Plenty to see
There is much confusion about what is accessible near Waipio Valley and within Hamakua. Let’s clear this up.
Many activities continue to be available to both residents and tourists above Waipio Valley and within Hamakua.
The Waipio Valley Lookout’s spectacular scenery still provides the backdrop for local people and tourist photographs.
Near Kukuihaele, horse and ATV rides and fruit stands are operating. Along the Waipio-Honokaa Road (State Route 240) can be found a lava tube and Hamakua Ditch.
The new Honokaa Heritage Center tells the stories of Hawaii’s immigrant groups and the industries that employed them.
Honokaa restaurants provide Korean, Portuguese, Italian and natural foods, malasadas and plate lunches. Honokaa shops offer locally produced chocolates, teas and honey.
Honokaa farms offer both agricultural produce and tropical agriculture workshops.
Kalopa has its cool, forested state recreation area. Paauilo offers locally produced vanilla. Laupahoehoe has the largest planting of lilikoi in Hawaii and the Laupahoehoe Train Museum. Honomu has its “Church Row” and Akaka Falls.
Papaikou contains Hawaii’s Plantation Museum focused on plantation life and the operations of the sugar industry.
Along this drive, Mamalahoa Highway (State Route 19) is carried high above deep stream gulches by concrete arch bridges and repurposed steel railroad bridges that allow views of the beautiful ocean and attractive waterfalls, such as those at Umauma.
Wainaku has its view of Hilo Bay and, of course, starting on the road into Hamakua starts with the Wailuku River.
This is just a short list. I strongly recommend that everyone participate in all that Hamakua continues to offer.
Ross W. Stephenson
Coordinator, Historic Honokaa Town Project
Sewer bills
A federal administrative order of consent states that the County of Hawaii is operating an illegal sewer in Naalehu: the gang-cesspool.
Yet, Naalehu homeowners are forced to pay a sewer bill. We must give money to the county.
This extortion is of no concern to the federal Environmental Protection Agency or the state Department of Health.
Our sewer in Naalehu is not licensed by the DOH. Yet, homeowners must pay their bill or the state court will find them guilty.
The DOH and the EPA will not attend the upcoming meetings in Naalehu where the elephant in the room will be the illegal sewer bill.
So, please tell the public what legal grounds Hawaii County stands on when we are billed for our illegal gang-cesspool. Inquiring minds want to know.
Jerry Warren
Naalehu