is also expected from Maalaea to Wailea Oahu and Molokai are also covered by flash flood warnings a downed tree closed Keeaumoku Street in both directions between Kapiolani Boulevard and Makaloa Street while another tree fell on two cars in Ala Moana Beach Park The flash flood warning for Oahu has been extended until 11 p.m but stream gauges still indicated elevated levels especially across the windward slopes of the Koolau Range,” the updated warnings from the National Weather Service said “The Department of Emergency Management also reported ongoing flooding impacts Forecasters warned of flooding in drainages and said that road closures are possible as well as landslides in steep terrain A flood advisory is also in effect for Lanai until 10:30 p.m with rain falling at rates of about 2 inches an hour just before 7:30 p.m State Department of Education officials said all public schools on Maui Molokai and Lanai will remain closed Friday as the powerful storm that has drenched Kauai and Oahu moves east over Maui County “The decision is based on forecasts showing the “peak” storm period impacting all of Maui County – Maui Molokai and Lana‘i – with the heaviest rain Thursday to noon Friday,” DOE officials said in a news release All other department schools and offices are scheduled to be open Friday The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a flash flood warning for Molokai until 9:30 p.m rainfall continues to increase across Molokai with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over many parts of the island,” the warning said “Additional rainfall will continue to move over the area over the next several hours Highway 450 will likely become impassable at multiple locations between Kaunakakai and Pukoo.” Locations that will experience flash flooding include Kaunakakai Oahu remains under a flash flood warning until 8 p.m The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for the island of Oahu to 8 p.m radar indicated heavy rain moving over the southeastern half of Oahu with the heaviest rain rates up to 3 inches per hour,” the updated warning said “Streams along windward Oahu have been showing rises in water levels Weather officials warn of flooding in drainages Public road closures are possible in some areas The warning is in place for the entire island of Oahu officials from the Hawaii Department of Transportation reported a tree overhanging Pali Highway at Waokanaka Drivers are advised to avoid the right lane city officials reproted that Kapaa Quarry Road near Mokapu Boulevard is closed due to flooding The NWS has also extended a flood advisory for the island of Maui to 7:15 p.m Some locations that will experience flooding include Kaupo The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Oahu until 5 p.m radar indicated heavy rain has temporarily subsided over Oahu Additional redevelopment is expected to move quickly over Oahu from the south with rain rates up to 2 inches per hour,” the updated warning said Flash flooding is ongoing over roads across the island Weaver Road at Aekai Place at about 12:24 p.m The entire state remains under a flash flood watch until Friday afternoon and a high wind warning until noon Friday with winds of at least 40 mph Hawaii Kai and Kalama Valley in East Oahu are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 1:15 p.m a severe thunderstorm was located over Koko Crater moving northeast at 35 mph toward Makapuu,” the National Weather Service said Forecasters said 60 mph wind gusts are possible There are a number of weather-related road closures around the state: >> Kapaa Quarry Place to Mokapu Boulevard is closed due to flooding >> Kokee Road on Kauai is closed at mile post 11.5 and 13 due to fallen trees >> The two left lanes of Nimitz Highway westbound are closed after River Street due to flooding A stalled vehicle was also reported in one of the flooded lanes The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Oahu until 12:15 p.m a severe thunderstorm was located over Waimanalo and Hawaii Kai Weather officials warn of possible damage to roofs Locations affected include Kaneohe Marine Base “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,” said NWS in the warning Radar and automated rain gauges at 11:58 a.m showed heavy rain continuing to fall over the eastern portion of Oahu Radar also indicated moderate to heavy showers developing and moving quickly over Oahu from the south Rain was falling at a rate of up to 3 inches per hour Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly City officials said the Honolulu Zoo in Waikiki closed this morning due to the heavy rains The zoo is expected to remain closed for the rest of the day play was suspended until further notice at the city’s six municipal golf courses due to heavy rains and strong winds The Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation says city pools will close if there is thunder and heavy rain The Mark Takai Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center is closed today Numerous city parks are already closed to the public Mink Central Oahu Regional Park and Hans L’Orange Neighborhood Park the state Department of Education closed all public schools on Maui today after consulting with the Maui Emergency Management Agency Arrangements were being made for buses to transport students who ride the school bus to/from school They said a decision will be made by 6 p.m emergency officials “strongly advise the public to avoid outdoor activities in flood-prone areas like roadways The Kauai Department of Water has issued a conservation request for Hanalei Wainiha and Haena until further notice due to an electrical power outage Customers are advised to limit water use to essential needs only A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Honolulu and Maui counties “A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area,” said NWS “Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.” Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging winds of 58 mph or higher or destructive hail the size of quarters or larger The thunderstorm watch includes adjacent coastal waters including all of the channels and Maalaea Bay The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement saying strong thunderstorms will affect Oahu through noon today Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Kaneohe Marine Base to 8 miles south of Palolo Movement was northeast at 40 mph and will move over east Honolulu consider seeking shelter inside a building,” the NWS said has canceled the flood advisory for Hawaii island A flash flood warning has been posted for Oahu through 2 p.m showed heavy rain falling over the entire island of Oahu at a rate of up to 3 inches per hour “Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly,” the NWS said in a bulletin The flood advisory for the island of Oahu has been extended to 1:30 p.m radar indicated moderate to heavy showers developing and moving quickly over Oahu from the south A flood advisory for the island of Hawaii has been extended until 1 p.m showers have temporarily diminished although radar continues to indicate moderate to heavy showers developing and moving quickly over the southeast facing slopes of Kau Puna and South Hilo Districts with rain rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour Some locations that will experience flooding include Hilo Weather officials advise the public to stay away from streams and is expected to remain closed through at least noon on Friday has canceled the severe thunderstorm watch for Kauai A flood watch is in effect for all Hawaiian islands until 6 p.m The flood advisory for the island of Kauai has been canceled the flood advisory for Hawaii island has been extended through 1 p.m but still moderate to heavy showers developing and moving swiftly over the southeast slopes of Kau Puna and south Hilo districts with rain rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour The island of Kauai is under a severe thunderstorm watch as a large storm system begins to hit the state “A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings,” the National Weather Service advisory says Severe thunderstorms produce damaging winds of 58 mph or higher or destructive hail the size of quarters of larger An earlier thunderstorm warning for Kauai has expired a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph was recorded in Lihue The flood advisory for the island of Kauai has been extended through 10:45 a.m showed moderate to heavy showers developing and moving over Kauai from the south with rain falling at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour Water levels are elevated in streams across much of the island and runoff affecting low-lying areas is possible A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Lihue was canceled today due to the weather said the captain initially announced a delay due to being unable to land at Lihue Airport Hawaiian Airlines flight HA134 from Lihue to Honolulu was also canceled Hawaiian Airlines is offering travel waivers to customers affected by the weather The flood advisory for Hawaii island has been extended through 10 a.m showed moderate to heavy showers developing and moving quickly over the southeast-facing slopes of Kau Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the island of Kauai radar showed a severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles south of Eleele moving northeast at 40 mph and headed toward southeast Kauai the National Weather Service said to remain alert for possible tornadoes “Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms If you spot a tornado go at once into the basement or small central room in a sturdy structure,” weather officials said Locations affected by the warning include Lihue The National Weather Service has issued multiple warnings and advisories as a powerful storm system moves through the islands bringing the threat of severe thunderstorms damaging winds and flash flooding through Friday A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Kauai and its adjacent coastal waters until noon today with the potential for damaging winds over 58 mph and hail the size of quarters or larger A high wind warning remains active for Oahu with sustained winds of 20 to 35 mph and gusts over 60 mph that could bring down trees and power lines Maui County also came under a high wind warning at 6 a.m flood advisories have been issued for Kauai and Hawaii island due to excessive rainfall heavy showers are moving in from the south with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour leading to rising stream levels and minor flooding in low-lying areas The advisory remains in effect until 7:45 a.m today but may be extended if conditions persist with a flood advisory in effect until 7 a.m A flood watch is in place for all Hawaiian Islands through 6 p.m as the approaching cold front brings the potential for widespread flash flooding and thunderstorms Weather officials say damaging winds could knock down trees and power lines and cause structural damage Flash flooding could lead to road closures urban runoff and dangerous conditions in streams and low-lying areas Residents and visitors are urged to secure loose outdoor items stay indoors if possible and avoid driving through flooded roads Boaters and mariners should take extra caution as hazardous conditions are expected in coastal waters Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox A three-year project in East Oahu funded by NOAA is off to a “remarkable” start It’s been a year since eight conservation groups launched an unprecedented large-scale restoration effort in the islands that tries to apply the Hawaiian concept of ahupuaa ridge-to-reef land management to one of Honolulu’s most heavily developed areas funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has made early progress toward building pig-proof fences and reversing severe stream erosion in the upper forests of East Honolulu’s Wailupe They’ve also re-planted more than 1,500 heat-resilient coral fragments in the watersheds’ lower reaches of Maunalua Bay That’s occurred during the first year of what’s slated to be a three-year campaign But the groups still face an uphill climb making measurable impacts in the critical middle section of those watersheds — the urban flatlands that make their ridge-to-reef restoration project so unique Just four homeowners in those East Honolulu flatlands, which are covered in pavement and concrete, have agreed so far to install rain barrels on their properties and help prevent excessive stormwater from flowing into Maunalua Bay, according to Doug Harper, executive director of the nonprofit Malama Maunalua “We have a lot of work to do,” Harper said last week “If every homeowner installed a rain barrel that’s literally millions of gallons that won’t be coming down (into Maunalua Bay) annually.”  Some $1.5 million of the NOAA funding has been expended so far which spearheaded the effort to get those dollars the consortium is working to finalize its construction permits to install fencing around 400 acres of mostly pristine forest between the Hawaii Loa and Kuliouou ridges The groups are also working on a project to stem the massive erosion in the Wailupe Stream that deposits tons of sediment into Maunalua Bay plus stormwater and pollutants from the flatlands can do enormous damage to the bay’s fragile ecosystem Homeowners can use the water collected in rain barrels to water their landscaping or for other uses on-site Harper said that Malama Maunalua and the other groups plan to do more outreach to try and spur more interest in the barrels among East Honolulu homeowners They’re also looking into ways to potentially subsidize the cost of those barrels, Harper said. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply already tries to encourage rain barrel purchases with its own $40 rebate program The conservation consortium is also working with local schools and a shopping center that might soon install permeable surfaces on their property to absorb storm water into the ground NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad said he’s impressed with how the reef-to-ridge project has gone so far “It’s remarkable,” Spinrad said during a visit Tuesday to Maunalua Bay where Harper and other project leaders briefed him on their efforts “As environmental scientists we all understand the connectivity between what’s happening on ridge and here it is right in front of us in a relatively compact demonstration.”  If Hawaii’s first urban ridge-to-reef restoration is a success organizers believe it could be replicated in other heavily developed parts of town Harper said the current work is about “proving that we can do it.” Civil Beat’s coverage of climate change is supported by The Healy Foundation Marisla Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation and the Frost Family Foundation Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Marcel Honoré is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can email him at mhonore@civilbeat.org Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter HONOLULU — Recent outages that left thousands of East Honolulu households without power may have been caused by overgrown albizia trees choking critical transmission line corridors that run along the base of the Koolau mountains The overgrowth was detected during recent helicopter inspections conducted by HECO East Honolulu relies on power lines that carry electricity from Windward Oahu These lines run along the base of the Koolau range near Waimanalo and into East Honolulu portions of Hawaii Kai lost power when an albizia tree fell across one of the lines Follow-up aerial inspections found albizia trees encroaching on long sections of the lines HECO senior vice president and chief operations officer “We’re developing action plans to clear this area to ensure reliable service to the area.”  Introduced to Hawaii from Indonesia more than a century ago to help control erosion Albizia trees are a particular hazard to power lines because of their rapid growth—up to 15 feet per year—and brittle branches which are prone to breaking during high-wind or storm conditions prolonged outages in Hawaii Kai and East Honolulu over the last few months have drawn the scrutiny of local lawmakers who last month called for the Public Utilities Commission to investigate HECO reliability issues chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs; Jarrett Keohokalole chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection; and Lynn DeCoite called on the commission to exercise its investigative powers to protect the public interest The lawmakers cited the April 14 outage that knocked out power to more than 13,000 HECO customers prompted the closure of five East Oahu schools and triggered the release of 237,500 gallons of sewage into the ocean when the East Honolulu Treatment Plant lost electricity HECO said heavy rains and severe weather caused about 4,000 feet of 46-kilovolt line to fall across a second transmission line Repair efforts were hampered by steep terrain and the inability to use a helicopter due to continued bad weather Subscribe! Honolulu Magazine | Honolulu Family the island’s greatest poke event returns to town Our first ever Poke Fest East hits Kāhala Mall that day from 3 to 7 p.m for a glorious four-hour stretch as afternoon segues to evening marking the first townside locale for the event since the pandemic Ora King salmon poke toast (HanaPa‘a Market) tossed in a custom chili oil from Maui (“Nobody else can get it,” Sato Seafood says) And reflecting Hawai‘i’s love affair with all things K-hyphenated first-time participant Mama Kim’s is bringing K-Town Poke of ‘ahi with house-made kim chee in a special sauce fellow first-timer Da Bald Guy is crowning kalbi kimbap with soy-ginger gochujang poke and Kāhala’s own Kapa Hale is debuting a new Japchae Poke There’s even a dessert poke (no seafood plenty of buttery shortbread and fresh summer flavors) 15 poke vendors will line the parking lot fronting Planet Fitness and a space inside the mall joining a slew of other vendors selling snacks DJ Toma will set the tone outside and DeeJay A.i.T inside and there’ll be fun keiki games and other activities Two more important things: All poke vendors will be selling their signature poke as well as all-new poke created specially for Poke Fest East You vote online for your favorite new poke and we’ll compile the results and announce the first ever King of Poke Fest East you’ll want to get a Poke Pass or two Poke Passes get you 5 scrips to redeem at any poke vendor of your choice for a 4-ounce portion of their Poke Fest creation Special fast lanes save you the hassle of waiting to order and pay BUY A POKE PASS Now feast your eyes on the lineup of new poke coming to Poke Fest East: Photo: Courtesy of Ali‘i Fish Market Garlic Butter ‘Ahi Poke with furikake panko crumbs: North Shore-style shrimp truck SEE ALSO: Mō‘ili‘ili’s New Ali‘i Fish Market Levels Up the Poke Bowl Game Bald Guys Pokebap: Soy-ginger gochujang poke crowning a kalbi kimbap Bruce Lee Candy ‘Ahi Poke on tempura onions Hanapa‘a Poke: Ora King salmon poke toast with “inamona limu “tapenade,” smoked ikura Japchae Poke: Korean Style ‘Ahi Poke with carrots SEE ALSO: 2021 Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: Kapa Hale Named Best New Restaurant in Hawai‘i ‘Ahi Poke Nachos: Fresh Shoyster ‘Ahi poke on a bed of shrimp chips and imitation crab salad topped with three sauces and fresh green onion and cilantro Misoyaki ‘Ahi with Ginger Rice: Miso K-town Poke: Sashimi-grade ‘ahi poke cabbage kim chee in house-made sauce of fresh red chile pepper SEE ALSO: Mama Kim’s Fresh Sushi and Poke Bowls Spice Up Kāheka Lehua’s Crunchy Garlic ‘Ahi Poke Spicy Maui Maui: Fresh ‘ahi tossed in creamy spicy mayo made with a special custom chili oil from Maui Amaritto Bliss Poke: A play on amaretto (almond) this refreshingly sweet “poke” pairs bite-size pieces of buttery shortbread with strawberries Come hungry—we’ll see you at Poke Fest East at Kāhala Mall on Saturday Honolulu’s favorite poke bash is back—and this time we’re taking over Honolulu’s east side Frolic’s first-ever Poke Fest East is happening on Saturday prepare yourself for an afternoon filled with da best poke on the island fun keiki games and plenty of vendors offering good eats ‘ono sweets and refreshing drinks to cool off in the summer heat you’ll also have the chance to try new poke creations unique to Poke Fest Vote on your favorite contender to help us crown our very first King of Poke Fest East Preorder a Poke Pass for the ultimate Poke Fest experience which grant you access to a special fast lane and a 4-ounce portion of a new Poke Fest poke creation from a participating vendor of your choice Here’s a list of who you’ll find at Poke Fest East Keep checking back as new vendors are added Want to be vendor at Poke Fest? Contact us at events@honolulumagazine.com VIRTUAL EAST HONOLULU COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION MEETING To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/738828916 (HONOLULU) – Worried about what to do during a potential wildfire People living and working in East Honolulu have two opportunities on August 16 to attend a virtual meeting to have wildfire concerns heard and to begin the development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) The Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) in partnership with the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) will hold two virtual meetings on Tuesday Louis Heights neighborhoods are encouraged to attend CWPPs are planning tools used across the country to bring fire and forestry professionals and interested people from neighborhoods and relevant sectors together and plan toward greater wildfire awareness and safety for their areas or communities Wildfire protection plans assist communities to identify and prioritize areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments; assess values at risk such as wildlife habitat recreation and scenic values and economic issues HD video – Diamond Head Lookout Towards East Honolulu https://vimeo.com/738828916 Photographs – Diamond Head lookout photos, August 11, 2022 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5ljgvjgg23zryyf/AADQe_muD9mxdZEz2fWKmnFOa?dl=0 5:30 p.m. meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAocuyvqzgrHtDgKoe7GUI828f3H1z0EZzU Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources [email protected] Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Torrential rains battered parts of Oahu Monday after a wet weekend flooding vehicles and triggering landslides on major thoroughfares Several weather alerts were posted and the rains snarled traffic throughout much of the day. A landslide closed town-bound lanes of the Kalanianaole Highway near Kapaa Quarry Road. It wasn’t immediately clear when the debris would be cleared. Meanwhile, the Pali Highway on the Kailua side of the tunnel was also closed due to a landslide. And the H-3 Freeway was flooded coming onto Kamehameha Highway. Residents in the area said rain had been pelting for hours. “Constant rain since 11 o’ clock this morning going steady, and a few hours later we had this raging rapid river behind our house,” said Irwin Santos, of Kaneohe. “I just happened to look out the window and noticed the brown water heading down.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hawaii News Now (@hawaiinewsnow) Santos said he worries about the weeds and shrubbery inside the river adding that it needs to be cleaned out regularly “It gets worrisome when the level of the water gets that high,” he said First Alert Weather: Flash flood warning canceled for Oahu as heavy rain diminishes Separately, Kamehameha Highway at Waikane Valley was also flooded due to heavy rains. Some drivers were forced to wait it out on the side of the road until the floodwaters cleared. “I have a Mazda Miata MX5 and the water is pretty high up on my car. And now I’m stuck here at the 7-11 because the roads flooded. I cant get back home,” Punaluu resident Elsie Pray said. When Hawaii News Now spoke with Danel Colins on Monday afternoon, he had already been waiting upwards of two hours at a Windward Oahu gas station. “We went to go pick our kids up from school from Waiahole Elementary and our road was flooded. We couldn’t get back into our road or go to Waiahole ‘cuz they had a big flood in Waikane,” he said. Honolulu firefighters escorted 15 people from vehicles flooded or stuck in the area. Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hawaii News Now (@hawaiinewsnow) I don’t think I’ve ever been so dumbfounded by plumeria before The trees grow abundantly all across the island with blooms of various hues and petal shapes after the tree was introduced to Hawaii in the mid-1800s the blooms were used frequently for funerals; you could always count on them to be in bloom the trees I’m looking at are not your run-of-the-mill plumeria Just steps into Koko Crater Botanical Garden in Hawaii Kai a oceanfront community about half an hour east of Waikiki surrounded by towering trees erupting with flowers almost as big as my hand I spot the classic white blossom with a yellow center bright pink plumeria and the yellow and pink plumeria that remind me of a Hawaiian sunset The lightly sweet smell is intoxicating and a part of me wants to pull out my latest read sit under the shade of one of these trees and maybe take an accidental nap But I can’t fight my innate curiosity—I’ve got to see the rest of the 60-acre garden tucked in the basin of Koko Crater which has conveniently been xeriscaped so that plants can still flourish in the crater’s naturally dry conditions you don’t have to pay to explore this oasis the gardens lie within what is actually the fusion of two craters formed around 100,000 years ago during volcanic eruptions It’s hard to imagine such earth-shattering activity as I set off on the peaceful 2-mile self-guided loop through the sleepy garden With no one else in sight—when I arrived around noon my car was one of only three in the small lot—the only sounds I hear are the occasional coos of zebra doves and rustling of mongooses in the tall grass bordering the dirt trail The garden is home to plant species from Hawaii and beyond including fat baobab trees from Madagascar and the unsuspecting henna plant Asia and the Middle East for its natural dyeing abilities And those arid conditions I mentioned earlier create the perfect environment for Koko Crater Botanical Garden’s top attraction: a South American cactus garden filled with globular golden barrel cactus and curly octopus agave Although I recognize a few plants on my way like naupaka—the beach and mountain plant whose white flowers appear to be only half a bloom—as I turn every corner I’m greeted with a new landscape and foreign flora It honestly feels like I’ve teleported to a different country then weaving through African sausage trees the next I feel like a little kid on a scavenger hunt searching for the next one listed on the brochure and trying to pronounce names like pachypodiums and alluaudias As much as I love seeing these exotic trees for the first time the true gem of the garden is the atmosphere the calming quietude I’m surrounded by as I stroll further into the crater basin It’s easy to forget about the rest of the world I didn’t even realize how much I’d needed some serenity until I found myself deep within a volcanic crater After weeks of family and friends visiting the Islands it’s been too long since I’ve had time to myself That’s the beauty of Koko Crater Botanical Garden: It fits every need Looking for a nice walk through the forest There’s plenty of tables scattered throughout the garden Interested in exotic plants you’ve only ever heard about in books you’ll leave it a lot more centered—and a little bit sweatier—than when you went in Open daily from sunrise to sunset, closed only on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. 2-mile trail takes about an hour and a half, bikes and dogs prohibited. 7491 Kokonani St., Honolulu, (808) 768-7135, honolulu.gov/parks/hbg About 4,000 feet of transmission line fell across a second line on April 14 above East Oahu Hawaiian Electric’s work on repairing one of the two main transmission lines that run across the Koolau mountains into East Honolulu will continue through the weekend Heavy rain damaged one of the transmission lines and caused 4,000 feet of a 46-kilovolt line to fall across a second transmission line on April 14 cutting power to about 13,000 Hawaiian Electric customers in East Honolulu Company officials said in a news release Friday that personnel and equipment were flown in by helicopter to the top of the mountain and workers descended the mountain to reach the downed conductor workers cleared a path for work trucks to access the repair area Crews removed the line that fell across the second transmission line and new cables will be installed using a helicopter A helicopter that flies personnel and equipment to the mountain to do the repairs is expected to fly above Waimanalo Sunday between 8:30 a.m The helicopter will not fly over residential or populated areas while carrying loads There is no planned disruption in electric service for the nearby area The paintings are part of an effort to both discourage graffiti and evoke Maunalua’s historical significance as a thriving fish habitat Before its shopping centers and tens of thousands of residents – along with the ecological impacts those developments wrought – the Maunalua area in East Honolulu teemed with fish in ponds that have largely disappeared local documentary filmmaker Ann Marie Kirk has launched a project aimed at painting murals that trace the journey that vast numbers of mullet fish would undertake as they swam east from Pearl Harbor before their population declined.  The project dubbed Na Anae Holo — which roughly translates to “the traveling mullet” — will include murals painted along Kalanianaole Highway starting at Aina Koa and going into Maunalua has enlisted the help of local mural artist Ran Noveck Noveck’s Instagram account shows his work decorating public spaces like the walls of Princess Ruth Keelikolani Middle School and inside the indie bookstore Skull-Face Books & Vinyl The project is asking people who own the walls along the highway to agree to have murals painted on them at no cost Noveck also will monitor the murals and repair them as needed Kirk emphasized that she expects these murals will discourage graffiti along the highway wall — an extra incentive for neighboring homeowners to welcome the artwork The project is expected to be completed sometime between August and October.  By Allison Schaefers BusinessEditors' PicksHomeless in Hawaii CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTIESR.COM The percentage of homelessness in East Honolulu has risen 6 percentage points from 2020 two people slept Sunday on the grassy area at Kuhio Beach in Waikiki Adrian Tam stands by a property along Tusitala Street in Waikiki he is urging the city to buy The city has started condemnation of 1615 Ala Wai a derelict apartment building sandwiched between the Watermark A man slept Sunday among people visiting the beach in Waikiki is experiencing the highest percentage increase of unsheltered homeless of any district on Oahu — hastening efforts by state and county officials to bring the region more homeless services and affordable housing even if they have to condemn properties to do it an annual one-night snapshot of the number of people experiencing homeless who are on the street or in shelter showed that Oahu’s overall unsheltered population number has plateaued over the past four years with a small decrease since 2019 But East Honolulu’s percentage of unsheltered homelessness in 2022 has grown to 24% or 575 of the 2,355 unsheltered homeless people recorded during the March 10 Point-in-Time count a gain of 6 percentage points from the 2020 count and a 10-percentage-point rise from the 2019 count which at 26% had the largest percentage of the count’s unsheltered homeless the percentage of unsheltered homeless people living in Kalihi downtown Honolulu and Nuuanu was unchanged from 2019 and down 6 percentage points from 2020 A shift in homeless people from downtown to East Honolulu has contributed to a 71% increase in the district’s share of Oahu’s unsheltered population since 2019 government and tourism officials and nonprofits leveraging resources to get more people off the streets while reducing harms like increased crime and unsightliness that are associated with rises in unsheltered homelessness The Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement which is housed within the Honolulu Emergency Services Department and sends a dedicated team of first responders to nonviolent homeless emergency calls Honolulu Emergency Services Director Jim Ireland has said CORE is mostly operating between Daniel K Inouye International Airport and Kahala but that the “next big push is migrating down into Waikiki president and executive director of the Waikiki Business Improvement District has said WBID outreach ambassadors will join the city weekly this summer as CORE deploys into Waikiki The city also has put more than $50 million for affordable housing in its fiscal year 2023 budget and is considering spending some of it on acquiring or condemning Waikiki properties to redevelop for public purposes The city already has started condemnation of 1615 Ala Wai State lawmakers in the recent session passed Concurrent Resolution 93 which urges the city to buy 19 properties owned by Okada Trucking at fair market value and earmark them for a higher use and some of the lots sport an aging concrete foundation complete with protruding rebar that was poured decades ago for a building that was never built who introduced the measure on behalf of frustrated Waikiki residents said it’s unlikely Okada Trucking will sell the land he views passage of the resolution as a possible step on the road to condemnation a dog park or a parking lot with charging stations for electric cars Affordable housing also has been discussed The rise in unsheltered homelessness in East Honolulu has concerned Honolulu City Council Chairman Tommy Waters so much that he devoted at least half of a recent virtual May 26 Waikiki town hall meeting to the topic discussed the rise in unsheltered homelessness percentages in East Honolulu “We are seeing an uptick in those numbers for (East Honolulu) and we are seeing decreases in other regions across the island,” Thielen said “Part of that is that family homelessness has gone down significantly in the last several years due to some concerted efforts to work on that subpopulation.” Thielen said that in Waikiki most of the homeless people recorded during the Point-in-Time count were men living alone On Sunday the Honolulu Star-Advertiser noted that most of the unsheltered homeless people who were lying on the grass at Kuhio Avenue and Kaimana Beach and gathered near the oceanfront pavilions and the Honolulu Zoo were men The Point-in-Time count noted that the primary self-reported causes of homelessness of those surveyed in the East Honolulu region were substance use and loss of a job who did not want to give his full name because of his checkered past told the Star- Advertiser on Sunday that the scarcity of affordable housing in Waikiki is also a major impediment to getting people off the streets Frank said he has Section 8 rental housing assistance but is having trouble finding a new rental after his previous rental didn’t work out and I’ve been homeless for about half of my life Now I have to find another place or I will lose my voucher,” he said What good are affordable housing programs if there aren’t enough places to rent There needs to be more affordable housing choices in Waikiki.” Waters told the Star- Advertiser this week that the Council recognizes the critical need for affordable housing and prioritized funding toward that goal I am happy to report that we appropriated more than $50 million for the construction of affordable housing and providing home ownership opportunities to local families,” he said in an email to the Star-Advertiser we also funded over $23 million for in-patient healthcare and outreach support for houseless families and individuals and another $2 million for housing and wrap-around services of those fleeing domestic violence.” Waters said he supported acquiring the 19 vacant lots “There are many needs in the Waikiki community and government should be looking at ways to increase the quality of life for residents and visitors by maximizing the use of vacant parcels,” Waters said in his email “Given the recent action that the City is taking on 1615 Ala Wai Boulevard we should take steps to acquire vacant parcels with the support of the Waikiki community in the hopes that we can build places for people to live.” Waters said he would defer to the city administration to determine the specific method of acquiring the Okada Trucking properties as well as evaluate whether the city has the budget to move forward The city Department of Land Management said it is not yet ready to weigh in on the potential purchase of the Okada Trucking lots which must be coordinated with several departments But the department is moving full speed ahead on condemnation of 1615 Ala Wai which Waters recommended after fielding complaints from Waikiki residents who viewed the long-vacant building’s condition as an eyesore and potential safety risk has a history of complaints with the city Department of Planning and Permitting going back more than a decade The condition of the roughly 9,500-square-foot fee-simple property also has resulted in complaints to police The city said it filed a condemnation complaint April 12 and deposited “estimated just compensation” of more than $3.04 million with the court which granted an order of possession to the city April 18 a small- business owner who is known for Nip’s Potato Chips “The parties are currently being served with the complaint and order of possession,” said city spokesperson Brandi Higa “Possession by the city is not effective until all parties have been served.” director of the city Department of Community Services said during a Waikiki town hall meeting May 26 that the city plans to use its Affordable Housing Fund to turn 1615 Ala Wai into rental housing for low-income residents He said those housed in the building can’t make more than 60% of Honolulu’s area median income which in 2022 is $54,900 annually for one person $62,700 for a couple or $78,360 for a family of four “We are going to use affordable housing money once that goes through the legal process and is free and can be given to us,” Krucky said The Department of Land Management said it issued a notice to proceed May 16 to architectural firm G70 which will conduct a feasibility analysis of 1615 Ala Wai G70 will evaluate three alternatives to redevelop the property into affordable housing The intent is to select a preferred plan from the alternatives and develop it to the conceptual level which will become part of a request for proposals seeking a developer to design and construct affordable housing on the site Warning signs were posted today after the sighting of a large tiger shark at an East Oahu beach park A non-aggressive 10- to 12-foot tiger shark was seen 50 yards offshore at Waimanalo Beach Park around 1:30 p.m. according to the Emergency Services Department Beachgoers are advised to check with a lifeguard for the latest ocean conditions Aina Haina residents are reporting increasing porcine encounters and are turning to city and state officials for a rescue an affluent residential neighborhood on Oahu’s southeastern shore wedged between Waialae/Kahala and Hawaii Kai many on sloping hills overlooking the Pacific are reporting less desirable views these days: colonies of feral pigs have moved down from the mountain forests into residential neighborhoods where they are rooting in people’s yards and destroying landscaping scavenging for food in trash cans and multiplying like crazy But feral pigs have never been seen before in these numbers in places like Aina Haina one of many communities in Hawaii where residential development presses deep into valleys surrounded by steep forested mountains who lives on Kukui Place near Hawaii Loa ridge he and his family would see one pig each year roaming free “The issue has gotten so bad I usually see at least four,” he told officials in March adding that the pigs have destroyed the hillside behind several homes on his street An elderly woman in his neighborhood was injured recently when a pig charged at her and she fell down a slope “It’s a nightmare,” said dentist Lia Domenici-Bly, who lives on Mona Street, a short way above Wailupe Community Park, noting that pigs carry contagious diseases and can infect the water supply She said that she has seen as many as seven to eight adult pigs with piglets on her street leaving garbage and large amounts of excrement in their wake drawn to a homeless encampment near her house where she said they are being fed “This is an emergency,” she told officials in June Residents who have lived there since the 1960s say the first pigs appeared in the neighborhood around 2016 but their numbers began to surge during the coronavirus pandemic when people who were homebound started to feed them mangoes and kitchen leftovers “At first it was fun,” Aina Haina resident Craig Fitzgerald recalled “And then our neighbors started to feed them The neighborhood realized that this was not a great idea “We need to get people to stop feeding the animals as it is causing other damage.” — Neighborhood board vice chair Steve Lipscomb increasing numbers of swine sightings also have been reported in other communities The same thing is going on overseas. Wild boars are entering Rome through nature preserves Concerns that the animals are spreading African swine fever has caused China to ban importing Italian pork What is happening in Aina Haina “is not an isolated incident; it happens all over the place,” said Jason Misaki Oahu wildlife program manager for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife part of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources But the conflict between suburban life and wildlife is particularly stark in Aina Haina where city-dwelling residents have little knowledge or understanding of problems more common to rural areas Residents there reached out for help via the Kuliouou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board which includes the Aina Haina neighborhood that board voted in support of a resolution asking city and state officials to make it illegal to feed feral pigs and to investigate whether changes in hunting rules and regulations would make it easier for hunters to cull the herds with seven yes votes and three abstentions after a more controversial provision asking for an investigation into pig contraception was removed The resolution was drafted by Steve Lipscomb who said he learned of the problem from people who live in his district “We decided to call attention to this issue because it is important,” he said To Lipscomb and other Aina Haina residents the true cause of the problem is human conduct “We need to get people to stop feeding the animals as it is causing other damage,” Lipscomb said this poor animal needs my help,’ but they don’t consider the second- and third-order effects Their simple act of kindness is having an effect on other people that they don’t recognize.” some people who are feeding pigs develop an emotional attachment to them Misaki also said he has heard of incidents where humans get angry when told to stop the feedings causing tensions to rise within neighborhoods it’s definitely not a good thing,” Misaki said “People need to be respectful of their neighbors some Aina Haina residents continue to feed the pigs and some even come from elsewhere to do it A supersized partially opened bag of cat food rested in the open trunk Several paper plates of cat food were strewn on the ground around the car and on the edge of the road Several area residents said the driver often sits in the car accompanied inside by wild pigs and feral cats There is no state law against feeding pigs recommends against it outside of population management programs Humane Society official Stephanie Kendrick said in an email adding that options such as hunting the pigs trapping them or building fences to keep them out all have disadvantages particularly if they believe their own offspring are at risk They can be dangerous. In the past, wild pig attacks were rare and occurred only in rural areas. A 2013 study found that these attacks can be unprovoked and typically involve animals that are wounded or protecting their young Injuries to humans can be “minor to fatal,” the study found In 2019, a 59-year-old Texas woman was killed in what officials said appeared to be an unprovoked assault by a group of pigs The bite marks on her body were of varying sizes “They are wild animals … and shouldn’t be approached when they are around,” Misaki said Feral pigs are predominantly nocturnal and make their first appearance as the heat of the day dissipates The pigs also eat neighborhood plants, denuding the vegetation, damaging the watershed, contributing to the spread of invasive species and causing erosion. “They eat everything up; they are rooting,” said Clarissa Burkert Erosion is already a serious concern in Aina Haina where some homes have slipped on the unstable soil and been condemned as uninhabitable Geological Survey has declared the area landslide-prone A large piece of land in the upper reaches of the valley is owned by the city because of such erosion The site is now overgrown and has become a magnet for pig activity Pigs are highly intelligent and resourceful said he built a $500 fence to try to keep them out “They’re relentless; they find pukas in the fence and they keep digging till they get in,” he said A 200-pound boar tried to enter his backyard at daybreak last week causing his dogs to bark wildly at the intrusion Finally Fitzgerald hit it with a rock to get it to leave All this meat on the hoof would ordinarily be appealing to pig-hunters, but, so far, that hasn’t happened. DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife regulates hunting in Hawaii. There are two state-owned hunting areas near Aina Haina but residents and hunters said entry points are hard to access and hunting is limited to weekends few of the island’s hunters live in or hunt in eastern Oahu “There are statistically less hunters because of the cost of living,” said pig-hunter Kyle Kettle “People who are hunting them for food live out in the countryside.” said the state could offer special-use permits that would give hunters more and better access to opportunities there “We try to reduce the problems with pigs but the state is the largest landowner,” he said Aina Haina residents also have mixed feelings about hunters Hikers and hunters often come into conflict on area trails Clashes have occurred between hunting dogs and domestic pets and hunting dogs have occasionally attacked hikers Last year the neighborhood board considered but ultimately rejected a resolution to ban pig-hunting on the Wailupe and Kuliouou hiking trails because of these attacks “I know families that don’t hike anymore because they are too afraid of running across dangerous dogs,” said Jeannine Johnson who encountered a wild pig on the hillside behind the family home last week Residents are also disturbed by the way some pig hunters kill their prey including by using dogs to track and corner them and then stabbing the pigs to death “The pigs scream like children,” Fitzgerald said adding that pig hunters once killed an animal in his yard in front of his neighbor’s three young daughters Trapping may be an option, said Misaki. A new state-federal program to study how best to trap feral pigs has started on Windward Oahu and it could be expanded to other parts of the island if more money was made available A Kailua girl, Kirstin Downey was a reporter for Civil Beat. A long-time reporter for The Washington Post, she is the author of “The Woman Behind the New Deal,” “Isabella the Warrior Queen” and an upcoming biography of King Kaumualiʻi of Kauaʻi. You can reach her by email at kdowney@civilbeat.org Trevor Ozawa and Tommy Waters are locked in a bitter rematch while activist Natalie Iwasa hopes her quiet hard work in the community will resonate with voters Honolulu Councilman Trevor Ozawa asked the Ethics Commission to investigate Misty Kelai the head of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s Office of Culture and the Arts The city office’s official Instagram account had “liked” photos on the account of Friends of Tommy Waters In 2014, Ozawa had beaten Waters by 41 votes in the race to represent City Council District 4 which stretches from Hawaii Kai to Kapahulu and includes Waikiki along with community activist Natalie Iwasa Members of neighborhood boards in the district report that crime and homelessness are among their top concerns – the same issues that come up across Oahu “There’s not a burning issue out here. They’re not partisans running against each other, and so you’ve got two people whose names are well known and who are already kind of politically connected,” said Neal Milner, Hawaii Kai resident and professor of political science at the University of Hawaii Manoa “That says something about how politics works politics is not that much policy driven.” That’s why squabbles between Ozawa and Waters are becoming a focus of the race even though the two agree on a number of policy issues “She becomes maybe the most interesting candidate But interesting doesn’t mean she’s necessarily the most likely.” Political rookie Ricky Marumoto is also in the race but he hasn’t been campaigning aggressively Local political heavyweights are throwing their support behind either Ozawa or Waters along the faction lines Charles Djou, a former Hawaii Republican congressman who narrowly lost to Caldwell in the 2016 mayoral election, is endorsing Ozawa and other candidates who seem to fall in line with the Martin bloc of the council The Friends of Caldwell gave Waters’ campaign $4,000 the maximum amount a Honolulu council candidate can receive said the money is from a fundraiser but declined to explain why the Friends of Caldwell supports Waters He also declined to explain why he supports Waters Councilman Ikaika Anderson of Windward Oahu “Tommy Waters has been a friend of mine for 16-plus years,” he said Both Ozawa and Waters reject the idea that they belong to a council faction But each criticizes the other for being in a faction “He’s aligned himself with the Caldwell bloc very clearly,” Ozawa said “I would not believe that he would be an independent voice for the community That’s what this election really is about.” Waters says the factional bickering makes the council dysfunctional He said he would neither align with a group on the council nor be a rubber stamp for the mayor “The council has a duty to review the mayor’s proposals and they should,” he said “But if they’re just doing it because of personality clashes The endorsements Waters gets from construction unions will make him a pawn for special interests Waters says the money Ozawa gets from developers and large businesses will have the same effect on him Ozawa has raised more than $409,000 in the race while Waters raised just over $41,00 this election period Iwasa has raised $15,000 and only accepts funding from individuals and small businesses “I don’t want to feel like I have an obligation I don’t want there to be like this reciprocal feeling there that I’ve given you a donation and so now you need to do something for me.’ People I think we need to move away from that,” she said Ozawa and Waters are using campaign tactics typical in Hawaii politics: they mail flyers their names are seen stretched across glossy posters along Kalanianaole Highway they get up early to sign wave and go again as people are driving home from work In what she calls a “community changing campaign,” Iwasa and her supporters are doing community service projects around the district They’ve cleaned out planters on Waialae Avenue pulled invasive algae out of coral in Waikiki and cleared trash from an empty lot along Kapahulu Avenue who works full time at Honolulu Country Club Campaigning for him consists mostly of filling out questionnaires and talking to local media outlets Ozawa can rely on name recognition and a clear legislative track record In his four years on the council he secured $1 million to save Kanewai Spring in Kuliouou from development. He also pushed a bill that requires businesses to install baby changing stations in both male and female restrooms he introduced legislation to slow the trend of so-called “monster homes” – massive concrete homes built in residential communities and thought to be used as apartments The structures have infuriated District 4 residents in recent months Ozawa can also rely on relationships he’s developed with constituents East Honolulu resident Daniel Harris-McCoy said he reached out to Ozawa when the city “wildly overvalued” his home in a property tax assessment Ozawa helped him contest the city’s assessment “I’m not saying I support him because he saved us a ton of money,” Harris-McCoy said especially when 41 votes can determine a race Waters is critical of Ozawa’s recent vote in favor of a bill that would have capped how much Uber Lyft and other ride-hailing companies can charge customers a rule meant to help taxi companies stay afloat The measure passed the council but the mayor vetoed it Waters, a former state representative, wants the city to invest more of its resources in building affordable housing. He supports the strategies already being deployed by the Caldwell administration including using public land for housing as well as waiving permitting fees and other requirements for developers People who hang around Honolulu Hale probably know Iwasa It’s possible she’s been to more City Council meetings than either Ozawa or Waters An accountant with a private practice and mother of two, Iwasa’s interest in local government stems from a 2003 battle over the protection of farmland in Kamilo Nui Valley She has regularly attended monthly council meetings and budget committee meetings for almost 15 years “The more I went the more I wanted to learn “I go because I feel like it’s important for me to understand what is happening I feel like I can provide valuable input on certain issues.” A critic of government spending and the city’s $9 billion rail project Iwasa thinks the rail line should stop at Middle Street rather than going all the way to Ala Moana Shopping Center She also wants taxpayer dollars to stop going toward the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s public information budget which she says is used on trade shows and promotional activities rather than disseminating useful information to the public The measure passed 7-0; Ozawa and Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi were absent for the vote it’s hard to sell wonky ideas to a constituency that doesn’t pay much attention to local elections “She has a real difficult problem in this district because the district is so big she doesn’t have a presence in Kahala the way she does from Hawaii Kai to Niu (Valley) to Aina Hina so she’s hamstrung,” said Kahala resident and Civil Beat columnist Ian Lind Thoughts on this or any other story? Write a Letter to the Editor. Send to news@civilbeat.org and put Letter in the subject line. 200 words max. You need to use your name and city and include a contact phone for verification purposes. And you can still comment on stories on our Facebook page Natanya Friedheim was a reporter at Civil Beat You can follow her on Twitter at @natanya_hnl and Instagram at @natanyafriedheim Health News The stretch of affected ocean waters stretches along most of Sandy Beach Park from near the Halona blowhole lookout to the area near Kealahou Street The advisory for the East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant has been canceled All temporary warning signs have been removed The state Health Department is advising the public to stay out of waters fronting the East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall due to the release of partially treated sewage Health officials say about 237,500 gallons of partially treated sewage was released due to a power outage at the plant “The public is advised to stay out of affected waters until this advisory has been canceled,” said health officials Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.