hawaiian acres flood map

[blizzardwizard]

Since the wayback machine is closing soon I figured I would put this up here.

Can anyone comment on the accuracy of this map? It was recovered in 2011

[terracore]

I can't comment on the accuracy of the map and although I lived in HA for a time I don't know anything about flooding there.

But what I *can* tell you is that we get weather events that cause temporary flooding in areas that are not normally prone to flooding on a fairly regular basis. Getting 30 or 40 inches of rain over a weekend can cause flooding in an area that didn't flood the last time it had the same amount of rain because somebody uphill put a road in, or bulldozed a lot, or something. Pahoa's only feed store closed because somebody bulldozed a lot near them and it caused their store to flood every time there was a moderate rain, even though it didn't flood before that.

So whether the 2011 graphic is accurate or not, I'm not sure it makes that much of a difference unless its documenting 'regular' flooding.

[Obie]

I would guess that the wall couldn't be removed.
People bought and built homes because of that wall.
Other's, it's called due diligence.

[kalakoa]

Supposedly the wall was built without permits and its existence was denied by County until the newspaper ran a front-page photo.

Map is accurate.

[Obie]

Looks like it was addressed at one time but not resolved.

One man made feature that has had a significant impact on Hawaiian Acres is the series of water diversion walls that total over half a mile in length and up to 12' in height. These walls channel water into Hawaiian Acres. This diversion system receives overflow from the Mt. View Drainage project developed by the county. This overflow can and has reached five feet or more in heavy rains. These walls were built by Olaa Sugar Company (AMFAC) starting in 1938, to divert floodwaters away from sugarcane fields along the Mauna Loa-Kilauea boundary into what was then considered wasteland. W.H. Shipman owned this land that was later to become Hawaiian Acres. The original developer of Hawaiian Acres became involved in litigation with AMFAC regarding these walls just after the time of subdivision. AMFAC purchased the land under and around the walls shortly after, but has since sold almost all of them. The unpredictability regarding this flood channel is due to policy failures, as well as other related geological features, and increases the risk for all landowners in the vicinity. There is some concern that the cemented wall will eventually break apart due to tree roots, and lack of maintenance. If this should happen, the problem could become even more serious.

[My 2 cents]

The wall was built before the subdivisions existed and Keaau was a tiny little town.

What I have heard, and I could easily be wrong about this so correct me if you know better, is that the natural path of the stream went through what is now Keaau Ag Lots and on down the hill through the area that is now Keaau High School. Even if this is not accurate, we do know for a fact that it went somewhere other than where it goes now.

So, is the wall getting regular maintenance? What would a failure/breech look like?

[leilanidude]

Put these 3 words into google...
hawaiian acres flooding

[Namahola]

PLEASE HELP
and Much MAHALO for this blessed MAP! It is incredibly enlightening!
This is EXACTLY WHY I logged onto PUNAWEB at 4:30AM this morning.
I recently rented with option to buy 3 acres in Hawaiian Acres. I studied the flood zone maps and also contacted Big Island govt. agencies dealing with flooding. I spoke with several on the phone! All sources say this is FLOOD ZONE X, which means it does not flood! So I signed the contract.
However yesterday the surveyor went out to map the plot and told me that IT WAS A RIVER! Also several delays were due to the water crossing remote roads and washing over them and causing semi-washouts!

THAT WALL explains it so eloquently! Some "men" screwed with nature and caused a major problem in the process! Mahalo again for the map because you have freed up part of my cerebral cortex that has been marinading on this issue.
Since the agreement is rent with option to buy, it is not too damaging financially at this point. However God does not want me to waste money He brings me. I consider every cent a blessing!

I AM moving forward, as a positive minded person. I Am keeping all options on the table, as this is wise. According to the map, there are areas NOT effected by the waterwall!
However I also believe that Together we can solve this! Lets deal with the facts!
When it rains moderately, IT FLOODS in Hawaiian acres!
Curiously there are several neighbors with homes and buildings in this same area as my land, (OOAA Road and Road 6). So HOW do we deal with the regular flooding? I need to understand what others are doing to deal with this before I contract for driveway and housepad.
ANY helpful information you have is greatly desired, PLEASE only positive ideas though and NO defeated mindsets.
I LOVE HAWAII! The only thing more beautiful in Hawaii than the environs ARE THE PEOPLE!
Too many things is America, Hawaii, and the world are going UN-Adressed due to negative mindsets. We are HUMAN BEINGS and there is little we cannot accomplish together!
I AM A SOLUTION ORIENTED PERSON, not a problem oriented person, and I specialize my life in ways to PREVENT PROBLEMS!
So, In As much as I Am requesting help, I also Am offering a solution that IS working in other places of the world.
Being a solution oriented person, I spent a few hours today studying the problem world wide and discovered that humans have created most of the flooding problems that exists today with the indiscriminate use of concrete and elimination of vegetation.
Some fantastic flood remediation has succeeded by reincorporating the rain back into the environs in natural ways be creating wetlands to store it, land terracing, and also storing the runoff in cities for release SLOWLY back into the environs.
I have begun to acquire more materials for study on how to create wetlands on the property rather than squander the investment I have made thus far. I even found an article on how to create wetlands on your own property, which I downloaded for further study!

The old saying goes when you have lemons, you make lemonade.
Well some unwise folks created billions of gallons of lemons in creating that wall. The problem has now existed for nearly 100 years. It is highly unlikely they will tear the wall down, though they may be encouraged to incorporate some wetlands to remedy the problems the wall created. The map need be their only guide!
Meanwhile perhaps we can help ourselves by making our own micro-wetlands.
I plan to begin consulting with some of the State Wetland officials and DNLR next week to get some more ideas. I will also speak with the D-9 operator and get his input since he has a lot of different earth moving equipment.
In writing this post, I Am reminded that land terracing for controlling water and growing food has been done in Sri Lanka, Viet Nam, China and Japan for CENTURIES ALL BY HAND! NO heavy equipment.
I appreciate and love you all, so if you have any questions I can answer I Am happy to do so and offer encouragement as well. I also will post whatever I learn that may be helpful.
We are ALL in this together, and that's a GOOD thing because it is going to take a collection of like minded people to address these issues. I look forward to celebrating the successes thereof!
Kulia I Ka Nu' U!
God bless and be well!

[randomq]

There is some flooding on the other side of C road as well. Lots of people have moved in up there, so lots of water diversion. One guy between B and C had his driveway completely wiped out during hurricane Lane.

Try to find a "local high spot" on a topo map, or at least not a low spot!

[PunaBaer]

   
Hopefully this attachment works.