Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 2, 1 February 2016 — Are we safe in our community? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Are we safe in our community?

have heard from a number of people in the Nānākuli community concerned about the recent request for

a Conditional Use Permit application to expand the Nānākuli Landfill sitting adjacent to Nānākuli town. Back in August 2012, 1 received similar complaints about potential contamination of land and water from this landfill and wrote to the Director of the Department of Health and received no response. I also wrote to the Region 9 Manager for the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and received a reply basically statina that the

State Department of Health has the primary responsibility for overseeing environmental eomplianee at the Landfill. Upon checking with DOH, I was told that they have not done any testing on the Landfill nor connecting the Landfill to the oeean. Upon inquiring further, it has eome to my attention that this is 0'ahu's only construction and demolition landfill. Amazing that an island with so mueh construction has only one C&D landfill! Why a construction dump site adjacent to Nānākuli Town? The eoneem of the Nānākuli residents is that the dumpsite when initially constructed was not lined properly to prevent deleterious waste from seeping into the ground and contaminating the underground water. The contaminated run-off water flowing from the dumpsite into Ulehawa Stream whenever there is heavy rain has added to the environmental concerns as the stream then flows into the oeean. A few years back, there were many dead fish floating in the stream. As strong mauka to makai winds prevail, dust and debris are often hlown away from the dumpsite and affecting the surrounding community carrying deleterious dust particles for residents to breathe and causing respiratory health problems. These conditions are detrimental to this community. As Nānākuli is home to kānaka, it is imperative that we ensure that the proper

measures are taken to mālama this 'āina and its people. We need to find some halanee. Eaeh day, 300 trucks travel up

and down Lualualei Naval Road to the construction dumpsite - not only causing large amounts of dust, but also contributing to the traffic congestion. As I am informed, there are an estimated 100 additional vehicles anticipated to use these same roads for Rail Construction. How do we ensure that our people's wellheing is preserved? There needs to be measures to ensure that our people's way-of-life is not sacrificed solely for developmental

interests; often times in areas far from their home. I believe the sole company who has a monopoly for the use of the only govern-ment-authorized construction dump site on O'ahu and the governmental agencies involved in decision making should meet with community leaders in Nānākuli to see how they may be assured that the govemment will require the company to find relief from the traffic and heahh problems. The concerns are real and many illnesses in the community are being questioned. Interestingly, upon researching the dumps on O'ahu, I found that all munieipal solid waste are dumped into the Waimānalo Gulch dump site situated in west O'ahu. Again, another community inhabited by our beneficiaries. Perhaps other eommunities ean share in this heavy burden. I feel for the people of Nānākuli and will advocate for ways to remedy these eoncerns. I urge all of those who are impacted to voice your concerns and speak up on behalf of your 'āina and 'ohana. Read up on this Conditional Use Permit application so you know what more is being proposed in your community. Please know that I am listening and hope to kōkua in this matter. Should you need further help, feel free to eall my office, 808-594-1858. Aloha! ■

Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey

Trustee, Maui