Kane'ohe flood fears get new state attention

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

KANE'OHE — State transportation director Rod Haraga has promised to address flooding that has plagued the Kahelelani subdivision for decades and resulted in one family's having to abandon their home after heavy rains swept away their back yard in 1996.

Haraga, who took charge of the Department of Transportation in January, said his department is working with the city to come up with a solution that will lessen the impact of heavy rains but not cost government a lot of money.

"Rest assured I am personally involved with this to make sure it comes to a good conclusion for the neighborhood and not cost the city and county or the state a tremendous financial burden," he said yesterday, responding to residents who said on Thursday that they intended to appeal to the Kane'ohe Neighborhood Board for help.

Haraga said that for a long time the city and state were blaming each other over this issue, but now both are committed to working together to solve the problem.

Lyle Swindell, who lives next to the family that lost their back yard, said he's glad the state has promised a solution, but he is skeptical and intends to go to the neighborhood board meeting Thursday.

"We've heard that before, but it is nice to hear it again," Swindell said yesterday. He said it was reassuring to hear the city and state are working together, because "usually they try to kick the football to the other side."

Flooding occurs because a state-built concrete collection basin that's 20 feet wide, running under Po'okela Street, funnels heavy downpour from Castle Hills subdivision, Hope Chapel Kane'ohe and surrounding land to a stream and a city-owned culvert that is 4-by-6 feet and about 200 feet away.

Before all the development in the area, beginning with H-3 Freeway and the Castle Hills subdivision in the 1980s, the stream was only a trickle, neighbors have said. Diverting water to the stream has led to heavy flows in the waterway, including floods, they said.

"The city and county know they're liable for what they did and we know we have to be accountable for what we did," Haraga said.

The city and state are to meet again Wednesday to discuss the issue, Haraga said.

Homeowners representing Kahelelani have been invited to the city and state meetings, and the whole community will be advised about the solutions and costs when they are completed, Haraga said.