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<\/a>Photos from Punalu\u02bbu Water and Sanitation after damage from Hurricane Lala. (Photos: Jeff Silva)<\/p>\n\u201cOne of their primary concerns is that there\u2019s no working water or bathrooms at Punalu\u2018u Black Sand Beach,\u201d Sakumoto said. \u201cFor this reason, (the county) has expressed interest in taking over, potentially \u2014 again, that\u2019s still in preliminary discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hawai\u02bbi County Mayor Kimo Alameda said is a misconstrued conclusion to a conversation he had with Liu while they talked about the purchase of Punalu\u02bbu Black Sand Beach.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe county has never bought a privately-owned system. That would not be in our best interest,\u201d Alameda said. \u201cWhat I told Eva Liu, that there could be collaboration to find solutions. For example, they could temporarily become a customer of the county by utilizing the fire hydrant in P\u0101hala, finding a water hauler and filling their tanks. The county has similar deals with construction sites, so that would be a temporary solution for them.\u201d <\/p>\n
According to Jeff Silva, who owns a condo in the Colony I Condominiums and serves as the president of the Association of Apartment Owners of Colony I at Sea Mountain, this option was not brought up by Sakumoto during the meeting. <\/p>\n
As Sakumoto updated the Public Utilities Commission and residents on the status of the wastewater plant, audience members grew frustrated at the lack of solutions and preparation done by Punalu\u02bbu Water and Sanitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis might as well have been an alien encounter,\u201d Silva said. \u201cThe lack of care and callousness portrayed by PWS was incomprehensible. Monday was the first time in 27 years I have ever seen reactions from the (Public Utilities) Commission. Anyone could tell they were shocked by their lack of answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silva, formerly an operator and advisor for Hawaiian Beaches Water Company and Wood Valley Water and Farm Cooperative, purchased water tanks with his personal credit card post-Hurricane Lala to provide water access for bathing and dishes. However, residents are growing weary, unable to live in homes where they continue to pay mortgages.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a number of residents in a tough spot,\u201d Silva said. \u201cMy neighbor is a disabled veteran, and we bring him gallons of water every day. Couples, elderly folks, and families are being forced into terrible situations, and they deserve answers.\u201d<\/p>\n Kathleen and Chris Mumme, residents of Kalana Estates, said in the past 65 days customers have received exactly three official communications via email from Punalu\u02bbu Water and Sanitation. They say the company offered no restoration plans or comments that expressed genuine respect or concern.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a diverse community of mostly full-time residents in Kalana,\u201d Kathleen Mumme said. \u201cThe majority are retired couples, several working families, including one with three small children; very elderly people, and a few disabled residents.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is our home. These are our biggest investments, which are quickly losing value. Imagine going week after week trying to get ready for work or get children ready for school, cooking and cleaning without running water, and using portable toilets in the middle of the night, often in the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n Kathleen Mumme continued: \u201cWe are not whiners. We are managing, but this is no small thing. It all would have been easier to bear had Punalu\u02bbu Water and Sanitation even tried to help. Instead, we have gotten little more than excuses for doing virtually nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n During the meeting, Sakumoto explained that PWS had requested an engineering assessment to get a better understanding of the situation, but the company that they hired was not available until Nov. 17.<\/p>\n In the meantime, he said PWS had explored hiring a contractor to haul drinking water into Punalu\u2018u for its customers, but so far has not been able to reach an agreement with any water haulers on the island.<\/p>\n<\/a>Jeff Silva purchase water tanks to hold nonpotable water for residents at Colony I Condominiums. (Photo Credit: Jeff Silva)<\/p>\n