Da State Department of Land and Natural Resources, one agency fo’ kokua Hawai’i’s ‘aina, stay looking at one $600,000 fine fo’ make da watta all pilau at da Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor. ?
From 2015 to 2020, da state Health Department wen say get 62 times dat da watta from da harbor wen pass da limits fo’ da kine bacteria levels. ?
Da harbor get one 32-year-old wastewater treatment system, and dat stay one reason why all dis kine mess wen happen. Da DLNR an’ Boating and Recreation Division been trying fo’ fix da problem fo’ long time. ??
Carroll Cox, one environmental activist, wen say dat dis stay one “monumental breach” dat da DLNR an’ DOBAR wen let dis kine conditions go on fo’ so long. ?
Kaneohe Bay stay one supah ono place fo’ da commercial fisherman, tour boats, an’ all kine ocean fun. Also, da bay stay one important kine nursery fo’ fish an’ oddah animals. ???️
Melodie Aduja, one former state lawmaker an’ longtime Kaneohe resident, stay da co-chair of da Democratic Party of Hawaii’s environmental caucus. She wen say, “We rely on da bay fo’ recreation, fo’ food, fo’ subsistence.” ?♀️??
“I stay flabbergasted actually. It’s preposterous dat something like dis would happen.” ?
Da fine stay one part of one settlement between da DLNR’s staff an’ da Health Department. Da state Land Board goin’ vote on da deal dis Friday. ✍️
As part of da proposed settlement, da state also goin’ need fo’ put in one new wastewater treatment plant, which goin’ cost plenny million dollars. ???
In 2018, da DLNR wen get $1 million fo’ build one new plant, but da bids wen come in mo’ high den dat. Last year, state lawmakers wen give da department $3 million fo’ one new plant. Da procurement process stay going on now. ???
Aduja wen say, “A new wastewater treatment plant stay already planned, an’ CIP funds stay allocated, but still get delays.” ?
Da peopo of Hawai’i gotta hope dis problem goin’ pau soon an’ da Kaneohe Bay goin’ stay clean fo’ all da ‘ohana, fish, an’ ocean life. ?️??
NOW IN ENGLISH
?Stunned: State Agency to Pay Big Bucks for Polluting Hawaii’s Paradise?
The State Department of Land and Natural Resources, entrusted with safeguarding Hawaii’s natural treasures, is on the hook for a whopping $600,000 fine for polluting the waters of Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor. ?
Between the years of 2015 to 2020, the state Health Department reported 62 instances where the harbor’s wastewater exceeded acceptable levels of bacterial contamination. ?
The harbor’s outdated, 32-year-old wastewater treatment system is part of the problem. The DLNR and its Boating and Recreation Division have been attempting to update the system for quite some time. ??
Environmental activist, Carroll Cox, stated that this is a “monumental breach” by the DLNR and DOBAR for allowing these conditions to persist for so long. ?
Kaneohe Bay is a favorite spot for commercial fishermen, tour boats, and all sorts of ocean recreation. Not to mention, the bay serves as a critical nursery for fish and other marine life. ???️
Melodie Aduja, a former state lawmaker and longtime resident of Kaneohe, who is also the co-chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s environmental caucus, said, “We rely on the bay for recreation, for food, for subsistence.” ?♀️??
“I’m actually flabbergasted. It’s preposterous that something like this would happen.” ?
The fine is part of a settlement agreed upon by the staff of DLNR and the Health Department. The state Land Board will be voting on this deal this coming Friday. ✍️
As per the proposed settlement, the state will also need to install a new wastewater treatment plant, which is going to cost several million dollars. ???
In 2018, the DLNR received $1 million to construct a new plant, but the bids that came in were higher than the allocated amount. Last year, state lawmakers provided the department with $3 million for a new plant. The procurement process is currently underway. ???
Aduja said, “A new wastewater treatment plant is already planned, and CIP funds have been allocated, but still, there are delays.” ?
The people of Hawaii are hopeful that this issue will be resolved soon, and Kaneohe Bay will remain clean for all families, fish, and ocean life. ?️??
