Mapunapuna firms
tally flood damage
About 30 Mapunapuna entrepreneurs met yesterday to discuss how to deal with -- and who is responsible for -- the substantial losses their businesses suffered from flooding earlier this month.
Nearly two weeks ago, heavy rains caused Moanalua Stream to overflow and drainage systems to back up, sending mud and water into dozens of area businesses.
At an informal meeting yesterday at the General Contractors Association of Hawaii headquarters, Wilton Ching, of Ewa Construction Co. at 645 Ahua St., said that the silt below mangrove in Moanalua stream is at least 3 feet deep, which raised the water level during heavy rain.
Ching added that mangrove on the Diamond Head side of the stream is overgrown.
"It's city neglect. I cannot see how you can let it build up so high and have the mangrove grow over the years without doing nothing about it," said Ching. "This is the first time I've seen it that high."
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said she would not comment on flooding problems.
Deborah Ward, of the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, said that inspectors observed the state's portion of the stream and state-owned parcels leased to business and determined that there are no flooding problems.
Bob Freeman, president and chief executive of Mr. Sandman Inc. at 697 Ahua St., organized the meeting after hearing from a number of businesses that are not covered by insurance and that had a significant loss. A questionnaire was handed out to store owners to detail all losses, including office equipment, cleanup costs and inventory damage.
Freeman said he had suffered an estimated $250,000 loss and had 22 inches of water in his office. He suggested that all businesses should approach former and new landowners as well as state, city and federal officials about paying for the damage.
Jake Ng, who represented Sen. Norman Sakamoto (D, Salt Lake-Foster Village) at the meeting, said a public meeting will be held at Moanalua High School's student center Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to discuss damage caused by the heavy rains in Mapunapuna, Salt Lake, Aliamanu and Foster Village. City and state officials are expected to attend.
Ed Teixeira, vice director of the state Civil Defense Division, said surveyors from the U.S. Small Business Administration office in Sacramento, Calif., examined Mapunapuna businesses last week.
Teixeira said if there are at least 25 businesses or homes that have suffered a minimum of 40 percent in uninsured property losses, they can qualify for a disaster loan with 4 percent interest.
But Teixeira said he spoke to surveyors yesterday who determined that only three of 33 Mapunapuna businesses experienced more than 40 percent of uninsured property loss. He is expected to receive a complete report from the administration.
Still, he said, there may be other ways to get SBA help.
"We're going to be hopeful that SBA will offer us something to help businesses in the Mapunapuna area," Teixeira said. "The key is, How do we help businesses in finding solutions to recover from their losses? That's the challenge."