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Kapolei board opposes
landfill expansion,
will lobby city, state

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

The Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board wants to meet with city and state officials after turning thumbs down on expansion of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill.

The nine-member board voted 9-0 to oppose the planned expansion in a recommendation to agencies. But on the recommendation of City Councilman John DeSoto, the board will seek a special meeting.

DeSoto said the board needs to keep the city's "feet to the fire" to make the board's opposition count before an actual decision is made.

Representatives of Waste Management Hawaii, which runs the landfill under a city contract, made a presentation last night and answered questions.

But critics deplored the absence of city administration officials. The state Department of Health, also responsible for the landfill, was unrepresented as well.

Brian Takeda, a senior planner with R.M. Towill Corp., consultants, said the draft environmental impact statement comment period was extended at the board's request from July 7 to Aug. 21.

He said written comments may be sent to the City Department of Environmental Services, Honolulu Municipal Building, 650 S. King St., Honolulu 96813 until Aug. 21.

He also said no documentation has been found to back a claim that the city agreed in 1984 the landfill would not be expanded.

At issue is the city goal of expanding the existing landfill operation by 60.5 acres within its designated 200-acre site. About 64 acres there are actually being used for landfill purposes now.

About 20 acres of that are used to dump ash from the HPOWER incinerator. The remaining area used is the final resting place for unprocessed trash and garbage.

Complaints abound of paper and plastic bags and other items blowing around the community.

Joseph Hernandez, Waste Management Hawaii environmental manager, said the firm regularly has crews cleaning up the litter.