President's Corner

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Little by little we get our website up to speed and my hope is we can use this space to keep you informed on all things Kawela and to open up the communication between us. Our water system and our common grounds link us all at the hip. We will always be an Association and if we are to minimize the cost of membership while maximizing the value of our mutual assets everyone is going to have to be on the same page.

Your current board has two major objectives, the completion of the water system upgrade/restoration and the implementation of a strategic plan. Regarding the water system please refer to page 16 the 2009 Budget & Water System Report you received at the end of last year that gave a detailed explanation of this project or clik on the link provided here The Kawela Plantation Water System Report, PDF, drilling of the new well at site #3 is completed and it has been tested. A very straight, 12' diameter, 235' deep hole and they hit water right where anticipated. Water quality is excellent with low chlorides and a sustainable draw of 100 gmp. The experts we've hired to do this job are very confident we can count on this well to be consistent in volume and quality for 20 years at a minimum. The next steps are to select the appropriate pump, install it and connect the well to the transmission lines, await the state and county permitting process and turn it on. We anticipate a January 2010 start-up.

The drilling rig has been moved to well site #2 and work will begin around 8/17. It's a long, slow process and we anticipate completion around the end of the year. Then we repeat the process of testing, etc. Since we haven't even started drilling no point in assuming anything at this time. I'll keep you posted as work progresses.

The new transmission line is moving rapidly toward completion which is expected around the first week of September. Its been a little slow going due to some unexpected blue rock the size of a house but that has been worked thru and we are very satisfied with the results to date. As with any project of this size we've encountered some bumps in the road but we've resolved each one while it was still a bump and know that the project is on time (Moloka'i style), within budget, and as designed and contracted.

For most of us this project is just something we hear about on the coconut wireless. For some of our neighbors that live in the area of construction it has a greater and more direct meaning. Whether it's drilling or trenching it's noisy all day, every day. Not to mention dusty beyond normal. On behalf of all the Association members, mahalo nui.

We didn't get this far in the process by accident. Planning was job one but oversight and communication between everyone involved was crucial and directly on the shoulders of our General Manager, Juanita Colon with active support from our system operator, WHN and Lisa Foster. We are operating in a business-like manner and the results are obvious. Plus, we're early in the learning curve so things can only get better.

The strategic plan is a means to identify the important issues facing KPHA both now and in the future and set a course to insure we resolve those issues through preparation and timely action. Of course the first and most logical component would be the water system and your board is in the final steps of completing the water component. Given the work at hand, and upon advice of the engineers and hydrologist we've hired, we have been able to identify future needs and put together a general plan to undertake the work.

The second phase of the plan will entail our common grounds and how best to deal with the many issues ownership creates. Once your board has put together a draft of a complete plan we will submit it to all of you for comment and input. The idea is to create a structure that will encourage your involvement because these issues are the ones that directly affect your property value and your wallet.

Some other news. We are still negotiating the lease of some of our common grounds for a solar farm. Our goal is to offset the cost of electricity required to run our water system. This is a very large part of our maintenance fees and we have no control of what we know will be ever increasing energy costs. It will be a few months before all of the legal and interconnection issues are resolved between MECO and the providers so we have no specifics to share with you at this writing. Stay tuned, this could be very positive.

After the break-ins we experienced a year or so ago we felt one of the best ways to offset the impact we all felt was to work toward getting KPHA more involved in our community at large. Two of our neighbors, Dick and Linda Glenn, have spent much of their lives working with young people and even in retirement have volunteered their time working with students at Moloka'i High School. They have come up with a great idea. Let's form a group of mentors and use our accumulated years of life experience to offer assistance in our given areas of expertise. Or, maybe just offer an ear and help students weave thru some of the obstacles life, circa 2009, throws at them.

We're going to call the group, Na Papa Hana 'Imi Loa, which translated means The Seekers of Knowledge Program. Nothing formal, just a few hours a week as requested and probably less. If you've got the time and the desire to help our local youth get a leg up on the outside world then give Dick a call or send him an e-mail outlining your life's experience and how you'd like to get involved. Surely, the concept will start slowly but once the seed is planted and the community realizes the resources we have to share only good things can happen.

Step up and let's see what we can do to show our island neighbors that we are a part of this community. We all have something of value to offer and we all know these kids can use the help. You can reach Dick at 553-5884 or e-mail him at lnrglenn@yahoo.com.

Thanks for the continued support. Please e-mail any comments or
questions.

Aloha,

Jeff Spencer
President, KPHA