$1.5M Released For Puakō Sewer System

State Capital Improvement Project funds totaling $1.5 million were released by Governor David Ige today to support planning and design for a sewer system in Puakō.

The funds were appropriated by the Legislature during the 2019 legislative session. In March 2021, the Hawai‘i County Council appropriated the required matching funds as the county share for this project, a news release from Rep. David A. Tarnas’ office stated on Thursday, April 15. Then, in February of this year, Hawai‘i County Mayor Mitch Roth requested the governor to release the funds, which he did.

“Funding for this project will be used to develop a comprehensive wastewater plan for West Hawai‘i that will encompass the Puakō community to identify the wastewater options and determine what option is best for this community,” Roth wrote in a letter to Ige.

Tarnas, who represents the State House district that includes Puakō, in North Hawai‘i, said the project is an important step towards preserving Kohala’s coastal water quality and the coral reef area of Puakō.

“This project has been a priority of mine for over 25 years, going back to my first time serving as State Representative from 1994-1998,” Tarnas said in the release. “I am grateful to the governor for releasing the funds for this very important project. Now Hawaii County will be able to move forward and develop a comprehensive plan and design for a wastewater collection system for the Puakō community. My goal in securing these public funds is to protect the water quality and coral reefs of the Puakō nearshore area, which are of great value to our community.”