Posted on: Friday, November 12, 2004

Runoff solution sought

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

Consolidated Amusement is working toward a permanent solution to the dirt and water runoff problem at Kam Drive-In, a company executive has told the 'Aiea Neighborhood Board.

Jay Swerdlow, executive vice president of Pacific Theatres Corp., flew in from Los Angeles and told the neighborhood board at its monthly meeting Monday that the "permanent fix" recommended by the engineering consultant firm of Hida Okamoto & Associates includes building asphalt curbing to divert water from a swap meet lot to the drainage system and placing erosion control matting on the slope above Kaonohi Street to prevent soil from running off.

As temporary measures, jersey barriers and sandbags were in place during the recent heavy rains but water got through, causing runoffs onto Kaonohi Street. The amount of mud on the roadway, however, was less than usual and the company cleaned it off quickly, said Swerdlow.

"It was better but it wasn't perfect," Swerdlow said. "We're in the process of designing a permanent fix."

Once a contractor is hired, the asphalt curbing work could be done in one or two days. Placing the matting on the slope could take a week.

There has been progress ever since William Clark, 'Aiea Neighborhood Board chairman, contacted Swerdlow last month to address his concerns.

City Councilman Gary Okino has been pressing property owner Kamehameha Schools and Consolidated, which operates the swap meet at the site, to solve the problem. Okino expressed concerns to Swerdlow at the meeting about soil sediment being discharged through the city's sewer system into state waters at Pearl Harbor from the recent runoff.

Consolidated was issued a notice of violation by the city's Department of Environmental Services' Storm Water Quality Branch on Sept. 13 to correct the problem.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.