Hawaii members of Congress call for federal aid

Hawaii’s congressional delegation is calling for federal aid for Hawaii following recent severe flooding and landslides on Maui, Kauai and Oahu.

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Kai Kahele asked President Joe Biden “to expedite all federal assistance possible,” especially to communities blocked off by landslides.

“Hawaii needs help to reconnect communities in Hanalei, recover from the flooding and landslide damage and prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 in communities in all three counties,” the delegation wrote in a letter to Biden on Friday.

They pointed out that over the past four days, all four counties had received significant rainfall, ranging from 4.98 to 20.23 inches in Maui County, 11.37 to 25.25 inches in Kauai County, 6.03 to 21.55 inches in Honolulu County and 10.18 to 19.36 inches in Hawaii County.

Meanwhile, local officials are seeking more information on the status of the Kaupakalua Dam after floodwaters overtopped the structure.

Maui County Council Member Mike Molina sent a request to Council Chairwoman Alice Lee on Friday to have the matter placed on the next council agenda. He wants the council and the community to get a status update on the dam from Mahi Pono and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Molina, who holds the Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat, said that even though the dam is not owned, operated or regulated by the county, it has the potential to seriously impact residents.

“The public needs to know the future of this structure,” Molina said.

According to the DLNR Dam Inventory System, the earthen dam was last modified in 1885 and is classified as a “high” hazard potential, Molina pointed out.

The DLNR cited deficiencies with the dam in a recent report to the state Legislature and said it was slated for removal this summer. The report also noted the status of the dam as “preliminary review,” which Molina said needs to be clarified.