By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Some 30 people, including Beryl Blaich of
Malama o Manoa, in forefront, are opposing
Hawaiian Electric Co.'s plans for new power
lines at Waahila Ridge, and took their case
to the state Capitol today.
Protesters decry
By Pat Omandam
plans for ridge
power lines
Star-BulletinMembers of an umbrella group that wants to stop construction of electrical power lines on Waahila Ridge protested at the state Capitol this morning, where Department of Land and Natural Resources officials briefed senators on the department's budget.
Mary Cooke, a member of Malama o Manoa, one of the groups comprising the Safe Power Action Network, today said opponents want the department to delay or defer the final environmental impact statement for the proposed Kamoku-Pukele 138,000-volt lines. The land board must decide whether to accept the report.
Also, opponents want an independent review of the project because they feel there are many alternatives not yet investigated, she said.
And if the impact statement is accepted, they want the department to reject the subsequent conservation district use application, the last step before Hawaiian Electric Co. could begin construction on the project.
Outgoing Land Board Chairman Michael Wilson, as well as his successor, Tim Johns, were not available this morning to comment on the status of the impact statement since they were briefing senators at the money committee meeting.
HECO wants to run a 138,000-volt power line along an existing, smaller transmission line along Waahila Ridge to the Pukele substation in Palolo Valley. The project would replace 40- to 60-foot wooden poles with 20 steel towers at heights of 70 to 100 feet.
About 1.5 miles of the line would be underground -- from the Kamoku substation at Date and Kamoku streets to the base of the ridge. The $31 million project will take about 18 months to complete. HECO officials have said construction could start as soon as all the permits are approved.
About 30 people gathered at the Capitol courtyard this morning to set up mock power lines to show its impact on the ridge. They then moved to Beretania Street to wave at passing motorists.
Kozen Kaneshiro, president of Malama o Manoa, said the high-voltage lines will tower above the ridgeline, where pine trees average around 60 feet high. He said many people use the ridge for recreation, as well as for religious and cultural practices, such as Hawaiian hula groups and practitioners.
HECO has said that it is difficult to address every concern, but stressed that the opposition's side must be balanced with the need for improved electrical service to consumers.
