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I am deeply concerned about the landfill planned for toxic fire debris in Olowalu.
I toured the site this week, and the excavation that has already been done, desecrating the Hawaiians' sacred land, is horrifying. But this is minor compared to what is likely to occur when the dumping of toxic materials begins.
The "temporary site" has entirely inadequate safeguards to prevent runoff into the ocean, and once the liner is punctured, the toxins will also penetrate the aquifer. The two-layer liner being laid down cannot and will not prevent this disaster. The materials are simply not strong enough.
If the project moves forward on its current path, it has the likely potential to pollute our ocean and drinking water for generations to come with carcinogenic "forever chemicals," some of the worst known to man.
I implore our mayor and council to order work stopped immediately, and consider alternatives that are culturally and environmentally sound.
The debris can be sorted down to the 20 percent that is toxic, then moved somewhere else or remediated within the burn zone.
The future of our island and generations to come depends on our mayor and council doing the right thing. Please attend the county council meeting at 9 a.m. Jan. 2 and express your concerns.
Sara Patton
Wailuku