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                                                                                                                                THE CARROLL COX SHOW  :  1080 AM

 


 

 PODCAST

   SUNDAY, December 14, 2014

 

    Listen to our show:

          

     

     

                    Is this a good place for a huge dairy farm?  

               

        Carroll, Dr. Carl Berg of Surfrider Foundation, Kauai Chapter, and Bridget Hammerquist of  Friends of Maha'ulepu continue the discussion regarding opposition to the proposed 2,000-cow industrial dairy on Kauai.  (Listen to our original show from 11/30/14).  Bridget starts the discussion with a summary of the highlights of Kauai’s South Shore, including the beautiful beaches, the sinkhole, and the Makauwahi Cave Reserve that provides us with thousands of years of historical and cultural data about the area.

        What will a herd of cows that starts at 650 and within months, increases to 2,000 cows do to that region?  Just 650 cows will produce 3 million lbs. of manure per month. The dairy claims that the manure and other waste will be left on the pastures or recycled back into the pastureland.   However, the land is hard clay, and the area gets a lot of rain.  So, per Friends of Maha'ulepu, it will most likely wash down slope into the ditches, streams, and the ocean. Not enough has been done to study the situation, and proper permits have not been issued. The dairy could work if in a safe place, but the proposed site, less than one mile from Maha’ulepu beach and the South Shore coastline, is not the right choice. Many States are facing serious dairy pollution problems affecting freshwater streams and rivers. In New Zealand, where dairies are prevalent, their pollution problems are nationwide. Both New Zealand and Washington State are moving their dairy operations further away from the ocean because the pollution is so bad.   

        Recent water tests have shown high levels of human and animal waste are already in Waiopili Stream. The pollution levels exceed that of all other streams on the island combined, and rivals the Ala Wai Canal. The Waiopili, courses across Grove Farm land, and receives water directly from the proposed Dairy site, then flowing into the ocean at Maha'ulepu. There are currently about 50 head of cattle and other animals upslope of the stream. If the dairy were to be approved, it would add huge amounts of waste and cause a significant risk for toxic runoff as the natural drainage pattern feeds out to the ocean via the Waiopili Stream. How much more pollution can this coastal region handle? The Hawaii State Department of Health has confirmed the Surfrider pollution findings through their own testing, yet refuses to post signs on the beach warning beach goers about unsafe water despite enterococcus readings that are more than 260x greater than the State limit. Surfrider Foundation, Kauai Chapter, has done a lot of research and hopes the information they provided will help move the dairy farm to a more appropriate location.   

        Grading and other work in preparation for the dairy is already being done on Grove Farm land under current agriculture permits.  Dr. Berg, of Surfrider Foundation, Kauai Chapter, has been testing in the area and has found levels of pollutants in the ocean have been steadily rising over the past seven months.  His results have also been verified by the University of Hawaii and Department of Health labs. The problem will only get worse if 650-699 cows, and eventually 2,000 cows, are imported to Maha’ulepu.  An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not yet been done.  After the citizens protested, it was announced, on November 26, 2014, that an EIS will now be done.  Hopefully it will be done by an independent company and will be honest.    

        Why are we going to allow a large dairy farm immediately upslope of our ocean when it has already proven to be such a bad idea in New Zealand and other places?  Preliminary work is already causing problems. The south shore of Kauai and the Poipu area are one of the biggest tourist areas of Hawaii.  What will happen when all the additional pollution drifts back onto other beaches in the area?   There are other, better areas to build a dairy on Kauai. Let's take another look and hope the state, Pierre Omidyar and Grove Farms consider all their options.    

        Visit the website www.friendsofmahaulepu.org for more information, sign a petition, and donate to help the cause.  Also, contact Friends of Maha'ulepu at 808-742-1037, or email to:  friendsofmahaulepu@gmail.com.   You can also help by sending a check to; Friends of Maha'ulepu, P.O. Box: 1654 Koloa, HI 96756.

        Visit www.hawaiidairyfarms.com for information about the dairy farm, or contact Amy Hennessey at 808-544-8973.

        Link here to more pictures of Kauai

        Link here to the 12/11/14 story on HawaiiNewsNow.com

        Billy Kaohelauli’i, a local resident and cultural spokesman (the Moku, Kona District) for Kauai, has been sustenance fishing in the Maha’ulepu area  for over 25 years. He says he is very concerned because he now sees a lot more pollution, and fewer fish since grading and grubbing began upslope of the area. To see more pictures of the polluted stream and ocean link here.

        The south shore of Kauai is a very beautiful area, and was surveyed as a future National Park site in 2006 by the National Park’s Service. The sinkhole and Maukauwahi cave have substantial historical and cultural value. (Visit www.cavereserve.org  if you are interested in a tour of the site.) Nearby Po’ipu is a world class beach enjoyed by visitors and residents alike. If not a park, the land certainly can be put to better use then storing 2,000 cows in an industrial dairy.  Let's think about it.      

          Waiopili Stream, flowing into the ocean at Maha'ulepu, is already causing problems due to high levels of bacteria.  No signs, like the one pictured below at Kahaluu,  have been posted at Maha'ulepu, even though many people use the beach.      


             

             

              Follow:  Carroll Cox, Bridget Hammerquist,  Friends of Maha'ulepu, Dr. Carl Berg, Surfriders  Foundation Kauai Chapter, Waiopili Stream, Hawaii dairy farm, Amy Hennessey,  Poipu, Kauai, Makauwahi Cave Reserve,  ocean pollution, Grove Farms, Pierre Omidyar.

            

         

                           A beautiful beach is being ruined.

          

                             How much worse will it get after a large herd of cows
                                          joins an already bad situation?

                                 

                                       Its time to clean up, not mess up

               

                      

                     


                  

           

             

        KITTY CORNER -  TOO CUTE!

             

        These, and other kittens like them, are looking for a home.  Ages range from 3 to 12 months.  

        They have been neutered or spayed, and they are litter box trained.   Now, all  they need is your love.  Who can resist a new kitten?

              

        To adopt, call Carroll at 782-6627, or email carroll@carrollcox.com.     

         

             

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