ML&P starts repairs to ditch
Repairs to the Honokohau Stream ditch system, damaged last year by Hurricanes Lane and Olivia, are underway, Maui Land & Pineapple Co. reports.
Water from the ditch is used by the county water treatment facility, Kapalua Water Co. Ltd. and various residents and farmers for drinking, irrigation and fire suppression. Extensive flooding and damage to a critical control gate resulted in irregular and inconsistent water availability, the company said.
The restoration process includes fixing the inoperable intake structure and sluice gate, clearing landslide sediment and debris, and repairs to a bridge, landing zone, access roads and siphons. The project is expected to be completed by March 31. Some users will be without nonpotable water for a few days at a time during various repair phases, ML&P said.
Hana solar shower earns kudos
Hana resident Kanani Kahalehoe was spotlighted by the Blue Planet Foundation’s We Are 100 campaign for installing a custom solar shower for her multigeneration family of 18 that reduced their electricity bill from over $700 a month to under $300.
Kahalehoe, the first Hokule‘a crew member from Hana, was assisted in the project by the nonprofit Malakana ka ‘Ike and volunteers, according to the foundation. “The shower served to not only save money and provide much needed relief, but to also pass along greater lessons in sustainability to the next generation,” according to a news release.
Blue Planet is inviting additional “committed sustainability builders” to share their stories. Visit weare100.org or email weare100@blueplanetfoundation.org.
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