Puako Road-County and State Team Up
(Hawaii Department of Health/Courtesy graphic)
County and State team up to tackle effluent issues on Big Island including Puako Road area near Mauna Lani Resort
Many of my friends make a living in the dive industry and most of the great dive sites are located adjacent and just off shore of Puako Road. When they reported the beaches along Puako Road were closed by the Hawaii County Health department due to high levels of waste water bacteria, I was not surprised. Having spent time as development director at the Big Island Country Club site, where aerobic pre treatment was mandated due to the developable lots and golf course comfort stations being located in close proximity to the potable water wells, I knew the Puako area was in need of similar, advanced, waste water treatment being so close to the ocean.
Many of the homes along this scenic road were built as far back as the 1930’s and modern waste water treatment was not facilitated or known. Since then the area has been regentrified where these basic homes have been replaced...