The Mission of the Environmental Committee is to ensure the protection, development, maintenance and improvement of the property within the boundaries of Nanawale Estates.  The committee is authorized to implement the provisions of the Declaration of Protective Restrictions, Conditions and Reservation (CC&Rs), under the authority of the Board of Directors and the Bylaws of the Nanawale Community Association.           

Your neighbors, working to preserve our natural environment and eliminate the danger to property & people. Take action to protect yourself, your neighbors and our environment.  Check out the following links for additional information on the resources and information

ENVIRONMENTAL FAQ’S            WEBSITE LINKS                    ZONING MAPS                 SURVEYORS & TREE FALLERS

If a tree falls in the forest.... and it hits a neighbor's home, the owner of the lot where the tree is rooted will be responsible for all damages and cost to remove the debris.

This unfortunate fact is now showing itself in Nanawale over and over again.

Rain and windstorms in Puna in November and December produced many downed albizia trees that not only disrupted electric, phone and cable services but threatened homes and lives!

Many of us have purchased land here without knowing the dangers of this esthetically beautiful tree which at maturity creates a full and giant canopy at least 50 feet wide and more than 100 feet in the air.

But they look a little different if you are living in the fall line of one, or ten. Just ask the Wexlers whose home on Molokai Road suffered major structural damages when albizia on neighboring Nanawale property fell on their home and utility lines. Luckily no one was at home at the time or they could have been a casualty!   These non-indigenious trees, are causing eminent danger to the entire subdivision.   Albizia is now more common in Nanawale than the native ‘ohi’a. And
something must be done before our community is uninhabitable.

The new Nanawale Community Association board of directors is committing 2008 to developing strategies to SAVE OURSELVES from this imposing danger. The plan -- ALBIZIA PUSH 2008 -- includes surveying properties in the subdivision to designate albizia threat zones 1-5 similar to the government’s lava flow threat zones. Albizia Zone 1 would indicate areas where homes or other structures are threatened, Zone 2 would signify threats to utilities lines, and so on through Zone 5, which would be the albizia-free zone, where no albizia, including seedlings, are growing.

Working in cooperation with the county and state, our goal is to work for Zone 5 throughout the subdivision. The plan includes placing a color-coded map at Nanawale’s Longhouse to track the zones as clean-up occurs.   Thank You, Terrie Monfore, Chair of the Environmental Committee  Click on the following links to access additional information on this website.

FAQ’S     ZONING MAPS     WEBSITE LINKS    LOCAL SURVEYORS & TREE FALLERS

FAQ’S  

What is wrong with Albizia Trees growing on my property?

The Albizia Tree is a very fast growing and beautiful tree. It was originally brought in to expedite growth of foliage after a lava flow. It has done just that. The Albizia Tree can grow up to 30 ft. in a year, with a big, beautiful canopy of shade. However, because of this rapid growth and non-native status, they are very unstable. They are unable to root very deeply into the lava and coupled with the large shade canopy, rain & wind are the enemy of these trees. And here in paradise we have plenty of both! In addition to that, most Nanawale lots are 60 x 134 ft., so when an Albizia Tree that has grown for 10+ years gives way to Mother Nature, it can span many adjoining lots as it falls.


How do I contact my absentee neighbors about their Albizia Trees?

You may find out your neighborhood property owners by accessing the website of property tax records: www.hawaiipropertytax.com

- you may enter either the property address or TMK (tax map key) number on top of page.  Be sure to follow the instructions on the site when inputting information.
- click search
- the mailing address of owners will come up.
- from this site you may also click on map to find how many neighbors you have, what street the properties are on, etc.


How do I find tree cutters bids?

An up-to-date listing of tree fallers is located on this site. The Nanawale Community Association office also has a working list of tree fallers that may be faxed or sent to you.  The NCA Office phone is: 808/965-8080, they will fax you the list or give you names & numbers over the phone.

Please note: There are both licensed and bonded arborists and unlicensed tree fallers on this list.  It is a little more expensive to use licensed and bonded arborists, but due to extreme unpredictability of these trees as they age, and especially in critical areas (around homes and utilities) we ask that you take this into consideration.

  ZONING MAPS           

The following links will direct you to websites related to the issues being addressed by the Environmental Committee.  These sites were available at the time this page posted.  If the links are no longer active, please contact the Chair of the Environmental Committee or the Webmaster.

County of Hawaii Property Tax Records
Locate property records by TMK number or address

Honolulu Star Bulletin - The liability law on damage               
Article by June Watanabe concerning liability and “duty” to  remove the danger before damage.

Tropical Biology - Albizia                                                          
Article includes information on impact on environment     

LOCAL SURVEYORS & TREE FALLERS

Working List of Tree Fallers                                           4/9/08 In an effort to assist our Nanawale Community Members we have compiled a working list of Arborists & Tree Fallers.  These businesses are not affiliated with the Association. Some of the names on the lists are licensed & bonded and we highly recommend you verify licensing and bonding before you hire a tree faller.  All companies have said they will give free estimates. ALBIZIA ZONES  1-5 1. Trees that threaten life & structures 2. Trees that threaten power/phone/cable/water lines 3. Trees are very large & seeding other parts of the subdivision
4. Seedlings are under 3 years (before trees seed) 2-30ft. tall
5. Albizia free zone

TREE BROKERS   
As a first step, an owner may want to call Tree Brokers to do an assessment.  If you do
have threatening trees on your property, for a small fee they will
photograph, survey, retain bids for you & then after work is completed
they will ensure that you have photos, dates and times that the work
was complete and assist with any money exchanges, if necessary.  They
will assist you, as an absentee property owner, to ensure you that any
personal liabilities have been eliminated.
REX  808/965-2332 in Nanawale, Pahoa  treebrokers@gmail.com

TREE FALLERS  (this is not a comprehensive listing and we strongly recommend you verify licensing and bonding.  Additional businesses may be added to the listing if they let us know they serve our community.)

AMARANTH ENTERPRISES LCC
Neal Peterson  (licensed, bonded & insured)
Nanawale, Pahoa
808/965-7581