Latest news with #HonoluluStar-Advertiser
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hawaii delegation pushes Navy for information on Kaula training plan
Hawaii's congressional delegation is pushing the Navy to provide more information on its plan to more than double bombardment training on a small Hawaiian Island that the state and conservation groups consider a critical bird sanctuary. Kaula lies about 23 miles southwest of Niihau and is a nesting ground to about 18 species of birds—including the black-footed albatross—and its shores team with monk seals and other marine life. But since 1953 the island also has been used by the Navy for target practice. The Navy originally used live explosive ordnance, but stopped the practice in the 1980s and began using inert dummy rounds instead. But as tensions simmer with China and the Pentagon increasingly sees the Pacific as its top-priority theater of operations, the military has looked to step up training in Hawaii and across the region. In 2024 the Navy advanced a proposal to increase its bombing runs at Kaula from 12 a year to as many as 31, and argued that the environmental impacts would be 'less than significant.' U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 'I think every aspect of training in the state of Hawaii needs to be explained and justified, but certainly when you're talking about 500-pound objects hitting the side of a mountain and the answer is 'national security, ' my answer is maybe, but that's not a thorough enough explanation for what's happening to be justified.' The Navy is making its pitch at a time when the military is facing heightened scrutiny over its use of land and environmental impacts in Hawaii, with the Navy in particular working to repair its public image since the 2021 Red Hill water crisis. On Tuesday all four members of Hawaii's congressional delegation sent a letter to Navy Secretary John Phelan, telling him that 'in Hawaii, there is a significant level of mistrust with the Department of Defense as a whole, and the Navy in particular.' 'Doubling the amount of training at Kaula is a significant step that warrants more information on the environmental impacts to the island, ' the lawmakers wrote. 'The State's seabird sanctuary on Kaula is home to thousands of seabirds, and the island's sea cliffs are a resting place for endangered species like monk seals. Despite these known populations of wildlife, the draft environmental assessment does not contain sufficient analysis that impacts on wildlife would be 'less than significant.' The public deserves a clear, comprehensive, and evidence-based (environmental impact statement ) to demonstrate that the Navy has done its due diligence on the environmental impacts of these trainings.' The Navy stressed in a draft environmental assessment released in August that it does not seek to resume live explosive training, but rather to increase the frequency of the training it already does on Kaula, which is limited to the small island's southern end. But officials from both the state and Kauai County, along with local conservationists, argue that the increase in training could disrupt a unique ecosystem. To make matters more complicated, there is an ongoing dispute about whether the island is federal or state land, and local officials have called on training to stop altogether. In their letter, the members of the congressional delegation called on the Navy to explain in their formal assessment why training at Kaula is critical to national security. The delegation sought to know how a reduction or end to use of Kaula as a range would specifically affect the readiness of military units operating in the Pacific. They also wanted to know why the Navy has 'not already built in more redundancies to address any readiness issues due to a lack of availability of training ranges.' Moreover, they wanted an explanation of how the Navy had determined that there is 'an irreplaceable need for access to Kaula that cannot be fulfilled by an alternative site.' The delegation also asked that the Navy provide answers by June 16 as to whether the Navy 'plans to program specific environmental remediation funding, including to address existing and future ordnance clean up.' They also asked whether the Navy has plans to ensure regular access to the waters around Kaula by local fishermen and whether the Navy will plan for increased environmental impacts on the southern end of the island. And, the delegation asked for an explanation of what readiness demands and restrictions at other training sites 'uniquely warrants this substantive jump in training activity at Kaula.' The Navy's proposal to increase training was made in the summer of 2024. Since then President Donald Trump won an election and has established a new team at the Pentagon led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has vowed to rid the military of 'woke ' programs and has singled out environmental programs that he argues have 'distracted ' the military from combat training and obtaining new weapons systems. That rhetoric has alarmed several community groups in Hawaii. But Schatz said, 'I'd like to see what they do rather than what they say. Because so far, (the military in Hawaii ) hasn't been different than other administrations. Certainly, the rhetoric is that they are not interested in environmental stewardship, but a lot of these programs are established by law. So they can not like it, but they don't really have the option to not do it.' The senator said that when it comes to how the military does business in Hawaii, issues around its approach to the environment and local communities are long-standing. He said that 'the institution of the Department of Defense, whichever (political ) party is in charge, has had a hard time with internalizing the idea that they are, in fact, our guests and that they should behave like guests and earn their welcome.' When it comes to Kaula, Schatz said the Navy 'should start with a basic explanation of why they feel the need to do this, (and ) that they've thoroughly assessed the environmental impacts. I spend a fair amount of time criticizing Trump, and I will continue to do that where it's appropriate, but I don't think this is a Trump policy problem. I think this is an institutional position of the DOD (Department of Defense ) over many, many decades.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Waikiki tourists voice support for extra fee for ‘a good cause'
An upcoming increase in the state hotel room tax of less than 1 %—or $3 more per night for a $400 room—won't deter any of nearly two dozen Waikiki tourists from coming back, especially if it provides money to restore beaches, fight erosion and prevent future wildfires, they unanimously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Wednesday. 'It wouldn't discourage me, ' Sam Powell, 33, of Roanoke, Va., said on Kalakaua Avenue in the middle of his first trip to Oahu with his wife, sister, brother-in-law and nephews. 'It's just another $3 a night.' Visitors up and down Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues unanimously supported the increase in the state's Transient Accommodations Tax that begins Jan. 1 and was signed into law by Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday as Act 96. The increase applies to everyone who stays in a Hawaii hotel, cruise ship or other paid lodging—including local residents. Green previously told the Star-Advertiser that residents who receive kamaaina discounts would pay less out of pocket compared to tourists who typically book more expensive room rates. Under Act 96, Hawaii's TAT—more commonly referred to as the hotel room tax—will increase Jan. 1 by 0.75 %—to 11 % up from 10.25 %. Before signing Senate Bill 1396 into law Tuesday, Green used a hypothetical $400 a night hotel room rate to say that the higher TAT would add $3 on the current TAT, or $30 for every $4, 000 spent on lodging across the islands. The Star-Advertiser on Wednesday incorrectly reported a higher TAT on a $400 a night room. Green called it the first effort of its kind in the nation to mitigate climate change and the risk of future wildfires that could serve as a road map for other parts of the country that face wildfires and climate change. Boyfriend and girlfriend Adam Vasquez, 23, and Kaylee Bertolino, 22, came from Long Island, N.Y., for their first trip to Waikiki. Bertolino said the upcoming TAT increase will go 'to a good cause ' and would not deter them from a future trip to Hawaii. Vasquez called Green's example of a $3 per night increase on a $400 per night hotel room 'not too bad.' Most of the visitors who spoke to the Star-Advertiser had no idea how much they were paying in hotel costs, so they could not calculate how the upcoming TAT increase would have affected their current bills. But the TAT represents just one of the many fees that visitors and residents already pay for lodging, including the state's general excise tax, parking and 'resort ' fees that include internet and fitness center access. Green's $400 a night example runs on the high side of nightly hotel rates on Oahu, which are generally less expensive than neighbor island hotels, said Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawai 'i Hotel Alliance. Waikiki room rates are currently running from $250 to $450 a night, Gibson said. 'Normally, in summer, they go up, ' he said. 'But so far its a weak-looking summer, so I think those will be the rates.' Every booking also includes a state general excise tax that's slightly higher on Oahu compared to the neighbor islands. Neighbor islands' lodgings have to assess a GET of.04167 %. Honolulu's GET also includes half a penny for the city's rail project, meaning Oahu lodgings assess a GET of.04667 %. Each county also has its own TAT of an additional 3 %, meaning the combined state and county TATs and GET starting Jan. 1 will add up to 18.167 % on the neighbor islands and 18.667 % on Oahu, Gibson said. In addition, Hawaii hotels also typically charge a parking fee that ranges from $20 to $60 a night, Gibson said. Separate resort fees also vary from $20 to $50 a day and include about 10 to 15 different privileges such as access to body boards and surf boards and hula lessons, Gibson said. Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawai 'i Lodging &Tourism Association, told the Star-Advertiser in a statement that the organization supports the increase in the TAT 'because it has a clearly defined and purposeful intent that we can all agree on—to protect Hawai 'i's environmental resources, which are vital to our state's resilience, sustainability, cultural heritage, and preparedness for climate change and natural disasters. Just as importantly, there is a strong and direct nexus to the visitor industry—ensuring that this additional tax revenue will help preserve the natural and cultural assets that make Hawai 'i a world-class destination and support the infrastructure of our state's number one economic driver.' Hannemann said the new law 'reflects transparency and thoughtful balance, and we appreciate that the input of the Hawai 'i Lodging &Tourism Association and the broader visitor industry was seriously considered by both the Legislature and the Administration.' He agreed with Gibson that 'the actual cost to guests is often significantly higher once taxes and fees are applied.' Sarah Thomas, 30, and her girlfriend, Selina Ramirez, 41, of San Jose, Calif., have been paying $280 a night to stay at the Park Shore Waikiki on Kapa hulu Avenue for their first trip to Oahu. So if they return to the Park Shore after the TAT increases on Jan. 1, their nightly additional TAT cost would fall well below Green's $3 a night example. But they don't mind paying more to help address climate change in Hawaii. 'We're from California, so we understand the need to protect the infrastructure, ' Thomas said. Following this year's devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Ramirez appreciates Hawaii's efforts to mitigate future wildfires following the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui inferno that killed 102 people, devastated Lahaina and caused $13 billion in damage. So Ramirez called herself '100 %' behind the plan to collect an additional $90 to $100 million annually to restore beaches and prevent further erosion and wildfire risks. And the couple 'would not hesitate ' to come back to face the higher TAT in the future, she said. They have already fallen in love with Oahu's beauty and the aloha spirit they feel. 'We've had a gracious welcoming, ' Ramirez said. Natalie Miller, 27, of Chicago, flew into Oahu from Kona on Wednesday morning with her husband and won't mind paying a little extra if and when they take another Hawaii vacation. 'I don't think I would even notice, ' Miller said. Her husband, Mitch Miller, 28, said 'another $3 won't stop me from traveling.' On the makai side of Kala kaua Avenue, Huma Mohammad, 36, of Redwood City, Calif., agreed that a higher TAT won't discourage her and her family from a second trip to the islands. 'I don't think so, if it helps the beaches, ' she said. 'That's what you come for.' She and her husband, Shawn Mohammad, 35, brought along their 2-1 /2-year-old son, Keyian. Shawn Mohammad said they've enjoyed learning about Hawaiian culture, along with the scenery. 'That's why trips like this are good, ' he said. Outside the Park Shore Waikiki—where she's staying with her husband and four others—Arlene Carwile, 50, of Hicksville, Ohio, said she would gladly make her second trip to Hawaii even if it means paying a higher TAT to protect Hawaii's environment. 'I would definitely come back, ' Carwile said. Everyone in the group agreed, especially Carwile's friend, Cynthia Smith, 77, of Ossian, Ind. Smith has fallen so hard for Oahu that she joked that she won't have to return because she has no intention of leaving. 'They're going to have to drag me away, ' she said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Waikiki visitors undeterred by fee increase
An upcoming increase in the state hotel room tax of less than 1 %—or $3 more per night for a $400 room—won't deter any of nearly two dozen Waikiki tourists from coming back, especially if it provides money to restore beaches, fight erosion and prevent future wildfires, they unanimously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Wednesday. 'It wouldn't discourage me, ' Sam Powell, 33, of Roanoke, Va., said on Kalakaua Avenue in the middle of his first trip to Oahu with his wife, sister, brother-in-law and nephews. 'It's just another $3 a night.' Visitors up and down Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues unanimously supported the increase in the state's Transient Accommodations Tax that begins Jan. 1 and was signed into law by Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday as Act 96. The increase applies to everyone who stays in a Hawaii hotel, cruise ship or other paid lodging—including local residents. Green previously told the Star-Advertiser that residents who receive kamaaina discounts would pay less out of pocket compared to tourists who typically book more expensive room rates. Under Act 96, Hawaii's TAT—more commonly referred to as the hotel room tax—will increase Jan. 1 by 0.75 %—to 11 % up from 10.25 %. Before signing Senate Bill 1396 into law Tuesday, Green used a hypothetical $400 a night hotel room rate to say that the higher TAT would add $3 on the current TAT, or $30 for every $4, 000 spent on lodging across the islands. The Star-Advertiser on Wednesday incorrectly reported a higher TAT on a $400 a night room. Green called it the first effort of its kind in the nation to mitigate climate change and the risk of future wildfires that could serve as a road map for other parts of the country that face wildfires and climate change. Boyfriend and girlfriend Adam Vasquez, 23, and Kaylee Bertolino, 22, came from Long Island, N.Y., for their first trip to Waikiki. Bertolino said the upcoming TAT increase will go 'to a good cause ' and would not deter them from a future trip to Hawaii. Vasquez called Green's example of a $3 per night increase on a $400 per night hotel room 'not too bad.' Most of the visitors who spoke to the Star-Advertiser had no idea how much they were paying in hotel costs, so they could not calculate how the upcoming TAT increase would have affected their current bills. But the TAT represents just one of the many fees that visitors and residents already pay for lodging, including the state's general excise tax, parking and 'resort ' fees that include internet and fitness center access. Green's $400 a night example runs on the high side of nightly hotel rates on Oahu, which are generally less expensive than neighbor island hotels, said Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawai 'i Hotel Alliance. Waikiki room rates are currently running from $250 to $450 a night, Gibson said. 'Normally, in summer, they go up, ' he said. 'But so far its a weak-looking summer, so I think those will be the rates.' Every booking also includes a state general excise tax that's slightly higher on Oahu compared to the neighbor islands. Neighbor islands' lodgings have to assess a GET of.04167 %. Honolulu's GET also includes half a penny for the city's rail project, meaning Oahu lodgings assess a GET of.04667 %. Each county also has its own TAT of an additional 3 %, meaning the combined state and county TATs and GET starting Jan. 1 will add up to 18.167 % on the neighbor islands and 18.667 % on Oahu, Gibson said. In addition, Hawaii hotels also typically charge a parking fee that ranges from $20 to $60 a night, Gibson said. Separate resort fees also vary from $20 to $50 a day and include about 10 to 15 different privileges such as access to body boards and surf boards and hula lessons, Gibson said. Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawai 'i Lodging &Tourism Association, told the Star-Advertiser in a statement that the organization supports the increase in the TAT 'because it has a clearly defined and purposeful intent that we can all agree on—to protect Hawai 'i's environmental resources, which are vital to our state's resilience, sustainability, cultural heritage, and preparedness for climate change and natural disasters. Just as importantly, there is a strong and direct nexus to the visitor industry—ensuring that this additional tax revenue will help preserve the natural and cultural assets that make Hawai 'i a world-class destination and support the infrastructure of our state's number one economic driver.' Hannemann said the new law 'reflects transparency and thoughtful balance, and we appreciate that the input of the Hawai 'i Lodging &Tourism Association and the broader visitor industry was seriously considered by both the Legislature and the Administration.' He agreed with Gibson that 'the actual cost to guests is often significantly higher once taxes and fees are applied.' Sarah Thomas, 30, and her girlfriend, Selina Ramirez, 41, of San Jose, Calif., have been paying $280 a night to stay at the Park Shore Waikiki on Kapa hulu Avenue for their first trip to Oahu. So if they return to the Park Shore after the TAT increases on Jan. 1, their nightly additional TAT cost would fall well below Green's $3 a night example. But they don't mind paying more to help address climate change in Hawaii. 'We're from California, so we understand the need to protect the infrastructure, ' Thomas said. Following this year's devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Ramirez appreciates Hawaii's efforts to mitigate future wildfires following the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui inferno that killed 102 people, devastated Lahaina and caused $13 billion in damage. So Ramirez called herself '100 %' behind the plan to collect an additional $90 to $100 million annually to restore beaches and prevent further erosion and wildfire risks. And the couple 'would not hesitate ' to come back to face the higher TAT in the future, she said. They have already fallen in love with Oahu's beauty and the aloha spirit they feel. 'We've had a gracious welcoming, ' Ramirez said. Natalie Miller, 27, of Chicago, flew into Oahu from Kona on Wednesday morning with her husband and won't mind paying a little extra if and when they take another Hawaii vacation. 'I don't think I would even notice, ' Miller said. Her husband, Mitch Miller, 28, said 'another $3 won't stop me from traveling.' On the makai side of Kala kaua Avenue, Huma Mohammad, 36, of Redwood City, Calif., agreed that a higher TAT won't discourage her and her family from a second trip to the islands. 'I don't think so, if it helps the beaches, ' she said. 'That's what you come for.' She and her husband, Shawn Mohammad, 35, brought along their 2-1 /2-year-old son, Keyian. Shawn Mohammad said they've enjoyed learning about Hawaiian culture, along with the scenery. 'That's why trips like this are good, ' he said. Outside the Park Shore Waikiki—where she's staying with her husband and four others—Arlene Carwile, 50, of Hicksville, Ohio, said she would gladly make her second trip to Hawaii even if it means paying a higher TAT to protect Hawaii's environment. 'I would definitely come back, ' Carwile said. Everyone in the group agreed, especially Carwile's friend, Cynthia Smith, 77, of Ossian, Ind. Smith has fallen so hard for Oahu that she joked that she won't have to return because she has no intention of leaving. 'They're going to have to drag me away, ' she said.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Maui doctor's wife agrees to have TRO dismissed
The wife of a Maui doctor who allegedly tried to kill her March 24 on an Oahu hiking trail agreed Friday to have a temporary restraining order filed in Maui Family Court dismissed. Arielle Konig's attorney, Brandon Segal, said the reason is because husband Gerhardt Konig's no-bail status in his criminal case in the Oahu Circuit Court is now officially permanent and there is a no-contact order in place. Segal said the TRO, which was 'an extra layer of protection, ' is 'just not necessary now ' since there is no chance of him harming her. Maui Family Court Judge Bevanne Bowers ordered the TRO be dissolved 'without prejudice, ' since the parties agreed to it, which allows Arielle Konig to apply for a TRO again if her husband's status should change. 'Why go through the trauma of having to testify at a hearing when she's already going to have to testify in the criminal trial ?' Segal said. The anesthesiologist was indicted on second-degree attempted murder for allegedly trying to kill his wife by throwing her off a cliff on what is commonly known as the Pali Puka trail, by hitting her head with a rock and by trying to stab her with a syringe filled with an unknown substance. The court waived Gerhardt Konig's presence at the Friday TRO hearing. His attorney, Manta Dircks, appeared on his behalf. He did not respond to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's call for comment. In the criminal case, Judge Paul Wong denied bail May 14 for Konig, citing the seriousness of the crime, the evidence that shows he hid from law enforcement, and that he poses a serious flight risk and a danger to his wife. The prosecution alleges the 46-year-old doctor phoned his adult son and told him that he tried to kill his wife because she was cheating on him. Konig pleaded not guilty to the charge. In her TRO petition, Arielle Konig said, 'The Respondent (Gerhardt Konig ) has attempted to kill me, and I am fearful for the safety of my family members, whom the Respondent may also attempt to physically harm or kill.' In addition to their two children, she included his 19-year-old son, her mother and stepfather, and her mother's dog. Arielle Konig also filed for divorce May 6 in Maui Family Court, seeking full custody of their two young children.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wahiawa landfill plans sidetracked
New state legislation likely will upend the city's plan to close its current solid-waste landfill in West Oahu and replace it with one near Wahiawa, on active pineapple fields above Central Oahu's freshwater aquifer. State lawmakers on April 30 adopted House Bill 969, which seeks to ban landfills above potable groundwater sources or in agricultural districts in Hawaii. If signed into law by Gov. Josh Green, the bill would prohibit the construction, modification or expansion of any waste or disposal facility on land that is above a significant aquifer. The measure would narrow the prohibition on building a garbage dump within a half-mile buffer zone of residential, school or hospital property lines. It also bans landfills from being built on the state's most highly productive, prime agricultural lands in counties with a population of more than 500, 000 people—meaning only Oahu, with fewer than a million residents, is affected by this legislation. But as of this week, Green—who had traveled to Washington, D.C., through Friday to testify at a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on science and health matters related to the outbreak of infectious diseases like COVID-19—had neither signed nor vetoed HB 969. The 2025 legislative session adjourned May 2. During his absence, the governor's office declined to comment on HB 969, its status or questions on Green's perspective over the future siting of new landfills. Erika Engle, Green's press secretary, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser any questions to the governor on either landfills or HB 969 could be addressed at another time. 'The timing will likely be around when the decision is made on what action to take with the bill, ' she added. Green has the option to veto the landfill bill by June 24. The governor also could sign the measure into law or let the bill automatically become law without his signature. The latter two actions must occur by July 9, legislative staff note. In the wake of HB 969's passage at the state Capitol, the mayor's office outlined three potential paths forward with regard to siting Oahu's next landfill. Ian Scheuring, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi's deputy communications director, told the Star-Advertiser, 'Should Gov. Green sign HB969 into law, the city's intended pathway, which was to safely construct and safely operate a state-of-the-art landfill that did not pose a threat to public health and did not contaminate Oahu's drinking water aquifer, will no longer be considered a viable option.' Scheuring said if the Legislature had amended Act 73 during the 2025 legislative session, it would have opened up additional locations that the city could have considered for a potential landfill site. But that didn't happen, he said. 'Amending the buffer zone would have opened up additional locations that the City could have considered as options for a potential landfill site, but because those options would have been closer to homes, schools and /or medical facilities, our preference was the site in Wahiawa, ' Scheuring said. With the preferred site in Wahiawa no longer a viable option, and with the Legislature having declined to amend Act 73, he said the city expects to move forward with the third pathway, 'which is to seek an extension of operations at the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill.' 'There are multiple ways in which the city could pursue an extension of operations at Waimanalo Gulch, including by going back to the state Land Use Commission, ' Scheuring asserted. 'The city is currently evaluating those options.' HB 969, which was among eight anti-landfill bills floated during the 2025 legislative session, arose due to a Wahiawa-area site—west of Kamehameha Highway and north of Paalaa Uka Pupu kea Road—where the city proposed a new dump on agricultural land owned by Dole Food Co. Hawaii. Announced in December, the city said it hoped to negotiate a purchase of about 150 acres—the amount of land needed for a solid-waste landfill—out of what it described as an approximately 2, 360-acre parcel now owned by Dole. Dole had stated its opposition to the city having a landfill on its active farming property. And that site, according to the Board of Water Supply, is about 800 feet above Central Oahu's prime groundwater source. BWS objected to the city siting a landfill within its so-called 'no-pass zone, ' an area that covers the interior of the island where Oahu's potable water aquifer is located. The planned Wahiawa landfill site is one of six sites—on the North Shore and in Central Oahu—BWS rejected in 2022 due to their proximity to the island's aquifer. But the city's actions came as it faced a state-imposed Dec. 31, 2024, deadline to find an alternate dump site, ahead of the planned closure of the over-35-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei, in accordance with a 2019 decision and order by the state Land Use Commission. That West Oahu dump is set to close in 2028, though the landfill will not reach full capacity until 2032, the city said. In recent years Blangiardi vowed he would not site a new landfill in West Oahu—an area that already features Waimanalo Gulch, the privately owned construction and demolition landfill, PVT Land Co. Ltd. in Nanakuli, and the HPOWER waste-to-energy facility in Kapolei. Anthony Makana Paris, chair of the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board, opined that any pledge to keep landfills out of West Oahu effectively ended with the passage of HB 969. 'We're pretty used to it because waste is a billion-dollar industry, and it impacts everything and everyone in our communities, ' Paris said, adding the latest actions over landfills in West Oahu are nothing new. 'We've been in this conversation for like 20 years.' In particular, he noted the city promised 'to shut down Waimanalo Gulch in 2008, ' and then again 'eight years after that.' Paris said multiple extensions were granted in subsequent years to keep Waimanalo Gulch open. 'Now we're in 2025, and because of this bill, HB 969, it's become apparent to our community that the likelihood of (the city's landfill ) remaining at Waimanalo Gulch is extremely high.' Still, Paris said it comes down to 'environmental justice ' for West Oahu. 'It's a textbook case in my mind because the highest concentration of Native Hawaiians—and Native Hawaiian homesteads—is on West Oahu, ' he said. 'And all of the policies, and their interpretation by actors, sadly continues to keep (solid waste operations ) on this side.' The Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board has not taken an official position on HB 969, but Paris said the the board did issue a resolution pertaining to solid-waste sites and HPOWER in West Oahu. He said the board's 2023 measure, Resolution 12, supports 'host community compensation ' for neighborhoods affected by active-operated landfills and waste-to-energy facilities. The resolution states, 'Scientific and public health studies have shown that there are statistically significant negative health impacts from landfills and waste-to-energy facilities for those living up to two miles away from their operation depending on local geography and micro-climates.' It asserts that 'people living near active landfills and waste-to-energy facilities have experienced a myriad of health problems including increased risk of reduced lung function, asthma, ataxia, paralysis, and lung cancer as their home air quality has been negatively impacted by such operations.' The resolution stated that Blangiardi's Landfill Advisory Committee recommended that 'a Host Community (Compensation ) Benefits package be established not only for the next community to host a landfill, but also include communities that have borne the burden of past Oahu landfills.' Via the resolution, the neighborhood board supports 'host community compensation for neighborhoods impacted by active landfills and waste-to-energy facilities.' Resolution 12 states that any 'funds made available as compensation to the neighborhoods of Makakilo, Kapolei, and Honokai Hale for the impact on the community by active landfills and waste-to-energy be placed into a community fund that would manage and grant funds to the direct benefits of the neighborhoods of Makakilo, Kapolei, and Honokai Hale.' Paris continues to support the resolution's request for a remedy for West Oahu residents living near landfills. He said the city should provide a 'community compensation package, ' adding that he doesn't 'like to use the word 'benefits, ' because it's not a benefit to have (a landfill ) in your community.' In recent months Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters also has expressed concerns over the lack of information from city officials regarding the actual cost of a new landfill, much less the potential reuse of the existing dump at Waimanalo Gulch. During an April 24 Zoom meeting with the Star-Advertiser's editorial board, Waters said, 'If you can't tell me how much it's going to cost to set up a new landfill—when we've got so many other priorities in the city—I'm not sure it's a responsible thing to do, to site a new landfill at this point in time.' Waters said that Blangiardi 'has kind of backed himself into a corner in that he promised not to ' have a new landfill in West Oahu. 'It's tough, right ?' he asserted. 'But ultimately, I think we should all recognize that putting (a landfill ) over an aquifer is a bad idea.' Waters added, 'I'm wondering if (city officials are ) just crossing their T's and dotting their I's, and they will end up coming back to the conclusion that (the landfill ) needs to stay right where it's at.'
