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What can we do to improve on taking care of the Aina, which in turn takes care of us?
What we do impacts so much of our world and the environment that we live in. It can affect the whole planet. On an island where we must do all that we can to preserve it, what can we do to take care of it and make us healthier and the places that we live?
~~Lucy
Having another Great day in Paradise, Wherever that Maybe!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheLanai
Edited by - Lucy on 08/09/2006 06:01:52
Lucy
Having another Great day in Paradise, Wherever that Maybe!
Posts: 243
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Joined: Oct 2005
This is one posting that I thought others should not miss, Let me know if This is okay to include from another string?
the use of cesspools will effect the oceans among other things including the water you may well drink from a well. Since some areas are served by wells in Puna, or you may fish from it or swim in it, this is something to note!
"As an initial opening on cesspools and septic systems I would like to offer the following thoughts for consideration:
The lava soils here in Hawaii are extremely pourous. This has it's advantages and disadvantages. For waste treatment it means that, especially near the shore but inland as well, as our population increases the potential for polluted aquafir and beach waters can increase as well.
The costs of a cesspool vs. a septic system are actually quite similar, especially when compared to mainland expenses. The septic tank is the real difference here as the size of the septic field is not much different than the size of a cesspool.
The septic tank allows the wastes time to break down before flowing rapidly toward the ocean. And flow they will.
If it is within your budget please consider installing a septic tank whether or not you are on 1 acre more or less.
It is useful to remember when designing and planning your homes that the building codes are not telling you how to build your home - they are, and are only intended to be, the lowest standard allowed by law. Good judgement will often suggest that more care and effort be applied."
Rob
Chairman, Punaweb Committee, MSPA
Having another Great day in Paradise, Wherever that Maybe!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheLanai
Lucy
Having another Great day in Paradise, Wherever that Maybe!
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Lucy - I couldnt be more in agreement with this! Dont put in a cesspool even if it is allowed! Go for the septic or even.... dare I say it... go with the anerobic system!
-Cat
Catherine Dumond
Blue Water Project Management
http://kmastudios.125mb.com/bluewaterpm/...rhome.html
808 217-7578
"We help make building your dream home a reality"
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Very good topic....
My suggestion would be to Stop Bull-Dozing entire lots to put up a house....
Gonna be hard to call Puna a Rainforest if we dont have many trees left.
Last week I flew over HPP it was really sad to see so many lots that are fully ripped and leveled flat.
Its hard to notice from the ground but from the Air its unbelievable the amount of vegetation we have destroyed...
Beau S.
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Support Malama O Puna ( www.malamaopuna.org)!
John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
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John, thank so much for this link
http://www.malamaopuna.org/
It is good to know they are there and paying attention. Also a good place for volunteers to make a difference. I just put it in a favorites folder called Volunteer Hawaii, now I have three areas to make a difference in. Thanks Mella
mella l
Edited by - mella l on 08/10/2006 11:29:28
mella l
Art and Science
bytheSEA
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The observation of cess pool problems and clearing the forests are great points, but I wonder if you would consider the roadways, parking lots, driveways, or any other impervious driving surfaces as a significant source of water table pollution?
The exhuasts from cars and pollutants from other sources don't just get into your lungs, but they settle onto the road surface and the surfaces of plants and other objects. These pollutants will be absorbed and metabolized by the plants and organic soils around some roadways, but the stuff that infiltrates into the shoulders goes right into the water table; possibly a greater source of pollution than most people realize.
There are simple solutions though. All of the heavy metals and other nasties in roadway runoff can be absorbed and bound by organic materials. Here in Washington State WSDOT is installing compost-ammended vegetated filter strips along just about every roadway that has the right circumstances. This year we're seeing miles and miles of these simple but effective means for treating stormwater runoff before it gets into our streams and aquafers.
Impervious surfaces are a major source of pollution and most people in the State of Hawaii may not realize it.
Warmest regards,
Brian (Fishboy)
Aloha pumehana,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour
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Good point Fishboy. For myself, I'm not a big fan of driveways here -- I'd rather let the rain just be absorbed into the earth. But maybe I missed your point.
One of the best things people can do here on the island is, in addition to leaving as much of the native landscape when building, is to replant with NATIVE plants. I don't just mean "avoid invasive species" but hunt for the native species that are meant to be here. The bonus of planting with things that are meant to be here (and in the right altitude, etc) is that once they are established, they require very little care. To add to that, planting with the native species helps the endemic birds and other wildlife by helping to re-establish the environment they need.
And in the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that one of the reasons that I support Malama O Puna is because their planned arboretum is about 300 feet from my house. No self-interest there, oh no, not at all...
John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
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A plug for a friend of mine - Roberta Brashear-Kaulfers - she is a biology and environmental science instructor at HCC and has worked on this island for 25 years (and lived in HI Acres as long)- also been heavily involved with Sierra Club projects locally and nationally - she is branching out to being a consultant (semi retiring from teaching) - basically helping people make wise choices on native vegetation replanting. (ask her about the lowland Koa that used to grow in HPP before the great fire.) Pick her brain!!
I think her hourly rate is about that of a good carpenter... email her brashear@hawaii.edu or roberta_96760@yahoo.com
-Cat
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Another great resource potential is the Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group. This is a community group with oversite, that has formed to look into the water quality issues of the Hilo Bay Watershed. At around 500,000 acres, this is one of the largest in the state, and one that does include some of the Puna district (actually the only fully developed watershed in Puna, at this geological point of time).
The cesspool/septic issues are huge for this island, and the soil developement stage here is so different from the ancient continental issues, yet much of our building codes reflect ancient continental (re:mainland) issues, rather than our geological newbie island.
For info on the watershed group, go to www.hilobaywatershed.org , or show up at the community meetings every month, 2nd Thursday, at Hale Aloha room of H. Com. Col. (driveway almost across from Mehana Brewery).
Aloha, Carey
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