Kokua Line
Kokua Line
At the Chinese Buddhist temple on Kawananakoa Place in Nuuanu, water gushes through a pipe down the side of the driveway and empties into the road. This happens quite frequently and on most days. I am concerned about waste. Why do they need to run so much water? Community working out
Nuuanu water problemWe called the Hsu Yun Temple but could not get through to anyone who spoke English.
That led us to two city departments, then to Councilman Jon Yoshimura's office, then to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources' Water Commission.
What we discovered was a long-standing problem involving a rechanneled 'auwai (ditch) which Yoshimura's legislative aide, Kyle Chock, described as "a challenging neighborhood dispute."
Chock said Yoshimura was first alerted to the 'auwai problem about two years ago. But the neighborhood's community association then said the problem was "under control, so we didn't do anything," he said. About a month ago, the problem resurfaced.
The temple is one of three property owners in the neighborhood who filled in parts of the old 'auwai within the past couple of years, said Tim Johns, deputy director, state Water Commission.
The 'auwai had been dry for about a decade. However, "people upstream, within the last couple of years, experienced flooding," Johns said.
The Water Commission investigated and, since the system is man-made, did not find any violation of the water code, he said. But the commission does have the task of looking into water disputes, he said, "so we are trying to work with different members of the community toward a resolution."
The city is interested because some of the diverted water obviously is running into its storm drains. But officials are allowing the community time to resolve the matter instead of issuing any citations.
One meeting between government and community representatives was held recently; another is scheduled this month.
"We are encouraging the neighbors to work out some kind of resolution to the issue to avoid any lengthy adjudicated matter," Chock said.
A heartfelt thank-you to the gentleman who pulled our dad from the surf during the Memorial Day weekend at Hukilau Beach in Laie. Thanks to you, we were able to truly celebrate Father's Day this year. In all the chaos, we did not get your name nor that of the lady who called 911 and directed the emergency teams to the scene. Our dad is making a miraculous recovery thanks to you, the paramedics at the Kahuku Emergency Ambulance Service, the firemen at the Kahuku Fire Station and the trauma teams at Queen's Medical Center. -- The Teruyas Mahalo
To the female driver of the red Ford on the freeway at 1 p.m. June 30. You cut in and out between lanes at will, cut in front of my car, then seconds later purposely jammed other cars trying to get to the offramp. No wonder other cars were blaring their horns at you! -- No name Auwe
To whoever mailed back my returned checks, which the bank misplaced. Thank you for your time and the 32-cent stamp. -- God bless from Mililani Mahalo
To the couple in the yellow Plymouth who was on the freeway before the Kinau Street cutoff about 4:30 p.m. July 7. They should take care of their "business" in the bedroom and not on the freeway, where children are coming home with parents at that time. It was very obscene. -- Ronnie Auwe
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