Mapunapuna sorts flood options
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer
Mapunapuna business owners had more questions than answers yesterday morning as they tried to consider ways to get financial assistance after heavy rains on O'ahu last week left many of their businesses in nearly 2 feet of water.
"We're just waiting to see what kind of disaster relief there might be for this area, and whether we meet the criteria," said Connie Smales, president of Plywood Hawai'i, who estimated her business losses at about $70,000. "I don't think anybody knows the extent of the damage at this point. This is really just a start."
Rick Reed, president of Inter-Island Solar Supply on Ahua Street, said his business lost as much as $500,000 in damaged equipment, cleanup work and lost business. He said he did not have flood insurance because no one had stressed the need.
"Right now I'm just laughing to keep from crying," said Reed, who started the business in 1999. "Every time I see rain on the mountain I get the creeps. ... There's no guarantee this won't happen again this weekend."
They were among more than three dozen people crammed into a small room on the second floor of the General Contractors Association of Hawaii building to sort through their options and decide what remedies might be available.
Meeting organizer Bob Freeman, president and CEO of Mr. Sandman Inc., a surface preparation company on Ahua Street, said the purpose of the get-together was to consider the questions.
"I don't think anybody here has answers yet," he said. "But if we all raise some questions that we have, at least we might be going in the same direction."
The No. 1 question on the mind of Smales and others was, "What was the cause of the flood?"
"I don't know if even calling it a flood is right," said Freeman, explaining that if a "flood" is because of "an act of God," it could be difficult to collect damages. On the other hand, if the high water was because of negligence on the part of the city, state or current or past owners of the land, then merchants might be able to collect for their losses.
Ron Uemura, who operates Ron's Auto Parts and Performance on Kilihau St., said taxpayers can reasonably expect the city to maintain Moanalua Stream so that it doesn't overflow and damage area businesses.
"One of the things you need to determine is if there is a liability," Uemura said. "If there is, we should seek legal counsel. If there's not, then everyone here is on their own. You've either got flood insurance or you don't."
It was clear that most present did not have flood insurance.
"I don't know if our insurance agent offered us flood insurance," Reed said. "I was unaware of any historical precedent."
Ian Cordes, president of Foster Equipment Co. Ltd., on the same block as Reed's operation, said water backed up in a similar fashion in 1974. He said the city made assurances that the stream would be cleared, but nothing much was ever done.
Freeman suggested that the business operators meet again next week. In the meantime, he asked owners to compile detailed accounts of their losses for insurance purposes. He said those not covered by flood insurance might still be covered in other sections of their policies.
Jake Ng, senior legislative aide for Sen. Norman Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), said Sakamoto and several other area legislators have called for a separate meeting to discuss the issue. The meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday at the Moanalua High School Student Center.
Ng said in addition to area legislators, representatives of various city, state, federal and private agencies have been invited.
Ng said U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, has informed Sakamoto that Washington can't act until a formal request for federal money has been made by Gov. Linda Lingle.
"We haven't heard from the governor," Ng said. "But I assume that she will be coming up with something."
Reach Will Hoover at 525-8038 or whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.
