Posted on: Tuesday, April 1, 2003

ISLAND VOICES
No more 'unwanted' projects for Kalihi

By Maryrose McClelland and Bernadette Young

Regarding Michelle Spalding Matson's letter March 14 in which she addressed the "plight" of the homeless: The homeless situation on O'ahu is every O'ahu neighborhood's problem, not just Kalihi.

Ms. Matson needs to know that for more than 30 years, the Kalihi community has taken responsibility for many of O'ahu's social problems. Many facilities were not welcomed in other Honolulu neighborhoods. Kalihi has two huge homeless shelters, a homeless transitional apartment complex, an alcohol halfway site, a furloughed prisoners' living quarters, many spouse-abuse shelters, drug-abuse treatment centers, mental health halfway homes, juvenile offenders' halfway homes and other "unwanted" projects.

Kalihi has one of the highest concentrations of care homes, several huge low-income public housing complexes, the sewage treatment facility, the refuse transfer center and the O'ahu Community Correctional Center.

Recently, despite Kalihi community objections and concerns for our environment and community health, we were informed by the state that Kalihi would be receiving the toxic and unhealthy Ala Wai Canal dredged opala (sludge), which in part is from Ms. Matson's neighborhood. The sludge will be dumped 3.25 miles off Sand Island Park.

The most toxic dredged material is proposed to be dried at a site near Sand Island Park, then mixed with concrete and encased in plastic containers with a life span of 20 years, and finally deposited on the reef runway (near another Kalihi recreation area, Keehi Lagoon).

Kalihi has done more than its fair share but no longer wants to continue to be a "dumping ground." Enough is enough!

Ms. Matson suggests that a site adjacent to Sand Island Park be used for a homeless "comprehensive assistance center." No. Why?

There are only 27 parks in the Kalihi area — a total of 54.61 acres. According to the city Department of Planning and Permitting, the Kalihi area needs an additional 151 to 181 acres of park land to meet the basic recreational needs of our 75,829 residents. The suggested state land adjacent to Sand Island Park should be used to expand the park — not for a homeless center.

Maryrose McClelland is chairwoman of Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board; Bernadette Young is chairwoman of Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board.