Committee presses archaeologists on AIS coverage and monitoring for Haiku waterline

County archaeologist Dr. Janet Sicks and OEB archaeologist Jay Rapoza told the committee that Scientific Consulting Services (SCS) completed an archaeological inventory survey accepted in 2010 and that Kealopono conducted a courtesy analysis in April 2025. Dr. Sicks said the current project footprint is smaller than prior plans and that 11 trenches had identified one historic rock wall dated to the 1940s–1950s.

Members raised concern that the pedestrian survey may not have covered the proposed waterline corridor. Mike Dega of SCS said his team conducted pedestrian survey work along the waterline corridor in 2009 and found little to nothing in many segments; OEB staff said that, because the corridor had not been fully trench-tested, archaeological monitoring during waterline construction or a 100% AIS would be appropriate. "We would recommend archaeological monitoring," Dr. Sicks said, and AECOM's Diane Kodama confirmed the design team could move the waterline if monitoring identified a protected feature: "We can move the waterline," she said.

OEB staff cautioned that ground-penetrating radar (GPR) works only on relatively flat, cleared areas and that if GPR is infeasible the county could rely on monitoring or a full AIS. Staff also said cultural monitors would be provided if monitoring were required and that designs would be adjusted to avoid impacts where possible.