Aquifer is the state’s responsibility
Gov. David Ige gets it exactly wrong on Keauhou aquifer designation.
The state constitution specifically reserves water management at the state level as a public trust resource. Making a political football out of the Water Commission decision making has never worked. Time and again, the Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled against this.
More importantly, it fails to solve the problems facing us. Hawaii County has failed, for example, to adopt the water efficiency standards that Honolulu did back in the early 1990s. It dumps 1.5 MGD of effluent into a hole in the ground at Kealakehe instead of recycling it as originally intended. Hawaii County has failed to follow its own water plan and continues to rely on new source development rather than demand site management, which is cheaper.
We need solutions, not political posturing in support of big special interests — otherwise it just ends up in court.
Steve Holmes
Kailua-Kona
Mayor’s actions are a disgrace
Billy Kenoi has a no hooponopono. He has disgraced his office. He has deceived the people. He should lose his office.
It is remarkable he has the gall to show up at Merrie Monarch.
Tom Helgeson
Keauhou