Hawaii Senate Bill SR197

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Facility Maintenance Of The City And County Of Honolulu To Dredge And Clean The Ulehawa Stream And Canal.

Impact

The resolution emphasizes the importance of regular maintenance to ensure the health of the waterway and the well-being of the residents living alongside it. It also highlights a connection between environmental neglect and social equity, suggesting that the current lack of action places an unfair burden on local tax-paying residents, particularly in areas with vulnerable populations such as the Puu Heleakala Community. Furthermore, the resolution calls for collaborative efforts with the Army Corps of Engineers to explore permanent solutions, such as stream groins to mitigate sediment accumulation.

Summary

Senate Resolution 197 (SR197) requests that the Department of Facility Maintenance of the City and County of Honolulu take action to dredge and clean the Ulehawa Stream and Canal on a quarterly basis. This action aims to address longstanding issues of sediment accumulation, which have led to significant environmental and health problems for local residents. The Ulehawa Stream is vital to the ecosystem, but it suffers from recurrent blockage due to debris and sediment, which has raised numerous public safety concerns among the nearby communities, particularly with reported health effects resulting from the stagnant water and foul odors.

Contention

A noted point of contention surrounding SR197 is the City and County's ability to maintain the Ulehawa Stream effectively. The Department of Facility Maintenance has acknowledged staffing shortages and limited resources, prompting concerns about whether adequate funding and attention will be given to this pressing environmental issue. Opposition can arise from debates about municipal resource allocation and prioritization of environmental projects amidst competing urban development demands.