• Clearing the air about DOH response to community • A concrete bike path is not the answer • Support your favorite cultural organization Clearing the air about DOH response to community The Garden Island (Jan. 20) story about chimney
• Clearing the air about DOH response to community • A concrete bike path is not the answer • Support your favorite cultural organization
Clearing the air about DOH response to community
The Garden Island (Jan. 20) story about chimney smoke incorrectly describes the Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s response to community complaints.
Working with Kaua‘i County agencies, the Department in 2011 responded to 10 complaints from Lori McDonald for open burning of rubbish, cooking fires and using a fireplace. In 2012, DOH responded to 81 complaints from Ms. McDonald. At each state inspection, no irregularities were found with the chimney or fireplace in question. County agencies also conducted multiple inspections of the same fireplace, and could not find any violations.
Long-time clean air program inspector Rod Yama did an excellent job responding to nearly 100 complaints from one individual regarding the same issue, and documented his reports with photographs. Rod retired last month with 22 years of service. DOH is now seeking qualified applicants to fill the position.
Chimneys, fireplaces, and smokestacks are regulated in some states where the National Ambient Air Quality Standards are not attained. Hawai‘i’s clean air meets all the national air standards for harmful pollutants.
In January of 2012, DOH established new rules that banned backyard burning of leaves and trash. The new rules allow cooking of food in outdoor fires. Only clean, dry wood can be burned in a fireplace.
Wood burning or gas fireplaces in a residence are legal as long as county building code requirements are met. As I personally explained to Ms. McDonald in a face-to-face meeting, the Department of Health cannot prevent a resident from legally using his fireplace. This could change if state or county legislators amend the law to regulate chimney smoke from residential fireplaces in Hawai‘i.
Gary Gill
Deputy Director for Environmental Health
Hawai‘i State Department of Health
A concrete bike path is not the answer
At last! A bike path that respects the culture and protects the beach.
The traffic barrier on Kuhio Highway along Wailua Beach has unexpectedly created a bike path on the makai side of the highway’s makai lane and people are already enjoying walking and riding bikes within the protected corridor.
Wailua Beach is too valuable to be put at risk by the county’s construction of a concrete bike path on the changing coastline. The shoreline of Wailua Beach is steadily moving closer and closer to Kuhio Highway. High waves periodically come as close as 12 feet to where the concrete path is planned.
The very process of building the $1.9 million dollar path using heavy construction equipment excavating through sand to install the path’s 20,000-pound concrete slabs would compromise the integrity of the beach by undermining the beach’s structural foundation.
De-stabilization of the beach could create the need for a seawall. If that happens, Wailua Beach would face the same fate as one-fourth of the beaches on O‘ahu — permanent loss and erosion on neighboring coastal properties.
Wailua Beach is one of the most culturally, historically and spiritually significant places in the Hawaiian Islands. Building a concrete structure on this beach would disrespect Native Hawaiian cultural rights and religious practices.
It’s not too late for the mayor to choose this rational win-win solution. By preserving the natural state of the beach, a sacred cultural site would be protected and the beach would be given its best chance for survival. Please give him a call.
Judy Dalton
Lihu‘e
Support your favorite cultural organization
Hawaiian culture is based on the land. It is to be held in reverence and protected as it was in ancient times.
Congratulations to those organizations whose volunteers are helping to promote, nurture and preserve the land. Organizations such as the Waipa Foundation and Limahuli Gardens (part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens) are restoring ahupuaha on the North Shore.
Organizations such as Malama Kaua‘i, Regenerations International Botanical Garden and the Mighty Seed Learning facility are promoting environmental education.
The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust is helping to save land through restorations and collaborations with willing land owners.
Hats off to these and similar organizations as well as to those organization promoting sustainable agriculture.
Let’s show our appreciation to our favorite charities. I hope some of your favorites help protect the lands that sustain us.
For those over 70 1⁄2 withdrawals from an IRA in January may count as part of the required distribution for 2012 without increasing the AGI.
So, if you forgot to make your minimum withdrawal, consider giving to your favorite charities and avoiding the 50 percent penalty.
Or, if over 70 1⁄2 you took a distribution in December 2012, a donation to your favorite charity in January can be used to reduce your 2012 AGI.
A list of registered charities in Hawai‘i is available at www.Hawaii.gov/ag/charities.
Marjorie Gifford
Princeville
