City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/05/11 Public Parking Lot Entrance and Exit Closed on Alapai Street

PUBLIC PARKING LOT ENTRANCE AND EXIT CLOSED ON ALAPAI STREET   (Fri., Aug. 5, 2011)—The Civic Center public parking garage entrance and exit on Alapai Street between South King Street and Beretania Street will be closed on Monday, August 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. due to construction of two new curb ramps on both sides of the sidewalk fronting the entrance into the public parking structure.               Motorist should use the Beretania Street parking garage entrance and exit.   -30-   Media contact: Irvin Higashi, Project Manager, Public Transit Division at 768-8375

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/05/11 Kailua Beach Park Boat Ramp Temporary Closure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        August 5, 2011     KAILUA BEACH PARK BOAT RAMP TEMPORARY CLOSURE   (Fri., Aug. 5, 2011) – The Kailua Beach Park boat ramp, located at 526 Kawailoa Road, and the adjacent parking lot, will be closed from 5 a.m., Monday, August 8, through 4 p.m. on Friday, August 12, while crews perform routine maintenance.               Work will be conducted on the boat ramp and makai parking stalls, and the department appreciates the community's cooperation during this time.   -30-   Media contact: Miles Hazama, Department of Parks and Re

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/05/11 Waianae WWTP Heads List of NACWA Awards

WAIANAE WWTP HEADS LIST OF NACWA AWARDS   (Fri, Aug. 5, 2011)  – The Waianae Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) headed a list of five City and County of Honolulu facilities recognized at 2011 National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Summer Conference and 41st Annual Meeting July 19-21 in Chicago.                    Waianae WWTP notched a Platinum 9 Award for nine straight years (2002-2010) with 100 percent compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.  Wahiawa, Kailua Regional and Honouliuli WWTPs garnered Gold Awards, while Sand Island achieved Silver.                   The NACWA recognition program consists of three categories – Platinum, Gold and Silver.  Platinum Awards recognize facilities with 100 percent compliance with its NPDES permit for five or more consecutive years.  Gold Awards honor treatment plants that achieved 100 percent compliance during the calendar year, while Silver Awards identify facilities that received no more than five permit violations during that same time.                   The NPDES permit program, mandated by the Clean Water Act, controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge into U.S. waters.  Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or manmade ditches.  Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.     -30-     Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/05/11 City Smoke Testing Wastewater Pipes in Punawai

CITY SMOKE TESTING WASTEWATER PIPES IN PUNAWAI   (Fri., Aug. 5, 2011) – The City's Department of Environmental Services (ENV) will smoke test a portion of the wastewater collection system in Punawai, Aug. 9-12.   The daytime testing, which may last up to a week, is part of ENV's preventative maintenance program to prevent rainwater from entering the sewer system. ENV crews pump smoke into sewer pipes, examine whether smoke escapes and record its location.   The smoke used is non-toxic, harmless and minimal odor. The smoke is neither a fire hazard nor health hazard to humans or pets.   Tests locate broken pipes, illegal connections, open cleanouts and other paths for runoff to enter the sewer system. Runoff from heavy rain can overwhelm and surcharge the sewer system and treatment plants, causing sanitary sewer overflows.   Residents and affected businesses will be notified by mail and door notices a few days before testing begins. In addition, ENV will notify Fire and Police communications centers at the beginning of each testing day. The attached map illustrates the streets (in the shaded area) that will be tested.   -30-   Contact: Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/05/11 City Smoke Testing Wastewater Pipes in Punawai

CITY SMOKE TESTING WASTEWATER PIPES IN PUNAWAI   (Fri., Aug. 5, 2011) – The City's Department of Environmental Services (ENV) will smoke test a portion of the wastewater collection system in Punawai, Aug. 9-12.   The daytime testing, which may last up to a week, is part of ENV's preventative maintenance program to prevent rainwater from entering the sewer system. ENV crews pump smoke into sewer pipes, examine whether smoke escapes and record its location. The smoke used is non-toxic, harmless and minimal odor. The smoke is neither a fire hazard nor health hazard to humans or pets.   Tests locate broken pipes, illegal connections, open cleanouts and other paths for runoff to enter the sewer system. Runoff from heavy rain can overwhelm and surcharge the sewer system and treatment plants, causing sanitary sewer overflows.   Residents and affected businesses will be notified by mail and door notices a few days before testing begins. In addition, ENV will notify Fire and Police communications centers at the beginning of each testing day. The attached map illustrates the streets (in the shaded area) that will be tested.   -30-   Contact: Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/04/11 Project CLEAN Coming To Wahiawa

PROJECT C.L.E.A.N. COMING TO WAHIAWA   (Thu., August 4, 2011)—The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) is once again teaming up with community partners to rid neighborhoods of trash and graffiti--this time in Wahiawa.  The latest Project C.L.E.A.N. (Community Lokahi to Enrich our Aina Now) event is being spearheaded by the HPD District 2 (Wahiawa) Community Policing Team and will take place on Saturday, August 6, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.               Registration for volunteers begins at 7 a.m. at Wahiawa District Park, 1139 Kilani Avenue.  Teams will be organized and given various work assignments before heading out to different areas in Wahiawa Town and the Wahiawa Botanical Gardens.               Project C.L.E.A.N. was started by Chief Louis Kealoha to bring communities together and enrich neighborhoods by painting out graffiti, removing trash and bulky items, and building partnerships.  Project C.L.E.A.N. events are held throughout the year in different parts of Oahu.  Earlier clean-ups were held in Kailua, Kaneohe, Waimanalo, Moiliili-McCully, Waipahu, Downtown-Chinatown, and Kapolei.   -hpd-

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/04/11 Waimanalo Moratorium Lifted on New Sewer Connections

WAIMANALO MORATORIUM LIFTED    (Thur. Aug. 4, 2011) – The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services announced today it has lifted a moratorium on new sewer connections in the Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant service area.   The moratorium has been in place since Nov. 26, 1991, from Makapu'u Point to Bellows Air Force Station, making up the Waimanalo WWTP service area.   The plant, built in 1968, is owned by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, but has been operated by the City since its inception.  The state is in the process of finalizing documents to turn the plant over to the City.  The plant was able to process 800,000 gallons a day before the state spent $21 million in upgrades, including expanding capacity to 1.1 million gallons a day.    Currently, the Waimanalo WWTP processes about 600,000 gallons of sewage per day to a secondary treatment level, using 10 underground injection wells approximately 200 feet deep.   -30-   Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV PIO, 768-3454

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/02/11 National Night Out tonight in Salt Lake

Four Hundred Volunteers Participate in National Night Out   National Night Out is America's night out against crime.  In cities across the nation, neighbors, law enforcement officers, businesses, and community groups will come together to take a stand against crime.    Here in Honolulu more than 400 community volunteers will join with Honolulu Police officers and business partners to sign wave and celebrate continuing community efforts to fight crime.  National Night Out in Honolulu will take place on Tuesday, August 2.  From 5:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. volunteers will line Salt Lake Boulevard and wave signs promoting traffic safety, crime prevention, and drug avoidance.  Following the sign waving, the groups will move to the Target parking lot for a short program recognizing the work of the Neighborhood Security Watch groups.  There will be entertainment, soft drinks and snacks until 8:30 p.m.   Along with thanking the volunteers who work year round to prevent crime in their neighborhoods, National Night Out is a way to raise awareness for crime and drug prevention programs, generate support for neighborhood anti-crime programs, and strengthen police and community partnerships.   The public is invited to National Night Out.  There will be educational material on crime prevention and information on starting a Neighborhood Security Watch program.   -hpd-

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/01/11 Mayor Carlisle Strengthens Honolulu Ties with Japan

MAYOR CARLISLE STRENGTHENS HONOLULU'S TIES WITH CITIES IN JAPAN   (Mon., Aug. 1, 2011)—Mayor Peter Carlisle will travel to Japan today to bolster Honolulu's ties there, participate in important events, and promote the Counties of Hawaii Sister Cities Summit and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings to be held here in September and November.   Carlisle will visit Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Nagaoka and Yokohama. City Managing Director Douglas Chin will serve as Acting Mayor until Carlisle's return on August 7.   "These visits will provide me with an unparalleled opportunity to discuss ways to further cooperate in economic development, assist companies looking for business opportunities, and expand logistics and tourism networks," Carlisle said.   Hiroshima was Honolulu's first sister city. The relationship was established in 1959 as part of an effort to promote peace and understanding among between citizens of various countries. Honolulu also has strong family and cultural ties to Hiroshima, as many immigrants from the area settled in Hawaii in the late 1800s.   Carlisle will participate in the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima, a vigil that recalls the atomic bombings in 1945 and expresses hope for international cooperation and peaceful conflict resolution. Carlisle will also deliver a speech at a reception dinner for the ceremony.   Matsuyama is the capital of Ehime Prefecture, which includes Honolulu's sister city Uwajima. Carlisle will participate in a Hawaii-Ehime Day Celebration and discuss Honolulu's ties with Uwajima and the special relationship that developed with Ehime after an American submarine collided with and sank the fishery training vessel Ehime Maru near Oahu in 2001.   Honolulu is finalizing a sister city agreement with Nagaoka, and Carlisle will discuss the relationship with officials there. Nagaoka's mayor is expected to sign the agreement during the Honolulu Festival in March 2012.   In Yokohama, Carlisle will meet with local officials to discuss the city's experience hosting the 2010 APEC meeting, and ways Honolulu can learn and benefit from Yokohama's experience.   -30-   Media contact: Johnny Brannon, Mayor's Office, 768-5767.

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 8/01/11 Mayor Carlisle Strengthens Honolulu Ties with Japan

MAYOR CARLISLE STRENGTHENS HONOLULU'S TIES WITH CITIES IN JAPAN   (Mon., Aug. 1, 2011)—Mayor Peter Carlisle will travel to Japan today to bolster Honolulu's ties there, participate in important events, and promote the Counties of Hawaii Sister Cities Summit and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings to be held here in September and November.   Carlisle will visit Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Nagaoka and Yokohama. City Managing Director Douglas Chin will serve as Acting Mayor until Carlisle's return on August 7.   "These visits will provide me with an unparalleled opportunity to discuss ways to further cooperate in economic development, assist companies looking for business opportunities, and expand logistics and tourism networks," Carlisle said.   Hiroshima was Honolulu's first sister city. The relationship was established in 1959 as part of an effort to promote peace and understanding among between citizens of various countries. Honolulu also has strong family and cultural ties to Hiroshima, as many immigrants from the area settled in Hawaii in the late 1800s.   Carlisle will participate in the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima, a vigil that recalls the atomic bombings in 1945 and expresses hope for international cooperation and peaceful conflict resolution. Carlisle will also deliver a speech at a reception dinner for the ceremony.   Matsuyama is the capital of Ehime Prefecture, which includes Honolulu's sister city Uwajima. Carlisle will participate in a Hawaii-Ehime Day Celebration and discuss Honolulu's ties with Uwajima and the special relationship that developed with Ehime after an American submarine collided with and sank the fishery training vessel Ehime Maru near Oahu in 2001.   Honolulu is finalizing a sister city agreement with Nagaoka, and Carlisle will discuss the relationship with officials there. Nagaoka's mayor is expected to sign the agreement during the Honolulu Festival in March 2012.   In Yokohama, Carlisle will meet with local officials to discuss the city's experience hosting the 2010 APEC meeting, and ways Honolulu can learn and benefit from Yokohama's experience.   -30-   Media contact: Johnny Brannon, Mayor's Office, 768-5767.

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 08/01/11 Study Examines Fire, Emergency Services Departments

STUDY EXAMINES FIRE, EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS (Mon., Aug. 1, 2011)—Mayor Peter Carlisle today released a consultant's report that examines a potential merger of the Honolulu Fire and Emergency Services departments. The report, by Emergency Services Consulting International, outlines opportunities to improve public safety and government efficiency. The City is carefully evaluating the report and may accept, reject or modify its recommendations and consider additional information. There is no time frame for making a decision on a potential merger. Public safety and emergency medical care will remain the City's top priorities during this process. The report is available at www.facebook.com/honolulu.gov and will be available tomorrow at www.honolulu.gov . -30- Media contact: Johnny Brannon, Mayor's Office, 768-5767.

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 07/31/11 Sewer Overflow at Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant

SEWER OVERFLOW AT KAILUA REGIONAL WWTP   (Sun., July. 31, 2011) – The City's Department of Environmental Services responded this morning to a sanitary sewer overflow at its Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. A sewer pipe broke around 7 a.m. causing an estimated 20,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into an in-plant storm drain that was contained in an adjacent drainage ditch.  The flow to the pipe has resumed while crews were dispatched to do repair work. ENV notified the state Department of Health.  The affected area has been cleaned, disinfected and deodorized.  Signing has been initiated.                                                                                                                                     -30-     Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454

City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 110731 Sewer Overflow at Kailua Regional WWTP

SEWER OVERFLOW AT KAILUA REGIONAL WWTP   (Sun., July. 31, 2011) – The City's Department of Environmental Services responded this morning to a sanitary sewer overflow at its Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. A sewer pipe broke around 7 a.m. causing an estimated 20,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into an in-plant storm drain that was contained in an adjacent drainage ditch.  The flow to the pipe has resumed while crews were dispatched to do repair work. ENV notified the state Department of Health.  The affected area has been cleaned, disinfected and deodorized.  Signing has been initiated.                                                                                                                                     -30-     Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454