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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 7, 2003

HECO proposal draws concern

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

With Hawaiian Electric Co. planning to tear up almost three miles of streets in urban Honolulu over the next several years to bury new transmission lines, residents spoke out against the project at the McCully/ Mo'ili'ili Neighborhood Board meeting last night, saying they don't like the lines going through residential areas and they are worried about the safety of their children.

"I'm really concerned about your attitude toward costs," said Jack Katahira, who lives on Fern Street where one line will be laid. "We need to think about the health issues."

Katahira helps care for his grandchildren and is worried about the effects of electrical exposure on them and on other children at schools in the area.

Gregg Takara asked why the line isn't planned along Kapi'olani Boulevard away from residential areas.

Ken Morikami of HECO told the crowd of several dozen residents at Lunalilo Elementary School that the route was planned through the residential area to be as direct as possible and to cut costs, "but not at the expense of people."

Last night was the first time HECO had given a presentation on its $59 million project to the residents most directly affected by the work. In appearing before the residents, HECO fulfilled a promise to do so before filing its formal proposal with the Public Utilities Commission.

HECO will file its PUC proposal by the end of the month. The commission ultimately will decide whether the project can proceed.

The utility says the project will increase the reliability of electric power transmission to East O'ahu and Waikiki. Opponents say HECO has not demonstrated the need for the new line.

The new proposal is HECO's alternative to its proposed $35 million transmission line along Wa'ahila Ridge, which was rejected last year by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.

If the PUC approves the proposal, HECO's plan is to bury the 46,000-volt lines through city streets in work expected to take five years. Paying for the project will raise monthly residential bills by as much as $1 a month.

HECO plans to build in two phases, with the first mile of line laid from the Makaloa substation to the McCully substation in work targeted for completion in 2006. That work also will include short segments at Date and Pumehana streets, across Date Street in front of the Kamoku substation and along Winam Avenue from Ho'olulu Street to Mo'oheau Avenue.

The second phase would include an additional 1.9-mile line from HECO's Archer Street substation along King Street to Young and McCully streets and will take two more years.

The project will pass by three schools, McKinley High, Washington Intermediate and Lunalilo Elementary.

Tom Harrington, HECO's construction manager for the project, said the company is very conscious of business activity around construction sites and will work to keep noise and dust down, and access open during the work.

Additional public meetings will be held as construction time nears.

In general, work will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with no work on holidays or weekends.

Henry Curtis, executive director of Life of the Land, an environmental watchdog group, asked if an environmental assessment for the project is planned because county roads will be used.

Morikami said an assessment is not needed.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.