Lawmakers absent
I attended the Department of Health hearing regarding Hu Honua, reported on in the Nov. 15 Tribune-Herald.
The article’s contention that the hearing “included testimony from dozens of Hamakua residents on both sides of the issue,” was not entirely accurate. The overwhelming majority of approximately 60 oral testimonies came from those opposed to the project. All but one of the four or five testimonies in favor were given by employees of Hu Honua paid to be there, wearing green shirts with the company’s logo.
The hearing was packed with community members, many of whom took off work to attend a meeting scheduled in the middle of the day, registering their opposition to the plant on the public record. I would estimate that at its peak there were at least 225 people there, an extraordinary turnout.
In light of the recent report on climate change released by the United Nations, it is insane to promote a project like Hu Honua that will emit an estimated 300,000 tons of greenhouse gasses per year. Technological advances in solar and battery storage currently available would lead to cleaner and truly renewable energy that would cost less to ratepayers and put us on a track to responsibly face the enormous task currently on our global plate to not only cut carbon emissions but reduce carbon in the atmosphere from current levels.
Additional concerns were put on record regarding the “dinosaur technology” of biomass energy production, the proposed five to six logging trucks per hour congesting the roads and contributing to decreased safety for residents, and the proposed clear-cutting of the eucalyptus that could lead to increased landslides, mudslides and wildfire danger.
Rather than “underestimating” the Nov. 9 chemical spill at Hu Honua, Dave Clark said that Hu Honua was reporting only a fraction of the spill, and also alleged that it was intentional, not “inadvertent” as Hu Honua is claiming, and was discharged through a camouflaged hose at the site. Other workers with him at the site that day confirmed this, stating there was absolutely no way this spill was an accident. I was standing right next to them when the reporter from the Tribune Herald was asking questions.
Lastly, it’s important to note that the only elected official who was present at the hearing was Valerie Poindexter, the County Council representative for the district. I commend her for coming to listen to the concerns of her constituents.
Where were the other representatives for the district, and for the island? As an island community, we are especially vulnerable to climate change, and the egregious greenhouses gasses this plant would emit if allowed to become operational would contribute to more severe weather patterns, worsening droughts, and sea level rise that will affect us all.
I would think that freshly after an election cycle, those elected to represent us would show up to hear from community members, and I would hope that they would stand up to protect the health of the kai, wai and ‘aina upon which all of our health depends.
Maya Parish
Kapaau