County work at Waipuilani River gulch and North-South Collector Road

9/19/22 #kihei

This afternoon we see some activity at this flooding pinch point/diversion center, but it is not clear yet what may be achieved.  After going under the highway, the river bottom is very wide until it crosses the North-South Collector Road corridor, when it not only narrows extremely, but also encounters elevated earth and a mass of kiawe and other heavy vegetation. Thus the rushing water backs up toward the highway and also flows along the earthen corridor, spreading the flooding stormwater.

True mitigation must occur mauka to capture and absorb the stormwater from above (as numerous studies and plans have shown); actions closer to the kai are not true solutions, although they may provide some near-term relief.

Thus we are not clear what this work is trying to achieve, but numerous community outcries after each mud flood event may be provoking some action.