Bush eliminates Hawai'i projects
By Frank Oliveri
Advertiser Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has decided to eliminate six Army Corps of Engineers projects in Hawai'i worth about $72.2 million, but Hawai'i lawmakers said they will fight to reinstate the money.
To date, the government has spent $6.8 million on the projects, which range from agricultural irrigation to beach widening.
"We are at the beginning of the annual budget process, and it is not unusual for the administration to recommend that a number of projects be canceled," said Mike Yuen, a spokesman for Democratic Sen. Dan Inouye. "Senator Inouye will, as he has done in the past, fight to restore the funding for important Hawai'i initiatives."
The six projects are:
• The Hawai'i Water Management project and the Hawai'i Water Systems Technical Assistance project.
Money was secured in 2001 and this year for investigating and building irrigation improvements. The state Department of Agriculture wanted to sponsor water-management improvements to the water-storage facilities at Waiahole and Kekaha in West Kaua'i. The federal government was to pick up 65 percent of the cost.
Money also was set aside for technical studies of irrigation systems at the Pioneer Mill system on Maui, the Koke'e/Kekaha ditch irrigation system in East Kaua'i, and the Waiahole Ditch on O'ahu. Two additional systems on South Kona and Lower Kula were to be studied.
The work would cost an estimated $3.9 million. To date, $363,000 has been spent.
• Kaumalapau Harbor in Lana'i.
This project would repair the existing breakwaters that were built in the 1920s and badly damaged by storms in the 1980s and 1990s. The harbor was transferred to the state in July 2000 from the former owner, the Lana'i Co.
The Army Corps of Engineers decided to cancel the project because it was deemed economically unfeasible, said agency spokeswoman Connie Gillette.
The ambitious program would have cost between $10 million and $25 million. About $2.3 million has been spent to date.
"There is absolutely no question on its need, and all the permits have been approved," said Democratic Rep. Ed Case. "It is an absolute lifeline for Lana'i, particularly with some of the challenges with airline transportation."
• Erosion control on Waikiki.
This project was expected to restore and protect about 10,800 feet of shoreline along Waikiki Beach and Duke Kahanamoku Beach to the Elks Club. Completion of the beach-widening project would cost $24 million. About $185,000 has been spent to date.
Bush administration officials rejected the project because the benefits would be purely recreational. The most recent energy and water spending bill passed by Congress, however, noted that recreation is important economically for Hawai'i.
"It makes no sense in submitting a presidential budget zeroing out funds for needs that have already been demonstrated and approved," Case said.
• Wailupe Stream Control on O'ahu.
The Wailupe Stream drainage basin is eight miles southeast of Honolulu and encompasses the 'Aina Haina residential community. The stream potentially could flood the entire valley floor, with 819 residential and 28 commercial structures within the 100-year flood plain.
The Bush administration said further money will be eliminated until an economic analysis is completed. The program was initiated through an appropriation added on in Congress and did not go through the conventional feasibility report approval process, Gillette said.
The total project cost is estimated at $3.2 million, of which the federal government was to cover 75 percent. About $32,000 has been spent to date.
• Ma'alaea Harbor, Maui.
This project is in the design phase and has been delayed several times. It includes several navigational improvements, which would allow for developing the interior harbor basin and increase the berthing capacity from 93 vessels to about 220. The total project is expected to cost $16 million, with $3.9 million spent to date.
Gillette said the project simply was not a high priority when compared to other Army Corps projects.
