Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce

These factors provide for the possibility of localized or even general flooding of communities from time to time given the universally steep slopes of the mountain(s) averaging around 18%. This is likely to occur in spite of the fact that on the leeward side at least the absorption of water into the generally porous terrain is high.

Flooding is generally confined to known flood channels but there are as well smaller mauka-makai ditches which can carry significant water, albeit for short periods.

Flooding and flood damage are issues of deep concern for all residents, business owners and government. The urgent need for expert, well-qualified technical advice and consultation is evident. This professional technical advice will guide us through existing inadequacies, emotionally-charged issues and unqualified anecdotal evidence.

Flood mitigation measures are presently in place but the general view of experienced and long term residents (including the Soil Conservation Service and long term farmers) is that these regulations are not well enforced and are quite often completely ignored.

There is evidence that some development has been executed without even reasonable regard to the water flow which should always be a concern when working on this
Island.

It is apparent that the basic information for effectively legislating and regulating this issue is not available along with any complete and correct professional interpretation of risk factors on which to base appropriate controls.

Position

1. KKCC applauds the obvious concern of the current council and the administration about the issues of flood control and mitigation on the
   Island.
2. KKCC is concerned that the control measures proposed in Bill 151 are not held in high regard by qualified professionals and are construed as ineffective and unlikely to solve the problems. We believe that the only critical factor here is EFFECTIVENESS and the present proposals fall well short of achieving the aims of protection of people and their property.
3. KKCC agrees that with our land geography (slope) and occasional heavy rainfall we have the potential for flooding to occur and for damage to property and people to be a real problem. We also believe that it will be very difficult or impossible to remove
   ALL potential for flood damage, but sensible regulations and policies which are enforced can minimize the devastating effects of flooding.
4. KKCC believes that the mapping and information base on which decisions are currently made is far from complete and that this should be a priority issue for the County. This is an activity in which KKCC would strongly support but with the caveat that it is planned and executed under the direction of professional engineers and flood control specialists working closely with the DPW, and where relevant, with NRCS and FEMA professionals. It is certainly logical to get wide public input, particularly for the historical perspective, however the interpretation and analysis should be left to experienced and trained professional engineers and flood control experts.
5. KKCC recognizes that it may well be the appropriate time for a review of regulations and policies. However in all matters concerned with flooding in particular there needs to be a recognition that regulations cannot sensibly be a “one size fits all” and that most flooding has site specific characteristics. Changing regulations needs to take this into account. Where there is professional knowledge in specialty fields, ie Flood Control Engineering, then qualified specialists need to be used to provide the basis for changes. Not taking this approach will certainly result in unintended consequences which can put the work of the Council at significant legal risk and cost.
6. KKCC acknowledges that the final solution to flooding in areas like Waiaha Stream (one area of immediate concern) may be channelization of the stream over its entire length. This would be far beyond the scope of any developer and may involve the Federal Government.