Residents visiting what could be the county’s next landfill in Hanama’ulu yesterday had mixed reactions about its development. Some of the residents, who took a county-sponsor tour of the site about two miles north of Hanama’ulu town, said they liked
Residents visiting what could be the county’s next landfill in Hanama’ulu yesterday had mixed reactions about its development.
Some of the residents, who took a county-sponsor tour of the site about two miles north of Hanama’ulu town, said they liked the site’s remoteness and would support its development if the county kept dust and smell away from the town.
Others felt the area – located under a green mountain ridge – was “too beautiful” to be used for the dumping of garbage.
Wallace Rezentes, Sr., administrative assistant to Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, went on the tour. He said no decision had been made in selecting a site, although the Hanama’ulu site is being seriously considered because LIhu’e Land Company may be willing to sell it.
The site’s isolation, easy access and central location, which would cut down costs, also make it an appealing site, Rezentes said.
Seven other potential sites named in a consultant’s study also are being considered, with a site across from the existing Kekaha landfill getting the highest rating, Rezentes said.
The study noted a parcel of 125 acres was needed for a landfill that could operate 30 years, suggesting the Hanama’ulu site was too small.
The 97-acre Hanama’ulu site is behind Kalepa Mountain, and if approved, will replace the Kekaha landfill, which has been enlarged in the past to extend its use.
County officials said the facility has three years of capacity left and that the county will ask the state to expand it so that it can operate until 2007.
Dennis Barretto of Kapa’a said he is opposed to the Hanama’ulu site because the Kekaha site can be expanded for continued use. “Why can’t they expand it for 10 to 20 years?” He asked.
George Yamashita of Hanama’ulu and Puanani Rogers of Anahola said the area is too beautiful to be used as a dumpsite.
“The Hawaiian viewpoint is that trash shouldn’t be put next to a mountain,” she said. “This aina (land) is for ag (agricultural) use.”
Cheryl Lovell Obtake of the Nawiliwili Bay Watershed Council also opposed the use of the site, saying pollutants from a landfill during heavy rains could land in the streams and ocean in east Kaua’i.
Others said they feared pollutants could seep into any underground water sources near the site.
County officials, however, have said that any new landfill must meet strict U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards and would be fitted with underground screens to catch pollutants.
Arde Yamashita, president of the Hanama’ulu Housing Association, said some members were afraid about the potential for rat infestation and dust swirling over the town from the dumpsite.
Yamashita won’t hand down a verdict until more questions she has about the potential for environmental damage are answered.
County Engineer Cesar Portugal said the possibility of airborne pollution is remote because dumped debris will be covered daily and because other steps will be taken to protect against pollution.
Wanda Sardine of Hanama’ulu said she will be supporting the use of the site because of the “detailed” explanations by Portugal.
Alfred Villanueva, a 55-year resident of Hanama’ulu and advisor to the Kaua’i Filipino Community Council, said he would only go along with using the site as long as the county “takes care of things – dust and smell- in the right way.”
Before any landfill is approved, a detailed environmental impact study will be done, Rezentes said.
Before the county looks at building a new landfill, it should look at other ways to dispose of trash to extend the life of existing ones, said LaFrance Kapaka-Arboleda, who heads the Kaua’i branch of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Councilman Bryan Baptiste said he had no preference for site and visited the Hanama’ulu site because he wanted to see whether its use as a landfill would have adverse impact on Hanama’ulu town.
Councilman Jimmy Tokioka, the mayor’s public information officer, Beth Tokioka, and county solid waste specialist Troy Tanigawa also went on the tour.
A meeting on the proposed expansion of the exiting landfill is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center.
A meeting on the proposed Hanama’ulu facility is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the King Kaumuali’i School cafeteria.
