14-02-2025
Residents sound-off on generator powered kauhale's inefficiency, safety concerns
HONOLULU (KHON2) — KHON2 first told you about safety and noise concerns regarding a generator powering a state-run homeless kauhale last week. On Thursday, Feb. 13, a community meeting was held to address those at 888 Iwilei Senior Living Facility are at their wit's end.
'You are sacrificing the lives of the people in our building. All old people, and very fragile,' said one angry resident.
Generator keeping kauhale running leaves seniors exhausted and sick
Dozens gathered at a community meeting addressing the use of a large generator powering the 43-unit Alana Ola Pono homeless kauhale in Iwilei.
Dale Krupa lives at the senior facility next door. He said the noise and fumes are unacceptable.
'We've had complaints. It's six weeks of people getting ill,' he said. 'There's headaches or sore throats. When people walk outside and exercise, there's a loud noise at night and we're not getting any progress.'
Ernest Caravalho, Chinatown neighborhood board chair, is upset the state spent $6 million to build the kauhale without adequate power.
'First of all, was it built right? And the answer would be, absolutely not,' Caravalho said. 'So they went and rushed and built a kauhale that had no electrical lines on it.'
Jun Yang, a member of the state Kauhale Task Force, said they are working as fast as they can to fix the problem.
'One of the things that we've done just recently today was to switch out the generator from the larger one to a smaller one,' Yang said. 'We'll continue to keep the communication going between the residences next door. We want to be a good neighbor.'
'There's a big difference,' Krupa said. 'I thought it was actually turned off. And I did not smell fumes.'
But he said it's too soon to say the problem is fixed. The high cost of running the generator and fuel is also a concern.
'Can you tell me any estimate of how much it costs?' KHON2 asked.
'I don't have that number for you. I'm going to get that to you as soon as I can,' Yang said.
Hawaiian Electric Company Director of Community Affairs Kurt Tsue said they're working with the state to power the kauhale.
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'Any time it requires bringing in a new power line and an electric meter, it does require an extensive amount of engineering. So that's what's currently being done right now,' Tsue explained.
He said it could take months depending on whether they connect underground or overhead.
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