Letter to: Ms. Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Council Vice Chair, Maui, Hawaii
2-19-2019
Ms. Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Council Vice Chair, Maui, Hawaii
Dear Councilor,
First of all, I appreciate the outreach and materials sent to me by your office Ms. Z. Hantell-Lindo. She is most helpful. What a great and valuable assistant.
The concern I have is of course, Molokai, but extends to all of Hawaii.
To be very specific, my family and I are concerned over the retrofitting of LED lighting on public parks and roads. Recently the park at Kualapuu has been converted to increase energy savings by retrofitting the parking lot lights to LED lighting.
We appreciate the goal of energy savings, but in assessing the site, issues of light trespass, glare, and even color temperature and brightness were not taken into account. Energy savings without responsible overall lighting aspects is counter productive. Ineffective and irresponsible lighting affects humans, plant and wildlife in negative ways. There is a tremendous amount of light glare that lights up the interior of the homes adjacent to the park and the lights are on long after 10 pm. It is quite light having a car parked in front of your window all night long with their high beams on. Would you be able to sleep with that every night?
It would be wise that all retrofit projects be immediately be put on hold until a certified and experienced expert such as a IES engineer with a full background in night lighting be brought in to make a proper recommendation. Hawaii should be going in the direction of 'Dark Sky' instead of light pollution.
There are many experts here in Hawaii that are available for consult and have been trying desperately to make a difference in all our lives. Just switching out to LED without consideration of light output, color temperature, glare and light trespass is going backwards.
Protecting the night sky as well as eliminating lighting pollution, glare, light trespass not only affects human health (such as our circadian rhythm), but preserves wildlife, saves money and energy, and provides visual access to astronomers.
Doing proper outdoor lighting does not cost more-in fact it is less expensive when light is not 'wasted'. There exists proven and accepted outdoor illumination plans that have been adopted all over the world. It is time for Maui County as well as all of Hawaii to adopt the principles of proper and responsible night lighting.
Please feel free to contact me at any time.
Sincerely,
Mark and Paula Scott (Mondoy family)
PO box 149
Kualapuu Hi 96757
cc: Blind copies as not to transmit personal emails.
Photo Included as a attachment of the Kualapuu Park, taken from across the street (and outside the park) in the neighborhood
