Past Advocacy:
Span & Opposition:
HECO's 138kV Line on Wa'ahila Ridge
Safe Power Action Network (SPAN) was the vehicle used from 1997-99 to bring together groups who were concerned about the proposed 138kV line on Wa’ahila Ridge. Mālama Mānoa received funding from three foundations: Gerbode, Cooke and Atherton, to hire a SPAN coordinator to help educate the public about the negative effects of this project. In addition, a Preservation Services Fund grant from National Trust for Historic Preservation helped pay for a professional photographer to do computer visualizations to show how the proposed lines would look. In 1997 the National Trust selected Wa’ahila Ridge for their “11 Most Endangered…” list.
In 1998 a press conference in front of the PUC Office, and a rally in front of the State Capitol helped to bring public attention to the issue. SPAN sponsored two community briefings at Ala Wai School in June. Mālama Mānoa volunteers collected thousands of comments on postcards, which were submitted along with over 100 extensive comments from concerned citizens and groups during the 45-day draft EIS public comment period. The final EIS was rejected by the DLNR in January 1999, requiring HECO to resubmit a draft EIS. The revised final EIS was accepted by DLNR Chair, Timothy Johns in 2000 with many concerns expressed in a 29-page letter.
In 1999 Mālama Mānoa co-sponsored an “Empowering The Community” conference with the UH Department of Urban and Regional Planning and SPAN on August 28, 1999. The keynote speaker at this event was Professor Lawrence Susskind, an internationally acclaimed environmental and public dispute mediator.
In 2001 Mālama Mānoa organized a Petition Campaign in preparation for the Conservation District Use Application (CDUA) Public Hearing held on March 22 at the State Capitol. Public awareness of this issue was heightened with notices in both major newspapers. By summer over 10,000 petitions opposed to the project had been collected. By November 1st Mālama Mānoa joined with Life of the Land and The Outdoor Circle in a CDUA Contested Case Hearing. Corey Park and Pam Bunn, attorneys from Paul, Johnson, Park and Niles represented Malama before the Judge. The final decision on whether to DENY or grant HECO’s request to build the transmission line on Wa’ahila Ridge which is in a Conservation Zone was made by the seven members of the Board of Land and Natural Resources. They voted to DENY the permit in June 2002 and the pristine viewplane of Wa’ahila Ridge was preserved.
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Mānoa Valley Special District
In 1995 & 1996 a series of workshops, open to all Mānoa residents and well-publicized through the newsletters and brochures distributed to all residents, led to the decision that community support was strong for the protection of the tree-lined streets, period architecture, mountain vistas, and quiet residential character of the valley. A Design Guidelines Committee, chaired by John Whalen, recommended the creation of a Manoa Valley Special District by city ordinance, to establish zoning rules designed specifically for the unique features of Manoa. In January 1995, the proposed ordinance was submitted for preliminary review to the City Department of Land Utilization. To publicize a crucial workshop of the proposed ordinance in June 1995, a one-page flyer was distributed by a canvass walk to almost every home in the valley, summarizing the proposed draft and inviting all residents to attend. In addition, 7,000 were mailed to every registered voting household in Mānoa, to assure that no one could say they were not informed.
Additional workshops, again well publicized, were held and revisions were made to the proposed ordinance to meet concerns on restrictions of lot coverage and front-yard standards. While the Mānoa Neighborhood Board and a large number of Mānoa residents approved of the concept of the proposed guidelines, the lack of a consensus among the residents led the Board of Directors to delay the submission of the proposed ordinance to allow time to further inform residents of the need for the ordinance and the consequences of no action.
“Mānoa: A Community Guides Its Future,” a 12-minute 1996 video captures the memories, personal histories, and hopes for the future of eight Manoa residents and admirers. Against the panorama of the valley’s verdant Ko’olau Mountains, residents explain the need for a Special District Ordinance to protect this historic rainforest community.