Hilo Bay Watershed Advisor Group
Public Opinion Survey
April, 2008
Prepared by:
Dr. Todd Belt
Assistant Professor of Political Science
University of Hawai?i at Hilo
Dr. Sonia Juvik
Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies,
and Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
University of Hawai?i at Hilo
Dr. Emmeline de Pillis
Professor of Management
University of Hawai?i at Hilo
Contact:
Dr. Todd Belt
tbelt@hawaii.edu
808-974-7375
Purpose
In August, 2007, we (Drs. Juvik, de Pillis and Belt) were contacted by Susan O?Neill and
Steve Godzsak, Spokespersons for the Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group. Mr. Godzsak
requested both verbally and in writing a survey to determine the ?community?s knowledge
of and perceptions about the Hilo Bay Watershed, its rivers, streams, ponds aquifers, and
Hilo Bay specifically?determine if the community perceives that a problem or problems
exist and what the problem(s) are so that corrective actions can be enacted.? What follows
is the result of a pilot study to gauge general trends in public opinion and to test the
feasibility of a more comprehensive study in the future.
Method
Mr. Godzsak provided us with a list of potential questions to include in our survey. The
most pertinent questions were extracted and were combined with a similar survey
questionnaire being fielded by students in Dr. Belt?s Methods of Research class in the Fall
of 2007. The combined questionnaire was distributed among classes taught by Drs. Juvik
and de Pillis for suggestions and markup. The final survey instrument was fielded during
the last two weeks of October, 2007 by UH Hilo students Molly Egan, Lee Gibbons, Ryan
Kanaka?ole, Villazon Saimon and Muliufi Tuimalealiifano. The surveys were
implemented through a self-response, pen-and-paper method. Sampling was done on a
convenience basis at a number of public areas (including the Farmer?s Market, Prince
Kuhio Plaza, and several parks).
Data
As the survey questionnaire included a number of questions relevant only to students?
individual research projects and not to this study, students shared the task of data entry
with Dr. Belt (who received assistance from Department of Political Science Research
Assistant S. Colin Morrison). A student (not named here) involved in the original data
collection process was found to have fabricated survey responses. This student?s surveys
were removed from the data set and the rest of the surveys were thoroughly vetted to insure
validity.
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Results
A total of 185 surveys were completed (surveys less than half complete were rejected),
corresponding to a margin of error of ±7 percent at the 95% confidence level. Respondents
ranged in age from 16 to 75 years old (mean = 31.1, standard dev. = 14.0, median = 25.5).
Respondents were roughly evenly divided between men and women:
Respondents' Sex
Frequency Percent
Male 90
48.6
Female 95
51.4
Total 185
100.0
Other demographic indicators, such as ethnicity, income and education were collected.
The results are as follows:
Respondents' Ethnicity
Frequency Percent
Asian/Hawaiian/Pac.Is. 116
62.7
White 42
22.7
Hispanic/Latino 9
4.9
Black/Afr.-American 6 3.2
Am. Indian/Alaskan
1
.5
Other 11
5.9
Total 185
100.0
Respondents' Income
Frequency Percent
$0 - $9,999
79
42.7
$10,000 - $14,999
20
10.8
$15,000 - $24,999
24
13.0
$25,000 - $35,999
15
8.1
$36,000 - $49,999
21
11.4
$50,000 +
26
14.1
Total 185
100.0
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Respondents' Education
Frequency Percent
Less than HS
10
5.4
HS Grad or GED
30
16.2
Some College
59
31.9
AA Degree
34
18.4
BA, BS or higher
52
28.1
Total 185
100.0
Our first variable of interest in this study is the public?s perception of the water quality in
Hilo Bay. Of the 156 respondents who offered an opinion (29 people, 15.7 percent, of
total said they didn?t know), nearly three-quarters (73.8 percent) said that Hilo Bay was
either somewhat or very polluted. The full distribution of responses is as follows:
Perceived Cleanliness of Hilo Bay
Frequency Percent
Clean 11
7.1
Somewhat Clean
30
19.2
Somewhat Polluted
72
46.2
Very Polluted
43
27.6
Total 156
100.0
Another measure of water quality is whether respondents think it is safe to eat the fish
caught in Hilo Bay. A large plurality, 40.5 percent said that they didn?t know if it was safe
to eat the fish. Of the remainder of respondents who volunteered an answer, roughly two-
thirds said that the fish were not safe to eat, and a third said the fish were safe (64.5 percent
and 35.5 percent respectively).
Safe to Eat Fish Caught in Hilo Bay
Frequency Percent
Yes 39 35.5
No 71 64.5
Total 110
100.0
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Our next question measured perceived responsibility for the quality of Hilo Bay. A little
less than half (45.4 percent) felt that industry was most responsible. Residents were listed
as a close second (38.4 percent) in terms of responsibility, while farms ranked last with
16.2 percent:
Responsibility for Water Quality of Hilo Bay
Frequency Percent
Industry 84
45.4
Residents 71
38.4
Farms 30
16.2
Total 185
100.0
Our next set of questions attempted to identify what, specifically, respondents felt were the
primary water quality problems in Hilo Bay. Respondents were presented with a list of
problems and were allowed to check all of the problems that they could identify. A
majority of respondents identified four problems in the bay: algae, oil slicks, low fish
population and fuel spills. Roughly a third of respondents listed runoff and litter as
problems affecting the water quality in Hilo Bay:
Perceived Water Quality Problems (?Yes? responses)
Frequency Percent
Algae 147
79.5
Oil Slicks
137
74.1
Low Fish Population
125
67.6
Fuel Spills
122
65.9
Runoff 70
37.8
Litter 59
31.9
We also offered respondents another set of questions attempting to ascertain what the
public thought were the sources problems affecting the cleanliness of Hilo Bay. Cruise
ships and runoff from farms were cited as the primary sources of problems, although a
significant percentage said they did not know whether each potential source of pollution
was a problem. The results are as follows:
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Sources of Hilo Bay Water Quality Problems
Percent
Yes
Percent
No
Percent
Don?t Know
Cruise Ships
65.4
7.6
43.2
Farm Runoff
59.5
9.7
30.8
Cesspools 58.1
8.6
43.2
Pet Waste
40.5
14.6
44.9
Next, we attempted to identify types of behaviors that the public might engage in that
could contribute to a degradation in the water quality of Hilo Bay. The first set of
questions measured the use of lawn/yard care products. Again, respondents could indicate
multiple responses, meaning that they had used more than one product. The results
indicate that respondents were just as likely to use chemical fertilizer and pesticide
products as they were to use organic products (roughly 15 percent on all measures). A
greater number of respondents (37.3 percent) said that they used compost.
Usage of Lawn/Yard Care Products (?Yes? responses)
Frequency Percent
Chemical Fertilizer
29
15.7
Organic Fertilizer
32
17.3
Chemical Pesticide
28
15.1
Organic Pesticide
25
13.5
Compost 69
37.3
Our next query was the frequency of washing one?s automobile. Roughly half (49.7
percent) said that they washed their car about once per month or more frequently. The
distribution is as follows:
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Frequency of Automobile Washing
Frequency Percent
More than once/month
52
28.1
About once/month
40
21.6
Every few months
33
17.8
2-3 times/year
21
11.4
Once a year or less
39
21.1
Total 185
100.0
Lastly, we attempted to identify what leisure activities the public engages in around Hilo
Bay. Respondents were allowed to check each of the following activities, and they are
reported in the order of most popular:
Leisure Activities in and around Hilo Bay (?Yes? responses)
Frequency Percent
Walking 76
41.1
Running 56
30.3
Swimming 45
24.3
Canoeing / Kayaking
36
19.5
Fishing 34
18.4
Bicycling 29
15.7
Surfing 26
14.1
Boating 10
5.4
Conclusion
There seems to be some confusion as to the cleanliness of Hilo Bay. Many people are not
sure whether the bay is clean and whether or not it is safe to eat fish that come from the
bay. Many people are unclear as to the sources of pollution, as well. This small, pilot
survey points to the need for greater education about the water quality of Hilo Bay and the
watershed.
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Appendix: Survey Questionnaire Items
What is your age? _______
What is your sex? [ ] Male [ ] Female
Which of the following best describes your ethnicity?
[ ] Black / African American
[ ] American Indian / Alaskan Native
[ ] Asian / Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
[ ] Hispanic / Latino
[ ] White (non-Hispanic)
[ ] Other, please specify:___________________
Which of the following best describes your annual income?
[ ] $0-$9,999
[ ] $10,000-$14,999
[ ] $15,000-$24,999
[ ] $25,000-$35,999
[ ] $36,000-$49,999
[ ] $50,000+
What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
[ ] Less than High School
[ ] High School or GED
[ ] Some College
[ ] AA Degree
[ ] BS, BS degree or higher
When thinking about the water quality in Hilo Bay, would you say it is?
[ ] Clean
[ ] Somewhat Clean
[ ] Somewhat Polluted
[ ] Very Polluted
[ ] Don?t know
Which of the following is most responsible for the water quality on Hilo Bay? (check only one)
[ ] Industry
[ ] Farms
[ ] Residents
In your opinion, what water quality problems exist in Hilo Bay? (check all that apply)
[ ] Algae Blooms
[ ] Oil Slicks
[ ] Fuel Spills
[ ] Litter / Trash
[ ] Low fish population
[ ] Runoff or leaching of waste from other areas
Which of the following do you use on your property? (check all that apply)
[ ] Chemical fertilizer
[ ] Organic fertilizer
[ ] Chemical pesticide
[ ] Organic pesticide
[ ] Compost
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Appendix: Survey Questionnaire Items (Cont?d)
Which of the following best estimates how often you wash your car(s)?
[ ] More than once a month
[ ] About once a month
[ ] Every few months
[ ] 2-3 times per year
[ ] Once a year or less often
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements:
It is safe to eat fish caught in Hilo Bay.
[ ] Agree [ ] Disagree [ ] Don?t Know
Pet waste poses a problem for Hilo Bay water quality.
[ ] Agree [ ] Disagree [ ] Don?t Know
Runoff from farms poses a problem for Hilo Bay water quality.
[ ] Agree [ ] Disagree [ ] Don?t Know
Cesspools pose a problem for Hilo Bay water quality.
[ ] Agree [ ] Disagree [ ] Don?t Know
Cruise ships pollute Hilo Bay.
[ ] Agree [ ] Disagree [ ] Don?t Know
Do you participate in any of the following activities in or around Hilo Bay? (check all that apply)
[ ] Walking or Beachcombing
[ ] Running/Jogging
[ ] Bicycling
[ ] Swimming
[ ] Fishing
[ ] Surfing or Paddleboarding
[ ] Canoe Paddling or Kayaking
[ ] Sail or Powerboating
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