Aloha from the Makaha Valley Plantation Board of Directors,
Hybrid-Zoom Meetings Survey
Before 2019, our general meetings were held on-site, providing a great opportunity for the community to meet, mingle, and share their thoughts. During COVID, we switched to Zoom meetings, which offered the convenience of remote participation and allowed off-island owners to join in.
Given the benefits of both formats, we are now considering a hybrid solution and would love to hear your opinion! Implementing hybrid meetings would require the owner’s association to pay for a dedicated Zoom account, set up a computer, camera, and microphone in the cabanas, and have a staff member manage the on-site meeting equipment.
This setup would cost several thousand dollars each year. Do you think this is a worthwhile endeavor? Please fill out this survey to share your thoughts and let your voice be heard here: https://forms.gle/uAfY2zW5jc8bX8zm6
Cats and Toxoplasmosis
As a community, our shared goal is to maintain a safe, healthy, and pleasant living environment for everyone. Recently, we’ve noticed an increasing issue with feral cats within our neighborhood. While these cats may seem harmless, feeding them can lead to significant problems, both for the animals and our community. There are a few reasons for this…
Population Growth: Feeding feral cats encourages them to stay and reproduce. One well-fed feral cat can lead to many more, exacerbating the problem. The more cats there are, the harder it becomes to manage their population.
Wildlife Impact: Feral cats are natural hunters and can significantly impact local wildlife, including birds and small mammals. This disrupts the ecosystem and reduces biodiversity in our area.
Health Risks: Feral cats often carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and pets. One of the most concerning is toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can have serious health consequences.The parasite can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with cat feces, contaminated soil, or unwashed vegetables from gardens where infected cats may defecate.
While many people may experience mild or no symptoms, toxoplasmosis can cause flu-like symptoms and more severe health issues for those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and infants. In severe cases, it can lead to eye and brain damage. If you would like to learn more about toxoplasmosis you can learn about it’s effect on humans here (https://makahavalleyplantation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/catowners_2017_240523_163642.pdf) and the local seal population here (https://makahavalleyplantation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/A-Cat-astrophic-Threat-for-Seals.pdf).
It is crucial that all residents refrain from feeding feral cats. If you notice a neighbour feeding the cats please inform security or the front office so appropriate fines can be levied.
Please watch your step
We ask that you please watch your step walking through the property. Chickens sometimes dig holes for nesting so if you notice a hole or damage to the grounds please contact the front office so our groundskeepers can fill it in. Thanks!
HECO Power Outage Plans
You may have seen some recent communication from Hawaiian Electric about the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program as part of their Wildfire Safety Strategy. It’s important for you and your family to have an action plan so you know what to do if you see the PSPS Alert. As with a hurricane, you should be prepared to be without electricity for an extended time, possibly days. You can learn more about the Hawaiian Electric Emergency Handbook for ways to prepare: https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and-outages/storm-center/emergency-preparedness-handbook
HECO asks that owners (and tenants) update their contact information through their Online Customer Service Center: https://eservice.hawaiianelectric.com/bdisu/logon.sap. Customers using electric-powered medical equipment or who refrigerate medication are urged to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages. Those customers should provide their contact information to Hawaiian Electric to receive notifications in advance of a PSPS by submitting an online Medical Needs Communications Form (https://pages.hawaiianelectric.com/medical-needs-form) or calling them at 808-548-7311.
If you have further questions on this topic feel free to reach out, or you can contact HECO Oahu directly at (808) 548-7311
Mahalo,
The MVP Board of Directors