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Adding additional signage at One’ula Beach Park

 

In 2017, Councilmember Pine met with members of the Ewa Neighborhood Board and representatives of Honolulu Police Department, Department of Parks & Recreation and the Department of Facility Maintenance to discuss ongoing safety concerns at One’ula Beach Park.

In response, the City’s Department of Parks & Recreation has recently erected “No Trespassing” signs at the park in an effort to deter crime and improve safety throughout the park.

By the request of community members, Councilmember Pine is now also working with DPR to implement additional signage at One’ula Beach Park to help address the longstanding community concerns including illegal dumping, camping, abandoned vehicles, and other illegal activities.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Councilmember Pine at kmpine@honolulu.gov.

 

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Waiʻanae District Park gym reroofing project begins Feb. 15

Waiʻanae – A capital improvement project to repair the leaking roof and replace water-damaged facilities at the Waiʻanae District Park gym is scheduled to begin February 15, 2018.

The scope of the work involved in this project includes the following: reroofing, repairing water damage to the second floor, and replacing the gym’s power roof ventilators and 48 light fixtures.

The project will require the complete closure of the gym’s second floor. All regular users have been notified by park staff and measures have been made to accommodate their facility needs. The ground floor of the facility is expected to remain open during this project. The construction work is scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The project is scheduled to be finished and the second floor reopened to the public later this summer.

The $548,000 contract for the construction project was awarded to MJ Construction Inc.

The second floor of the Waiʻanae District Park gym was closed about three-years ago after the leaking roof continued to cause damage to the gym. Upon inspection the floor of the gym’s second level was discovered to contain asbestos. An abatement project to address the asbestos was required before repairs to the roof and the resulting water damage could commence. That abatement project was finished in July 2017, at which time the second floor of the gym was reopened to the public.

We hope that following these repairs, the gym facility can remain useable and open to the public for years to come. We thank the public for their patience during this process.

 

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Fighting Vandalism & Preserving the History of Mauna Lahilahi

Hanale Hopfe, Konohiki and Cultural Practitioner of Waianae recently took Councilmember and staff on a tour to Mauna Lahilahi to discuss the historical significance of this sacred area. The area, that once served as a prime fishing location for ancient Hawaiians and contains petroglyphs, is seeing increasing vandalism and illegal dumping.

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As our Leeward Coast communities continue to grow, Councilmember Pine’s priority is to ensure these sacred areas in our district are preserved, and receive the respect they deserve.

 

Discussions are currently taking place on how we can come together as a community to encourage our residents and the City to become better stewards of our land.

 

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Assisting the Knights of Columbus with Waianae Cleanup

The Knights of Columbus organizes an annual All Souls Day ceremony at the State’s Sacred Hearts Catholic Cemetery in Waianae.  After a recent cleanup, the organization needed urgent assistance with removing the rubbish from the property in anticipation of their service on November 2.

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Knights of Columbus members Sebastian Lopez and Dennis Fortnah contacted my office requesting assistance and in response, we helped organize a community pickup.

 

As a result, Knights of Columbus was able to have their All Souls Day event go as planned!

 

City FYI:  The City’s Department of Environmental Services also waives disposal fees for non-profit organizations who are in need of clearing out waste from a City area.  For more information, go to: http://www.honolulu.gov/env/default.html.

 

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Expanding the City’s Cultural and Arts Programming.

As our community continues to grow, Councilmember Pine is committed to bringing more cultural city-sponsored events to the Leeward Coast, so that we can give our residents a platform to proudly share the arts within our culturally-rich communities.

Councilmember Pine recently met with Rediscover the Waianae Coast Sunset on the Beach 2016 organizer Patty Teruya to discuss an exciting opportunity to bring back to Waianae Coast after a hiatus of 6 years.   Next month, in partnership with Councilmember Pine’s office, the City & County of Honolulu and the City’s Office of Economic & Development, The Wai’anae Coast Community Foundation (WCCF) are proud to present an event for the Wai’anae community to highlight economic development and showcase the beauty of the Wai’anae Coast.

The “Rediscover the Return of the Wai’anae Sunset on the Beach” is taking place on the Beach at Maili Park, on the weekend of Saturday, September 24 and Sunday September 25, 2016 from 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm.

 

Sunset on the Beach

Admission is free and this family event will include over 20 food vendors, an entertainment stage, fireworks and a keiki center.

The Wai’anae Coast Community Foundation looks forward to showcasing the economic resources of the community by featuring the region’s food vendors, businesses, artists, handcrafters.

 

 

 

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Fighting Illegal Dumping: Ewa Channel Cleared

Councilmember Pine is committed to preserving our open spaces and fighting illegal dumping from happening in our communities. When residents contacted Councilmember Pine with concerns regarding debris, trash, and compost waste being dumped in the Ewa Channel, this was unacceptable to her. In response, Councilmember Pine connected with the City’s Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) to request a formal cleanup of the channel.

 

On June 23, 2016, DFM’s Division of Road Maintenance crew removed the trash and debris from the Ewa Beach Channel mouth, off of Ft. Weaver Road and Alekai Street.

 

Residents are encouraged to stay alert and report any illegal dumping that occurs in the area. To report improper placement of bulky items, citizens can call the City’s Refuse Division at 768-3200. In the event that residents witness an act of illegal dumping occurring, they are encouraged to call 911.

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Mayor signs Bill 24 Targeting Illegal Bulky Item Dumpers

 

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PRESS RELEASE

MAYOR KIRK CALDWELL

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Press Office: 768-5768 (cell: 321-0690)

Mayor signs Bill 24 targeting illegal bulky item dumpers 

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today signed Bill 24, sponsored by Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine and Councilmember Ron Menor, strengthening enforcement of illegal bulky item dumping.

This new law will for the first time allow inspectors to fine the individual perpetrators who illegally dump bulky waste, not just nearby residents and managers. It also provides higher fines for individual perpetrators: Those violators can now be fined up to $2,500 for each violation

“Oahu residents are tired of seeing their sidewalks turned into illegal dumpsites,” said Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine. “These higher fines will ensure that anyone breaking the law will think twice before illegally dumping their trash in our neighborhoods.”

“I am glad that this bill has been signed into law,” said Councilmember Menor. “The illegal dumping of bulky items remains a significant issue creating health and safety problems and visual blight in communities throughout the islands.  These problems are exacerbated by the piling up of bulky items on sidewalks when people illegally dump items in an area which encourages others to do the same.  I am hopeful that the tougher sanctions which this measure contains will serve as an additional deterrent to these kinds of activities in the future.”

“The Department of Environmental Services provides for free collection of bulky items, such as furniture, appliances, and mattresses, across O‘ahu every month,” said Director of Environmental Services Lori Kahikina. “Please put items out only during your regularly scheduled pickup times, or take them to any of our convenience centers. Inspectors will continue citing violators, and fines are now increased.”

O‘ahu bulky item collection information and schedule by region can be found here: http://bit.ly/1R7zEmz.

“There is no excuse for illegal dumping, which creates a safety hazard and an eyesore,” said Mayor Caldwell. “Think about the seniors who have to walk into the road to avoid your old couch. Think about the neighbors who have to stare at it all month. Please kokua and follow the collection schedule. If your items are still in good condition, please consider donating them to organizations such as Goodwill and Salvation Army. If you see someone dumping illegally, please call police immediately.”

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Councilmember Pine Educates the Community About Illegal Banners and Signage Laws

Residents have been contacting Councilmember Pine with concerns regarding the placement of illegal banners around the community.

 

In response, Councilmember Pine connected with the Department of Planning & Permitting (DPP) to inquire about the placement of banners on both public and private properties, and what the ordinances are.

 

DPP Director George Atta replied that any banners that advertise a location that is not in the area or showcase sponsor information and for-profit businesses violate banner ordinances. The City is dutiful in taking down any visible signage that is illegal.

 

At this time, DPP also stresses that the City does not give permission to private citizens to remove any signage on public and private properties.

 

Instead, residents are encouraged to report any illegal signage they see in their communities to their representatives’ office. The first step to getting these signs removed is to determine whether it is on City or State property— and notifying the correct office. Then, your community representatives will connect with the appropriate department to have the illegal signage removed immediately.

 

If you have any questions regarding illegal signage in your neighborhood, please contact kmpine@honolulu.gov

 

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Hawaii Public Radio “The Conversation” Interview re: Illegal Dumping with Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine on April 25, 2016

“We all make trash but how we dispose of it varies greatly- especially when it comes to bulky items. A measure up again for consideration by the Public Health, Safety and Welfare committee of the Honolulu City and County Council wants to fix that by making curbside dumping illegal. Leeward West Oahu councilmember Kymberly Pine co-introduced the bill up for another hearing by the committee tomorrow”

To listen to this radio interview, go to http://hawaiipublicradio.org/post/conversation-monday-april-25th-2016

 

 

 

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Curbing Illegal Dumping in Ewa Beach

Ewa Beach residents recently contacted Councilmember Pine regarding illegal dumping happening right in their own neighborhood—at the corner of Pohakupuna Road, bulky items and trash including refrigerators, washing machines, tables and chairs, mattresses, and TVs are being illegal dumped daily. Residents are concerned, as this is becoming a safety hazard for drivers in the area as well as the residents and keiki.

 

Councilmember Pine has submitted a report to the City’s Department of Facility Maintenance to investigate the area and looks forward to providing residents with any updates she receives.

 

In response to these and other frustrations from residents regarding illegal dumping in their neighborhoods, Councilmember Pine recently introduced Bill 24, which urges the City to raise the fines of the dumping perpetrators from $500 to $2,500 for each violation. This bill prohibits people from dropping, placing, dumping, or depositing refuse or bulky wastes on a street, roadside, alley, highway, or public place.

 

Bill 24, “CD 1” was adopted on April 20, at the City Council Meeting taking place at Honolulu Hale at 10:00 a.m. 

 

 

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