I’m writing today while thinking of Congressman and civil rights activist John Robert Lewis (1940 – 2020) AND hoping Kauai’i residents will consider joining me and many others in supporting his spirit of making “Good trouble, necessary trouble” by showing up and speaking out – this week especially!

Important Public Meeting
Kapaa Middle School
Tuesday July 15, 2025 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
4867 Olohena Road

Topic: Hokua Place https://www.hokuaplace.com/
900 housing units proposed for the hillside behind the middle school.

The developer will be presenting this project to the community and this is a great opportunity to learn about, and speak out about traffic, drainage and wastewater impacts. In addition, this meeting is an opportunity to voice your opinion on the “affordable housing component” being proposed. Is it real? Is it enough? Are the promises being made by the developer backed up in writing? Is our local government going to enforce and hold the developer accountable to fulfill their promises?
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* Thursday July 17 4:30-6:00 p.m. Mahalo to Kauai’i Indivisible for your leadership in organizing this “Good Trouble” sign-holding event along the highway fronting Kukui Grove (outside Macy’s). Let’s all join together to express our concern and outrage — about the direction in which the United States of America is headed under the present administration. Bring a sign if you can, with your own message stated loud and clear!
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Other important actions that need your support this week are related to the U.S. Navy and NASA’s release of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for PMRF and NASA’s Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory.

There are three meetings on this topic. Please attend one if you can.

* Tuesday July 15, 2025 5 – 8 p.m.
Kaua’i Veterans Center

* Wednesday, July 16, 2025 5 – 8 p.m
Kekaha Neighborhood Center
 
*. Thursday, July 17, 2025 5 – 8 p.m.
Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort

The Navy and NASA will provide a public overview of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, describing and disclosing proposed uses and expected environmental, health, and cultural impacts (Section 106 – National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Public questions and comments will also be accepted.
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And still yet one more important “good trouble action” is the Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant – Draft Water Pollution Permit coming before the Department of Health. Your email comments on this are needed by July 26! Send to cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov and cc hlilley@surfrider.org

If you think it stinks now, just think about what it will smell like IF they approve this permit as it is now written, IF the 350 hotel rooms built at Coco Palms are built AND IF 900 homes at Hokua Place are approved.
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Read on for more information on the PMRF DRAFT EIS process AND Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant – Permit.
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SENDING IN PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE DEIS IS IMPORTANT and may be submitted at the public meetings, and/or via the website ( https://pmrf-kpgo-eis.com/ ) by 11:59 p.m. (HST) Thursday, August 7, 2025.

The Draft EIS documents are here: https://pmrf-kpgo-eis.com/documents/

These meetings are conducted by the Navy and NASA. Concerned residents must also look at what’s not being said and not being disclosed. Remember too that indirect, cumulative, and secondary impacts, must ALL be examined – as well as the more obvious direct impacts.

Back to the stench we smell almost daily driving past Lydgate.

Allowing the ocean water of one of our islands premier family beach parks to be continuously contaminated by partially treated sewage is not ok.

The Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant is an aging facility built in a floodplain and tsunami zone with a history of failing pipes, sewage spills, and ever-present stench.

This facility has needed a serious upgrade for decades. This area holds deep cultural significance to Native Hawaiians with two heiau within the project area.

The ocean outfall is only 30’ underwater and approximately 235 yards off the coastline.

Email the cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov and cc hlilley@surfrider.org prior to July 26.

Explain how you use the ocean waters around Lydgate Beach Park (i.e. surf, swim, kite, windsurf, fish, gather limu)

Describe the smell, pollution or illness you may have experienced.

Say NO to dumping of partially treated sewage in our oceans.

Describe the cultural impact in a place sacred to Native Hawaiians.

Demand a stronger permit that sets real limitations, adds robust monitoring and protects public health and the reef!

Please show up, speak out, and send off that email. Mahalo plenty to Kauai’i Surfrider for taking a leadership role on this.

Gary Hooser
Here is a picture of me reflecting on how to best make some good trouble 😉

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