Cleanups gaining on roadside dumpers

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

Shannon Wood looks over a pile of debris dumped in the underbrush within walking distance of the Kapa'a Quarry Road, where volunteers have joined with the city and businesses to clear the area of dumped cars and other junk. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The roadsides have been purged of old mattresses, bags of trash and yard clippings, and a rubbish-filled forest of koa haole has been cleared, revealing a stunning view of Mount Olomana and restoring a picturesque drive that overlooks Kawai Nui Marsh.

Now the Windward Ahu-

pua'a Alliance plans to take the cleanup to another level, removing some 50 tons of rusted derelict autos, broken furniture and rotting lumber from the hillside property along Kapa'a Quarry Road. They also will continue clearing the view plane and picking up trash.

"I drive through there often and find that the area looks terrific," said city spokeswoman Carol Costa. "Look what can happen when the community partners with the city."

The cleanups have been the work of volunteers organized by the alliance and supported by the city, which takes away the collected trash. The effort began with a handful of people, but soon grew to include businesses and community groups that decided, after clearing 20 tons of trash, that picking up rubbish wasn't enough to offset decades of illegal dumping.

But it's the focus on changing the area's image that gets the credit for much of the campaign's success, said Shannon Wood of the ahupua'a alliance.

"Once the road was cleaned on a regular basis, and once people could see into the marsh, there was an element of respect" and fewer people dumping, she said.

Police patrols didn't catch any dumpers, but did serve as a deterrent. New signs offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of illegal dumpers put people on notice that there's motivation for turning in a dumper.

The two groups also worked with the city to extend the hours of the transfer station on Kapa'a Quarry Road; worked with Sen. Melodie Aduja to help pass tougher legislation for illegal dumping and educated the public through sign-waving campaigns along the highway.

Cash said the transfer station now stays open until 6 p.m. every day, which also helps cut illegal dumping. But she doubted that alone would prevent the problem from returning.

"With the dump being the dump, people will always dump when they can't get in or there's illegal stuff," she said. "It's nice to have an ongoing cleanup, but that's what it will always have to be, an ongoing cleanup."

The city is looking at the Kapa'a Quarry Road effort as a model for other communities.

"This coalition of area residents and businesses have dedicated themselves to cleaning up and beautifying the area and to stop the dumpers," said Suzanne Jones of the city's Recycling Office. "They've raised money for security police to patrol at night and to post a $2,500 reward for information which leads to the prosecution of a dumper. This group is formidable, and a drive along Kapa'a Quarry Road will quickly reveal their success."

For the next phase, Wood said she has the cooperation of private landowner Teixeira Family Trust to clear its property, which stretches from Kapa'a Quarry Road to Castle Junction. She estimated the property has 50 tons of trash that will take at least five working days to clear. The cleanup begins Monday.

Shells of junked cars lie near Kapa'a Quarry Road, where volunteers now plan to remove some 50 tons of such derelict autos, broken furniture and rotting lumber in an agreement with the landowner and two contractors. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

On Wednesday, Wood conducted a preliminary tour of the site, which includes a heiau that has been damaged by off-road vehicles. Roads were deeply rutted where erosion had washed away hundreds of yards of dirt, leaving pools of water and mud holes. Dozens of wrecks, piles of household and construction debris and bags of trash dotted the lush landscape. Old rugs and pieces of plywood lined the rutted roads, creating a bridge to enter the area.

Two construction firms that are working on projects in Kailua have agreed to help remove autos and other large trash. Frank Coluccio Construction Co. is repairing and replacing sewer lines on Hamakua Drive; Goodfellow Bros. Inc. is working at Castle Junction to mitigate landslides. The city will haul away trash.

In weeks to come, the group will focus on the marsh side of the road as well.

Wood said she wants to clean the land to prevent pollution from entering the marsh, and she also hopes to help prevent the city from putting a landfill in the area. Kapa'a Quarry is one of several sites the city is considering for a new landfill.

"That's an issue that has been motivating us for a year," she noted.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.