Lala. Electricity. State Inquiy?

[HiloJulie]

Again, good questions HOTPE.

As it relates to the clearing under high voltage lines, there are strict State laws and regulations as to specifically just who can do such work as well as having the required training under OSHA guidelines. 

About the only tree clearing the average Kimo can do here in Hawaii is the service line to the house. And even then, if Kimo screws up and does some big-time damage, to his property, the neighbor's property or the grid itself, Kimo better have good insurance or a great big checkbook.

Here is my question.

Anyone hear anything from our duly elected Puna Representative and Senator about all of this? Greggor? Joy? Maybe shut down the green smoothie machine for a week or so and we might get some action!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Anyone hear anything from our duly elected Puna Representative and Senator about all of this? Greggor? Joy?

Please, someone email or call them.  Post what you find here. I was on the phone today with the Planning Department, Public Works Engineering, found a six year old # for the county surveyor whose contacts no longer work but no one knows if he’s been replaced….

This is just for background info so I have it at my fingertips when I contact HPPOA & HECO after they’ve restored service.  

The current system is in a word - - stupid.

[Rob Tucker]

The local style system here is designed to maintain problems, not solve them.

[MyManao]

Here is my question.

Anyone hear anything from our duly elected Puna Representative and Senator about all of this? Greggor? Joy?

You know, it seems you’re always interested in the ways of government. And, even though you come across as only being interesting in wasting your life bitching, I am sure you would rather use your energy to make contact and have discourse with your representatives.

So, to help you along here's their contact info. 

And, btw, I think you’re in House District 3, and as such maybe, instead of focusing your inquiries to Greggor, I would recommend you get in touch with Representative Chris Todd.

And, of course, there’s more than just getting in touch with you own representatives. There’s committee chairs and members of leadership, and they are all able to be contacted and can be expected to be responsive to your concerns. To that end there is this page...

How to Communicate with Legislators..

https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/how-to-commun...gislators/ 

That I think you’ll find most enlightening. Far more than wondering about how whoever is doing or not doing whatever here. 

Like Edge said, all you have to do is contact them. If you are mature and reasonable in your manner, and have legitimate concerns, they are very responsive.

And, please, let us know how it goes. We're all very curious, I am sure.

House District 3 - Representative Chris Todd
Phone: 808-586-6200
reptodd@Capitol.hawaii.gov

House District 4 - Representative Greggor Ilagan
Phone: 808-586-6530
repilagan@capitol.hawaii.gov

House District 5 - Representative Jeanne Kapela
Phone: 808-586-9605
repkapela@capitol.hawaii.gov

Senate District 2 - Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura
Phone 808-586-6890
sensanbuenaventura@capitol.hawaii.gov

[kalianna]

And for someone who professed to care so deeply about the community, where has Tam Hunt been through all of this? Looks like he took his ball and went home.

[HiloJulie]

...where has Tam Hunt been through all of this? Looks like he took his ball and went home.

Well, nice try at nothing, as usual, but Tam is just a private citizen now, just like the rest of us. As for taking his ball and going home, you clearly must have missed his yesterday post on Medium.

I'd say Tam has done and continues to do the work at making Puna better.

Green smoothie anyone?

The top ten seeds we planted in my House race — and what I hope will keep growing | by Tam Hunt | Aug, 2026 | Medium

[Punatang]

Shouldn’t the owners be responsible for their own lot, and not people nearby who also need to throw away food and live without running water?


Of course they should.  Flock them!

   

[kalianna]

Iʻm sure the hundreds of volunteers and the folks whoʻve gotten food and water from Ikaika and meals from Smiley and 1700 meals (so far) from Eileenʻs commercial kitchen are all very impressed with Tamʻs words.

[HiloJulie]

are all very impressed with Tamʻs words.

At least the words are something compared to the virtual silence of Puna's representatives and State Senators.

Kudos to Josh for coordinating the heavy lifting of the equipment into ITO from So Cal on the military transport plane.

Were they serving green smoothies at Eileen's too?

The local style system here is designed to maintain problems, not solve them.

Could the maintaining of the problems be exasperated when some think blaming a former candidate for state office is the reason were all dealing with these issues of the day, while at the same time ignoring the inaction by the very ones elected to do the job?

[Obie]

Everyone is ignoring the biggest problem in Puna and the entire east side.

There is a very vocal opposition to tree cutting. It took a hurricane to clear the trees on Kapoho road past Lava Tree.
I lost count of how many times I was nearly crushed by a large tree branch, it got so bad I carried my chainsaw in my truck to clear the road to get through.
Every time the county tried to trim those trees there was a huge outcry about destroying the beautiful tree canopy.
Pohoiki Road has taken 8 years to be restored because they wanted to move it away from the giant mangos and there was a huge outcry about that.

Maybe I could talk my co-op in Ohio to send over their tree trimming crews. They trim the tree from the bottom. They fly helicopters with giant chainsaws along the edges of the cleared areas and then occasionally fly over and spray herbicides to keep everything from growing.

People in Puna go crazy when Helco does aerial line inspections.