MARCH 2012


"Adopt the pace of nature:
her secret is patience."

Ralph Waldo Emerson
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November 2011
KRCA Homeowners
Board of Directors Meeting
 
April 18, 2012
7:00 PM Kilauea Neighborhood Center

Kalihiwai Ridge Homeowners can find official minutes to KRCA meetings by setting up their own account log in at certifiedhawaii.com.  They can assist you in getting your 7 digit owner number.  After you have that you will then need to set up a user name and password.  You can also set up having the Agenda to these meetings sent to you by email the day before they are held.


My Impressions

At the request of Jim Gair the meeting opened with a minute of silence out of respect for the eight neighbors in our community who lost their lives six years ago on March 14, 2006 as a result of the Ka Loko disaster.

The President of KRCA Parker Croft opened with the announcement of Bill Booth's resignation from the board and his being welcomed to continue in his participation with the concerns of KRCA.  Parker went on to disclosure that before he became a director on the board of Bill Porter's Wai Koa Plantation he notified the KRCA board of this offer and our board apparently had no concerns or objections to his taking the position.  He stated he does not vote on any Wai Koa items that may come up with our KRCA board so therefore he saw no conflict of interest in negotiating our Memorandum of Understanding with Porter Irrigation and Bridgewater Irrigation and is not on the board of Malama Kauai.  Sincere concern was expressed by a number of members present that they had lost trust or raised questions about how it was possible to sustain undivided loyalty to fairly represent the best interests of KRCA in negotiating a MOU with our water use easement holders, while others voiced continued confidence in the board to do so.

Bob Turchyn in his Secretary's report discussed the establishment of a policy concerning abusive and threatening communications that at meetings will result in a warning, a time out to leave the room to compose, and if such behavior continues the board will adjourn the meeting to executive session.  Civility is a priority for this board in order to encourage others in the community to serve on the board in the future and for all to enjoy the meetings when hopefully attended by more homeowners.

In terms of the proposed State bond issues to financially help dam owners with repairs (HB2594, 2595; SB2856, 2857) it was reported that this bill will probably pass the State Legislature in May 2012, but that our dam was too small a deal to put together, we don't have a sustaining rate of revenue, it couldn't be made available until 2014, is only open for five years, and that our board feels self financing seems a better more practical option.  A variance proposal was read and non-conforming rules were approved.  A neighborhood dog kennel has been permitted and two bids will be reviewed for building hopefully this spring.  

Earl Simpson's Dam Committee report indicated Denise Manuel, the Dam Safety Engineer from the DLNR Dam Safety Program made a surprise inspection on Monday March 12, 2012 and was very impressed with how our dam had held up in the recent storms.  She indicated an annual inspection would happen again the end of April and that we needed to fix the access road, clear the high water storm debris from the spillway, and remove two more large trees on the dam's outer face.  Proposals are now being obtained for a six inch gravel road to be installed to the second gate, spillway debris removed, and grass cutting of the dam.  No mention was made concerning the tree removal timeline.  

The Memorandum of Understanding was discussed by members present and points of concern written to the board will hopefully be taken into considered for revision of the document with requests made for further review before approval by these same concerned members.  A ten minute special slide show presentation in preparation for the 22nd Anniversary of American Wetlands Month - May 2012 was allowed and generally well received by comments made after the meeting was adjourned.  (See the text and some photos of the presentation under the REPORTS section of the website.)

Appreciation was expressed by me to all the Presidents of KRCA and others in attendance for their unique contribution and hard work over the years on behalf of KRCA.  We have ongoing community challenges that change over time and each volunteer board and their President has dealt with these situations the best way they can with the resources available to them at the time.  

A challenging meeting as we continue moving forward to hopefully meet the future with solutions that reflect renewed insight, innovation and integrity.

Aloha, Maggie Lea

Suggested Readings:
Water Resources and Climate Change Adaptation in Hawai`i: 2012
Reference:  Commission on Water Resource Management
Click here to download PDF file

Koamalu Volumes 1&2
by Ethel M Damon, 1931
A story of pioneers on Kauai and of what they built in that island garden

Sugar Water by Carol Wilcox 1996
Hawaiian & English definitions from the book:
wai - water, blood, passion, life
wai wai - wealth
pani wai - dam
water - transparent, odorless, tasteless, liquid, H2O

Wetland habitat non-invasive plant suggestions:
bacopa, makaloa, carex, aka 'akai, neke
kupukupu, laua'e


Links:

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
www.fws.gov/hanalei

Kauai Forest Birds Recovery Project
www.kauaiforestbirds.org 

Sounds Hawaiian
www.soundshawaiian.com/birds

National Wildlife Federation
www.nwf.org

Kalihiwai Reservoir is a
Certified Wildlife Habitat

Ducks Unlimited
www.ducksunlimited.com

Fishing Notes
www.fishingnotes.com

Hawaii Audubon Society
www.hawaiiaudubon.com

Sierra Club Hawaii
www.sierraclubhawaii.com




Sufi at the helm of Moe Moku