Commission Urged to Get Tough with DOT over Kahului Airport

February 11, 2004

Commission Urged to Get Tough with DOT over Airport 
Maui News, HI


WAILUKU - If the state Department of Transportation
wants public turbulence over Kahului Airport to end,
then officials need to build an alien species
inspection facility at the airport as soon as possible
and permanently staff it with the kind of inspection
team recommended by a 2002 study. 

The Maui Planning Commission heard that message over
and over Tuesday as state transportation officials
sought a special management area permit to begin
airport improvements that would include the
construction of the alien species building, a cargo
hold facility, an extended concrete apron, and the
relocation of fuel storage tanks and rental car
fleets.
"We need 19 inspectors and three dogs, and you need to
weigh in on this," said Don Reeser, superintendent of
Haleakala National Park, as he pressed commissioners
to use their power to make strong conditions a
requirement of the permit approval.

Transportation Director Rod Haraga said he would take
the Maui pleas seriously. After the meeting, Haraga
acknowledged "the funding is there" for the 19
inspectors and three dogs to staff the facility, but
he said he'd need to talk with the state Department of
Agriculture about the amount of money needed. He said
discussions must also take place at higher levels to
allow new permanent employees during the state's
hiring freeze.

The entire matter was deferred for no more than 60
days. Also put off was a request by attorney Isaac
Hall to intervene. Hall seemed hopeful that things
could be worked out with Haraga and Airports
Administrator Davis Yogi.

But the name of the alien species facility alone
spelled out the urgency of the situation. Officially
labeled the Alien Species Action Plan building, it's
called ASAP for short.

During much of the morning, state transportation
officials found themselves under attack, not only by
members of the community who've been pushing for
stricter cargo inspections for 15 years, but also by
commissioners who found the state's application
out-of-date and full of holes.

"I think you guys have not done a very good job of
this," said commissioner Susan Moikeha. "I think you
need to go out and meet with the public and bring them
up to date."

Haraga said even he was disappointed his department
had dragged its feet so long on constructing the
much-needed alien species facility. Born in Hawaii,
but away on the Mainland for many years, Haraga said
he had no idea that things such as Jackson's
chameleons and parrots were now part of the landscape.

"We need to stop that," Haraga said. "I think we're
through with studies. Our commitment is to get the
alien species and cargo hold facilities there as
quickly as possible."

But, when Haraga said he couldn't begin the process of
getting the inspectors until the priority projects
were approved, commissioner Diane Shepherd accused him
of "holding the inspectors hostage." Shepherd said
there was no reason those employees could not be
brought onboard immediately and join the four
overworked inspectors at the current cargo hold while
waiting for the completion of the new facility, which
is expected to take 18 months.

An intense field study by the state Department of
Agriculture two years ago described Kahului Airport as
a "leaky sieve" when it came to intercepting pests on
the way into Maui. During the four-month assessment,
which included 100 inspections of incoming cargo,
officials discovered almost as many pests as they do
in a normal year all across the island.

Flower farmer Jeffrey Parker said the leading problem
at his nursery was pest control. He said farmers were
at increased health risks by being forced to rely on
heavy-duty chemicals, the only effective weapon at
destroying some of the invasive species.

"DOT doesn't care about farmers, only its advanced
agenda of increased (visitor) arrivals from
ever-distance markets," said Parker.

Reeser also said the biggest threat to Haleakala
National Park, one of the island's most precious
resources and favorite tourist attractions, was the
introduction of alien species.

Greg Westcott pointed out that there's no problem for
the state to find money to inspect all the outgoing
cargo and baggage.

"In other words, we pay to protect California," he
said, joining the growing cry for commissioners to
place tough conditions on any approvals so the state
wouldn't back out of building the alien species
facility or leave it poorly staffed.

The new construction will realign parts of old
Haleakala Highway and Aalele Street on the "backside"
of the airport. The alien species and cargo facilities
along with the cement apron would be located on the
Puunene side of the terminal near the current overflow
area for rental cars at the end of the runway. Because
part of that area lies in the urban district, the
Transportation Department needs a district boundary
amendment and change of zoning from the state Land Use
Commission.

There were also concerns that plans to relocate fuel
storage tanks and the overflow rental car fleet would
end up polluting the ocean. The state wants to move
the tanks from near the heliport to a 2-acre vacant
lot off Keolani Place (roughly located between Thrifty
Car Rental and Kalialinui Gulch). Officials said that
would mean delivery trucks no longer would have to
drive across the runway to fuel the planes.

Meanwhile, the storage of up to 2,000 rental cars
would be moved from various spots around the airport
to an empty area across from Kanaha Beach Park, just
on the airport side of Alahao Street that's also near
the gulch.

Masako Cordray Westcott and Shepherd objected strongly
to both proposals, fearing runoff pollution and an
eyesore to beachgoers. Shepherd asked state officials
to look into installing a pipeline under the runway to
get the fuel to the planes and leave the tanks where
they are.

Once the deferral had been announced, commissioners
were free to tell transportation officials where they
needed to shore up their application to have a chance
for approval. Moikeha, who scolded the state
repeatedly, told officials they needed to have more
public meetings, update their comment letters from
other agencies and provide more detailed plans.

The community's concern about the lack of pest control
at the airport reached a high pitch again last fall
after a transportation official testified before the
state Land Use Commission that the state was reviving
its controversial extension of the runway and hoped to
have it completed within five years.

After the meeting, Haraga said while the state wants
to eventually lengthen the runway to 9,600 feet,
there's no such deadline. Haraga disputed reports that
jets no longer require a longer tarmac. He said the
extension must happen for safety's sake.

Haraga also said he's "never had a thought" about
internationalization of the airport, another fear of
those worried about the increased invasion of alien
species.

   
 
 

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