Aloha
Welcome to the July 2022 edition of the Makaha Valley Plantation newsletter! The aim of this newsletter is to bring you the latest MVP news, project updates, and help build community here on the westside.
This Could Cost You
If you live on property you may have noticed we haven’t had an exit gate for some time. The old gate served us well, despite being driven into several times by residents rushing through the gate. We all must have a little more patience when leaving the property. The new gate is designed to only let one car through at a time. In other words, if you are following the person in front of you too closely then the gate is going to come down on your car. You must make a complete stop and then proceed. We will periodically remind you and your guest not to follow the car in front of you so closely, and come to a complete stop before proceeding out.
Unfortunately, in a matter of a week, the new gate has already been driven into twice at a cost of $400! So, please take a moment, stop completely, and avoid having to pay for the repair.
Children’s Safety
Management has noticed an uptick of children getting into mischief around MVP, especially since school has let out for the summer. Here is a short list of what has been found:
- Children playing in the parking lot unsupervised. God forbid that your child gets hit by a resident pulling out of their parking stall and not seeing your child. Playing in the parking lots is not permitted, and you will be cited and fined if your child gets caught doing that.
- Children playing in the common areas and breaking plants. Yes they can play there but not in the plants. You will be cited and possibly fined as well as pay for the cost to restore the plants.
- Graffiti has been found on walls around MVP. If your child, regardless of their age, is found to be responsible for defacing public spaces you will be cited and fined for the restoration costs.
In the meantime we have the tennis court, basketball court and of course the swimming pools. Please use them and keep your children occupied. If you’re looking for other summer activities we suggest signing your children up for the Summer Fun program that takes place at Waianae District Park or the Boys and Girls Club. Above all, please supervise your children so we can ensure your loved ones are safe from harm.
Heating Up In Summer
As we get into summer some owners are asking about installing window air conditioners in their bedrooms. Unfortunately, we don’t currently allow this to ensure visual consistency between units, not to mention there are no adequate piping or drains on that side of the building (which is required for B & C units to ensure they don’t leak on their neighbors).
Occupants can get a portable AC and a window slide kit which helps, but the big issue is that the jalousie windows do not hold a seal which means cold air escapes and hot air enters. We’d like to remind owners that while the exterior jalousie window is required there are ways to create an interior seal. You could replace your window screen with a piece of plexiglass with rubber edging. or come up with other novel ways to seal your window! Aside from helping control temperature this would also help keep out dust and reduce noise. If you decide to do any internal modifications or construction, please ensure you submit a Construction / Renovation / Repairs of Apartments form to the front office, and hire a licensed contractor to complete the work. You can find these forms and more information at https://makahavalleyplantation.org/forms/
Water Conservation
Did you know that water is our most precious resource, and that we should practice conservation of it every day of our life?
Water is our most precious resource and we should all practice water conservation, every single day. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is asking everyone on Oahu to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 10% due, in part, to the Red Hill contamination incident. Additionally, the Waianae coast, including Makaha, is currently in a severe drought situation due to the lack of rainfall. Here are a few simple water-saving tips:
- Check your faucets and pipes for any leaks
- If you have a dishwasher, scrape your dishes (don’t rinse) and only run it when it’s full
- Steam your vegetables instead of boiling them
- Minimize use of the garbage disposal
- Do not thaw food under running water, use the refrigerator or microwave to thaw
- When using a washing machine, only wash full loads
- Make sure your toilet isn’t leaking or refilling constantly because of a leaky fill valve
- Use a low-flow shower head
- Take shorter showers
- Keep tub baths to a minimum
For more conservation tips go to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply website at: www.boardofwatersupply.com/conservation
One other note, if you see or hear water running anywhere on MVP property, please let the office know. This can include hearing your neighbor’s toilet running or any other dripping sounds within the walls, as well as seeing any standing water or a leaky faucet anywhere on MVP grounds.
If we all start to follow these water conservation tips, we can help lower our water usage at Makaha Valley Plantation, help our community, and lower our water bill.
Be Careful Before Using
Living in Hawaii provides us all with nearly year-round beautiful weather, which also happens to be a perfect environment for bugs to thrive. Even though we don’t necessarily get mosquitoes the size of small birds, we certainly have our fair share of ants, cockroaches, beetles and other insects. We tend to be quick to grab that can of Raid or other insecticides to make short order of their existence. Many manufacturers provide a wide range of insecticides ranging from totally natural, to something that requires you to wear a hazmat outfit to apply to the area.
As a reminder, please ensure you only spread insecticides or pesticides inside your unit; not outside. I bring this up because the other day I purchased a bottle of insecticide that appeared to be safe to use indoors. However, when I opened the care instructions, I was surprised to find that it was toxic not only to insects but to fish, crustaceans, lizards, and a litany of other animals. The care instructions said to wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, shoes, socks, gloves and to be careful it doesn’t land on anything that might be used by humans or in the preparation of food. That includes countertops, stove, sinks, utensils, cabinets, and virtually any place in the kitchen or bathroom. It even says wash your hand thoroughly before using the bathroom after applying this insecticide! So, don’t be lured into thinking you have a safe product – these are poisonous and dangerous substances, so please read the instructions carefully. Be mindful when using insecticides or pesticides inside your home, and ensure you do not use them outside as it can be harmful to other residents. We hire a private extermination company to handle outdoor insect issues to ensure that everyone, including you, is safe. If you do see anyone using insecticides or poisons outside, please let the front office know.
Mahalo,
MVP Board of Directors