Oahu was inundated last week with heavy rains and thunderstorms islandwide, causing flooding, rock slides, damage to homes, and even hail and a tornado! For those of us in Ko'olau Loa, the worst of it hit early Friday morning as several inches of rain came down in less than an hour. Fortunately our communities were spared major damage and injury. However, some families suffered property loss and our hearts go out to them.

In Laie, a number of positive developments helped mitigate the heavy water. First and foremost, everyone pulled together. Residents were out helping keep the dozens of drains throughout the community clear of debris, and neighbors were helping one another shore up their homes and clean up after the waters receded. We especially thank Hopate Taufa of Iosepa Electric who donated his time and equipment to assist residents. To view a news story about our neighbors helping each other, go to: http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Laie-families-work-together-after-rains-flood/onhzQrjJIEa9cMZczxizGA.cspx

Employees from our local institutions helped with labor and heavy equipment by pumping water out of the lowest lying properties, distributing sandbags and sand to residents, continually checking and clearing drainage outfalls and inlets, and limiting access where passing traffic was creating waves. Regularly scheduled maintenance by the Laie entities helped prepare our community drainage system: Fields were trimmed, canals and streams were clear of debris, and gutters were empty.

We learned some things about how we can all respond more efficiently and we are always evaluating ways to get the most capacity from our current drainage system and area. For example, we believe the Polynesian Cultural Center's lowering of its lagoon Thursday night and BYU-Hawaii's use of the flow limiter at its administration parking lot helped retain more water on those properties -- resulting in less water in the community.

Long-term drainage solutions for Laie depend on increasing the outfall capacity at two key "choke" points: Wailele stream and Laieloa bridge near Foodland. After discussion with the Laie Community Association (LCA) and Hawaii Reserves, Inc. (HRI), the State has agreed to widen the bridge on Kamehameha Highway, more than doubling its outfall capacity. Work is expected to begin in 2013.

LCA and HRI are also working with the city and federal government, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on a long-term solution for Wailele Stream. Since its completion in 1990, the northern end of Laie has generally been protected by the Army Corps of Engineers Kahawainui Flood Control Project. Similar benefits are anticipated for the southern end of Laie if a project is approved for the Wailele Stream.

Again, we thank everyone for your neighborly kokua as we continue to work and pull together as a community.

Electric Car Event next Saturday at Laie Shopping Center -bring the family to learn more and test drive an EV 

 

Join us next Saturday, March 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for an electric car demonstration at the Laie Shopping Center parking lot. Two charging stations were installed this month in Laie, one at the Polynesian Cultural Center, the other at Laie Shopping Center. This community event will be fun and educate us on this latest piece of the sustainability picture.

 

  

Demonstrations, including test drives of electric cars, will be offered to attendees with a valid driver's license. Displays and info focused on energy, green living and sustainability will be featured, and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions. Thanks to Hawaiian Electric, educational materials and car air fresheners will be given out to attendees.

  

Oahu's transportation system is taking an electrifying leap forward with the installation of hundreds of electric vehicle charging stations. Laie's charging stations fill a need for charging locations beyond metro-Honolulu and other urban cores. 

EV charging station at Laie Shopping Center

Electric vehicles are part of Envision Laie's long range plans to support clean energy transportation options for the entire community -- residents, students and visitors to the region.

 

 

Event partners include: Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Kokua Hawaii Foundation, BYU-Hawaii's Sustainable World Action & Technology Team (SWATT), Cutter Mitsubishi, Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii Reserves, Inc., Laie Shopping Center and Better Place.

 

PCC president, Von Orgill, at center's EV charging station

Better Place, in cooperation with HRI and PCC, installed and manages Laie's electric vehicle charging stations. Electric car drivers can use the Better Place charge spots free of charge through the end of 2012 by signing up for a free membership at www.betterplace.com/hawaii.

 

 

Mahalo,

The Envision Lā'ie Team