06-27-2011, 10:28 AM
I believe there are still toxic levels of arsenic in the soil on some cane plantation sites. IIRC, there was a plan for building a motel in Kea'au Village some years back, and one impediment was the required removal of a large amount of toxic topsoil. The motel was never built, but I don't know if the soil contamination was the ultimate reason.