Posts: 531
Threads: 10
Joined: Apr 2014
Hawaiian telecom has hired a company to clear phone lines in the Hawaiian acres subdivision. the reason is to install fiber optic cable in the subdivision. however the company they hired have taken the line clearing to a whole nother level. with no respect for the property owners and No respect for the ohia trees perfectly healthy trees often not even in the way or path of the lines are being leveled to the ground. It is senseless, mindless butchering of trees and in many parts chopping into private property in some areas 20 to 30 feet into privately owned property. residents have complained but Hawaiian telecom needs to be held acccountable.
Posts: 1,131
Threads: 39
Joined: Oct 2016
Call your community association. Call your political representatives. Call the press. If it really is as over the top as you say get as much light shining on the situation as soon as you can. Create a firestorm of awareness. Now.
And btw.. where is all that Ohia debris going? i.e., what about ROD?
Posts: 3,200
Threads: 108
Joined: Jun 2010
Bummer. I wonder if they were told to "cut a little extra" to avoid future maintenance.
So the Acres is getting fiber? Maybe more DSL backhaul?
Posts: 11,009
Threads: 749
Joined: Sep 2012
A few years ago when HELCO extended their power lines out Beach Road the trees were cut from the road to at least 50-70 feet into the properties. I think it was for the reason you suggested randomq, so the lines wouldn't need brush clearing from trees under and around the new lines for a long time.
For what is happening in Hawaiian Acres the tree trimming company is probably provided with specifications by Hawaiian Telcom for the width they need cleared to conduct their installation work. You'll have to find and contact the person who determined the size of the area cleared, or who authorized it.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
Posts: 2,490
Threads: 222
Joined: Dec 2005
if they have an easement on the property, I am sure the lot owners signed off on it long ago... It's a utility easement. It's not just Hawaiian Tel, but the power company as well, Usually it's a 20' path of land that they can do pretty much anything they want. They can come onto said property 24/7 right of way to maintain said poles and lines...End even dig trenches and install pull boxes if need be. Joy!
Wait till Time Warner comes in. A utility easement is not just for telecom but for cable and power companies as well. So now you don't want that high speed internet, you've been dreaming about all these years?
So, is the entire subdivision getting high speed internet? Or just a few lots?
Posts: 14,105
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Dumb question: WHERE in Hawaiian Acres? It's a big subdivision.
Telcom didn't cut any trees for their 2015 fiber installation.
Call your community association. Call your political representatives. Call the press.
Private subdivision. Nobody will care.
Posts: 1,858
Threads: 46
Joined: Apr 2015
Considering we have a busy Hurricane Season ahead of us, I would feel a little safer if I saw the lines being cleared.
Posts: 294
Threads: 20
Joined: Aug 2009
quote:
Originally posted by ericlp
Wait till Time Warner comes in. A utility easement is not just for telecom but for cable and power companies as well. So now you don't want that high speed internet, you've been dreaming about all these years?
Actually that is not true. A cable company is not considered a utility company. Unlike HELCO or HT they have to negotiate easements to come to commercially owned properties. For residential, they just require the permission of the property owner.
Posts: 7,731
Threads: 685
Joined: Jun 2011
According to this, the road plus easement in HPP is 60 feet on the main roads and 40 feet on the side roads:
http://www.hppoa.net/Conch.pdf
If the main road is 10 feet wide then cutting 30 feet away from it could theoretically still be in the easement, depending on where the road is placed within it.
ETA: The easement is not private property. Well, I mean it sort of is because its a private subdivision, so everyone has fractional ownership of it, but no one individual has property ownership claim of it. All the utility poles are in the easement, and the easement generally extends past them somewhat. If they are cutting down trees on private property, then I would expect that compensation is due for illegal harvest from your timber farm. In some municipalities, while the property owner has no legal claim to the easement, they bear the financial burden of paying for it's upkeep. In Minnesota homeowners are responsible for paying for sidewalk maintenance, which can bring nasty 5-figure bills from the county for replacing portions of it.
Posts: 531
Threads: 10
Joined: Apr 2014
i called tribune hearld , DLNR, forestry division and numerous calls to Hawaiian telcom . I am not the only resident making calls another individual was able to get the interest of the university of Hawaii due to the work going on with rapid ohia death. and yes it is bad . the clearing has started on the bottom of the acres and the clearing crew is working their way up. I have finally gotten some response from Hawaiian telcom , they are asking for pictures and stated they are looking into the situation . next move is to call political reps and sierra club . the community association and road corp are dysfunctional and no help. it is very, very sad to see the unnecessary destruction of perfectly healthy ohia trees, while they are skipping over albizia trees
