Sen. English proposes Hawaii Environmental Work Force

Accompanies Gov. Cayetano on E. Maui visit to assess dengue fever, Sept. 11 impact

The Maui News
Thursday, October 18, 2001

By MARK ADAMS
Staff Writer

WAILUKU — Gov. Ben Cayetano will visit East Maui today to assess a region rocked by a one-two punch - a dengue fever outbreak compounded by the impact of the terrorist attack on America.

Cayetano will meet with workers who have lost their jobs, business owners reeling from the lack of visitors and state Department of Health officials who will give him the latest information on attempts to corral the dengue fever outbreak.

The governor will be accompanied by state and county officials who include state Sen. J. Kalani English, Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana, state Health Director Bruce Anderson and state epidemiologist Dr. Paul Effler.

English, who reports having contracted dengue fever himself in Hana in August, is seeking support for a plan to set aside $1.5 million in the state budget to create the Hawaii Environmental Work Force. The program is patterned after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The plan could put unemployed residents to work on a contract basis eradicating mosquitoes and other invasive pests, the senator said.

English said he is working with state Rep. Brian Schatz (D-Makiki, Tantalus) to introduce legislation during next week's special session to allocate the $1.5 million, and more if possible.

"We can create 450 to 480 jobs," he said.

Members of the work force would clean up areas where mosquitoes are likely to breed as well as help eradicate invasive species like miconia plants, fire ants and coqui frogs.

"We are going to Hana to see firsthand what the consequences of dengue fever and our state of war have had," English said. He also made the point that the dengue outbreak is not just East Maui's problem, it's Hawaii's problem.

"What's happening in Hana could be the picture of what the rest of Hawaii may look like if we don't deal with this issue right away," he said.

Cayetano will meet with about 30 workers who have lost their jobs at the Hotel Hana-Maui because of the tourism slump. They are now volunteering their time to eradicate mosquito-breeding grounds.

"They are experiencing the consequences and figure the sooner the mosquito that carries the dengue virus is eradicated, the better," English said. He hopes the Hana workers and others like them across the state can later be paid to do the same work if the $1.5 million proposal is approved next week.

"Those I've talked to in the House and Senate have been pretty compassionate," he said. "They realize this is not just an East Maui problem, but one that is having consequences for the entire tourism industry."

Cayetano will also meet with the Hana Business Council for lunch to hear how the dengue outbreak has affected their businesses. Sharon Narimatsu, deputy director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, is also accompanying Cayetano.

The governor will receive a briefing from Department of Health officials on the progress of the mosquito-control efforts.

In the latest report from the DOH, the total number of dengue cases confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control laboratory is 59, 49 of them on Maui, four on Kauai and six on Oahu.

There are two suspected cases that have tested positive in preliminary results and another 262 cases of illness that remain under investigation.

Health Director Anderson said it is important to note that the increase in confirmed dengue cases – up from 48 confirmed cases, with 45 on Maui, two on Kauai and one on Oahu – was not of newly ill people, but suspected cases that had been under investigation and treatment.

The DOH said its two-pronged approach to controlling the mosquito that carries the disease – vector control and public education – is continuing.

Vector control personnel on all islands are inspecting properties where residents have been ill, treating the surrounding areas for mosquitoes while educating neighbors on prevention measures.

Brochures are being distributed statewide, and public informational meetings are being held in each county.

In Maui County, the DOH has scheduled community town meetings to discuss dengue fever.

There will be meetings at 6:30 p.m. today at the Kihei Community Center, at 6 p.m. Monday at Kaulana Pueo Church in Huelo, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Paia Community Center and at 7 p.m. next Wednesday at Keanae School.

Maui County is expanding its Community Work Day program to combat mosquitoes.

"While we know there is no cure for dengue fever, our best defense will be to rid ourselves of the mosquitoes," said Mayor Apana. "I hope all Maui residents will take advantage of these programs to clean the areas around their homes."

A cleanup for the Ulumalu area of Haiku is scheduled for this Saturday. Haiku residents are asked to bring bulky discards such as appliances, furniture, refrigerators and freezers, derelict vehicles and old tires to the curb by 7:30 a.m.

Other residents can call the program at 877-2524 or the county's Solid Waste Division at 270-7875 to schedule a future pickup date.

Residents can also use county landfills for free to get rid of unwanted items until further notice.

Sen. English said he hopes the governor's trip to Hana this morning highlights a "clear and present health issue for the entire state."

Cayetano will visit English's home in Hamoa Village, where the senator believes he contracted dengue fever in August.

He was cleaning up the property of his late grandmother, Violet Soon English, after her recent death and fell very ill.

"I remember laying down and two days later waking up after a friend came to the house" where he had been working alone. English said he had lost track of time and suffered irritated eyes and was very sore and weak, recording a 105-degree temperature.

Once he realized he had many of the symptoms of dengue, he said the DOH tested his blood and found he had contracted the disease.

An advantage to having recovered from dengue in Hana is that he can help with eradication efforts because he is immune to further infection, English said.

"I can't get reinfected with the same strain," English said, also noting that dengue is not contagious from person to person, but is passed by a mosquito that has bitten an infected person.

He said the goal in East Maui is to eradicate breeding grounds and make sure infected people don't get bitten by mosquitoes.

Although English represents Central and Upcountry in the Legislature, he grew up in Hana and is looking forward to showing Cayetano his home in Hamoa as they work to solve the dengue problem.

"The governor coming to Hana is very courageous, and a wonderful show of support," English said.

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