In an unusual arrangement, state work crews will remove debris and repair private lands adjacent to Makaua stream on O'ahu and the Wailapa and Kilauea streams on Kaua'i that were damaged in last year's 40-day deluge.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, has earmarked $5 million in federal funds and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and state Civil Defense will contribute an additional $1.68 million for the projects.

Work crews will rebuild the private areas to prevent another disaster like the 2006 breach of Kaloko dam on Kaua'i that killed seven people, said state Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), who announced the arrangement yesterday.

By law, private landowners must maintain their streams, Hee said, but with Makaua, Wailapa and Kilauea streams "they absolutely don't have to contribute."

Hee said he knew of no other similar projects in Hawai'i.

The Makaua stream project is estimated to cost $1.34 million, and the Wailapa and Kilauea stream project is estimated at $5.34 million.

Last year, Honolulu officials started the Clean Stream educational campaign to raise awareness about stream maintenance laws on O'ahu and offer suggestions about maintenance.

Streams in Hawai'i often involve several public and private owners, who have a duty to maintain, dredge and clear their streams, city officials have said. The city can step in and do the work, if necessary, then charge the owners for the work.

Violations can result in fines up to $500 per day.

Just before dawn on March 14, 2006, the former sugar cane reservoir known as Kaloko dam failed, sending 300 million gallons of water to the sea and washing over dirt, trees, buildings and equipment in its path.

Daniel Arroyo, Christina McNees, Alan Dingwall, Aurora Fehring, Rowan Fehring-Dingwall, Wayne Rotstein and Timothy Noonan died in the wake of the breach.

State officials came under severe criticism when it was disclosed that the state Department of Land and Natural Resources had never inspected Kaloko dam, which an independent investigator determined failed because its spillway had been covered up.

In the aftermath, all 136 state-regulated dams were inspected at least twice, and most were re-inspected after two strong earthquakes that rocked the Big Island on Oct. 15, 2006.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.