Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: The urban myth going around my Kahaluu neighborhood is about the pipeline project along Kahekili Highway. The revolving rumor now is that the project isn't to benefit Windward residents at all, but to move Windward water out and away. One guy said it's going to the Hawaii Kai area, but others think it's going to the Ewa plain to help developers in that area. Can you find out what the truth is? Windward pipeline project
will not divert excess waterAnswer: The myth has basis in fact but is not true, according to water officials.
The Windward water transmission system connects to Hawaii Kai, and for years the plan was to transmit excess water to Hawaii Kai -- not to Ewa. This was disclosed in a 1980 Environmental Impact Statement filed with the Kahekili Highway road widening project, according to Barry Usagawa, chief of the Board of Water Supply's Water Resources Division.
However, BWS officials now believe there is not enough water in the Windward district to supply Hawaii Kai as well, and there are no plans to do so.
The board has tried for years to dispel the rumors, Usagawa said.
Officials have met with the Kahaluu and Kaneohe neighborhood boards, the Ahuimanu Community Association and various other community groups to help explain the project, as well as to explain the water plan for Windward Oahu, Usagawa said.
"Unfortunately, there may still be a few people who are unaware of this, and we will make an effort to improve our public information program for residents in the Kahaluu area."
The main purpose for the current Kahekili project is to provide a backup water transmission line so that Windward customers can receive regular water service in the event of ruptures on the older water main, Usagawa said.
The concern primarily is with the long-term viability of the existing 40-year-old, 30-inch water main that runs along Kahekili Highway, going cross-country from Ahuimanu through Heeia Meadowlands to Kamehameha Highway.
If there is a serious break on that main, water service to Kaneohe and Kailua could be disrupted severely.
"There have been a number of leakage problems on the main in recent years; these breaks required prolonged repairs over several days to complete, and did create service problems," Usagawa said.
Once the second main is completed, water will be transmitted to Kaneohe and Kailua via the two pipes. No additional water will be carried, with each pipe carrying a portion of the current supply, Usagawa said.
"Last year, a break in the old line resulted in serious supply problems for residents of the Kailua area. Repairs were prolonged and resulted in service disruptions. We plan to abandon the older pipe in the future," he said.
The project was broken into four segments, two of which are complete. The segment from Haiku Road to Ahuimanu Road is scheduled to be completed in June, with the last segment, between Ahuimanu Road and Ahuimanu Place, targeted for completion before the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Usagawa said Honolulu and Ewa's water needs "are being adequately supplied by ground-water sources in these areas and by alternative water resources already or in the process of being developed."
He said the development of alternative water resources, such as recycling water and desalinating sea water, is a long-term program.
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