Two projects would drastically impact Kaanapali

There are two projects in the works that will forever alter the makeup of the Kaanapali Resort area. The first, and best known, is the “revitalization” of the resort area. It is designed to maximize the financial return for the state Employees’ Retirement System (ERS). One letter writer insisted that a better description would be “profitization” of the resort for the ERS.

The second, lesser-known project is designed to reroute the treated wastewater from the West Maui water treatment plant that’s currently pumped into injection wells off the coast. The treated water will be rerouted to the resort area to be used for irrigation.

The treated water is rich in nitrogen, which accelerates growth in vegetation. Evidence of this is plainly visible along the beaches in Honokowai with all of the green crud that washes ashore.

As you may know, the resort is built entirely on porous sand. Water, and anything in it, will pass through the sand and into the ocean. If the nitrogen-rich recycled water is used in the resort area, the growth of algae or green crud will no longer take place 3,000 feet offshore. It will be growing at the resort beach.

When a community meeting was held last year concerning this project, the management of the county Department of Environmental Management (DEM) was asked if a hydrology study would be conducted to determine if the recycled water would flow through the resort sand and into the ocean. They refused to answer the question. The DEM people instead said that each hotel would be required to hire someone to monitor the water quality at their beaches. When the nitrogen-enriched water is detected entering the ocean, what will the county DEM people do to stop it?

The project to reroute recycled water from the injection wells to the resort will require a 1,000,000-gallon tank to be placed 200 feet above sea level to get enough pressure so the sprinklers will work. At this height, the recycled water can only be used in the resort area.

There are companies, groups and individuals that would like to see the tank placed at 500 feet above sea level, so they can use the water for irrigation above Kaanapali and Lahaina. This would keep the nitrogen-enriched water out of the ocean and create a sustainable local food source and new jobs. When the director of the DEM was offered this alternative, he stated that it was “not economically feasible.”

It turns out that the DEM does, in fact, plan to eventually place a second tank at either 400 or 500 feet. That shoots a big hole in their economically feasible argument.

Another economic issue to consider is the effect of the green crud growing at the resort beach. No one, visitor or local, will spend much time on a beach that is covered in green, smelly crud. The effect on the economics of one of the biggest job creators in the state is unfathomable.

In summary, both of these projects need the full attention of every West Maui resident, those of you that travel over the Pali every day for work and our visitors.

MIKE SOWERS, Kaanapali

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Speeding an issue on Honoapiilani Highway

As usual, Highway 30 is still a racetrack. Cars run red lights way over the speed limit with impunity. No police to be seen…

Since it is technically possible – pedestrian lights start blinking and give you even the seconds before they turn a solid red – why is this not done with traffic lights for DRIVERS? A pedestrian hardly would kill a driver, but vice versa?

Just remember Haleakala Highway: running a red light at over 120 mph UPHILL… resulting in a murder indictment.

In Europe and most of the world, blinking lights for car traffic were implemented already in the early 1970s, some 45 years ago!!

It seems to me that a real bad accident has to happen before something is done… MAYBE!?

Crossing Highway 30 from Lahainaluna to Kapalua is usually a suicide mission, be it as a pedestrian or crossing in a car when YOUR light is already green. And I don’t even want to mention the other parts of Maui or Hawaii.

Blinking green lights would give a much-needed and useful warning to drivers, so they don’t have to floor it at the last 100 or 50 yards.

How long will we be staying in the dark ages here? There are lives at stake.

So I would respectfully suggest – no, demand – that the County of Maui and the State of Hawaii make a leap from the past to the present.

For everybody crossing a major highway: WATCH OUT! Don’t take your green light for granted. Others run red lights at high speed left and right all the time, often because there is no indication that their light will change soon.

Should the County of Maui cite financial reasons – you must be kidding! Stop wasting money on rather unimportant things and get your priorities straight! There are lives at stake.

JOHN BLAHUTA, Lahaina

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Mahalo for supporting the Kupuna Luncheon

Though we work to serve year-round, this is an event that we always look forward to. It is our privilege and joy to share this day with our kupuna of West Maui.

This year’s event was graced with memorized scripture readings from the keiki of Mana’o’i’o Baptist Academy and the awesome show provided by Kahu Allen Haia and the Lahaina Christian Fellowship Hula Halau, all of whom were very impressive and inspiring. Completing the afternoon was a most delicious Thanksgiving lunch and very generous door prize donations.

As we value these partnerships, The Salvation Army Lahaina would like to mahalo all those who helped to make this day possible.

To Waiola Church, a huge mahalo for the use of your spacious “Hale A’i” as our venue location. We look forward to annual events.

To our volunteers, Envoy Vidella Nagasaki and The Salvation Army’s Home League of Extraordinary Women, the dancers, musicians and volunteers of Lahaina Christian Fellowship, The Engman’s and Friends, Kahu Dennis Alger and the Waiola Church volunteers, mahalo for your hands-on kokua.

To our food donors: Chef Greg Grohowski and the Hyatt Regency Maui, Kathy Wall and Koa’s 156, Chef Ryan Luckey and Leilani’s on the Beach, Chef Tom Muromoto and Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Harold Hardcastle and The Bakery, mahalo for your time and exquisite food.

And mahalo to our door prize donors: Atlantis Submarines Maui, Maile Bryan, Captain Jack’s Restaurant, Cool Cat Cafe, Down the Hatch Maui, Duke’s Beach House Maui, Expeditions Maui, Feast at Lele, Gazebo Restaurant, Kimo’s Maui, Hula Grill Kaanapali, Lahaina Pizza Company, Aunty Flo Makekau, Aunties Patti & Maryann and Maui Feather Lei, Mala Ocean Tavern, Maui Ocean Center, Warren & Annabelle’s Magic and Malia Tufaga of Waiola Church.

SALVATION ARMY LAHAINA