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Chairperson Holeka Inaba and Members of the Hawaii County Council March 25, 2026 Page 2 of 5 I then began the process of seeking a quit claim from the State of Hawaii for those paper homestead roads that traverse through the area bordered by Trust properties. After much discussion with Mayor Harry Kim's administration, the Department of Public Works formally issued the request in October of 2020 and 3-1/2 years later, the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved and formally issued its quit claim of these paper homestead roads onto the County of Hawaii. In consultation with Mayor Mitch Roth's administration, I learned that the County would not accept the existing Wailele Road alignment until it was improved to meet minimum roads -in - limbo requirement, which is 16 feet wide compacted gravel roadway. I retained an engineering firm to survey the location of Wailele Road right-of-way and develop grading plans and secured a grading permit as requested by the Department of Public Works. I then hired a contractor to improve Wailele Road at a cost of over $350,000. During this roadway work, I coordinated very closely with Mayor Kimo Alameda's team at the Department of Public Works, and in particular then -Acting Director Neil Azevedo, who were very helpful in providing cold plane material used to provide a much -more durable surface along Wailele Road as shown on the exhibits below. What was once a narrow, one -lane gravel and dirt road that required 4-wheel drive in certain steep sections, is now a road wide and strong enough to safely pass two vehicles, and most importantly, access to the area by emergency response vehicles. In the months since completion of the improvements to Wailele Road, I had my attorneys prepare draft deeds for the land exchange in order to facilitate the overall process. We appreciate Deputy Corporation Counsel Sinclair Salas-Ferguson for his assistance in guiding us through this land -exchange process that brings us to this point before you today. All told, I have personally expended a significant amount in legal, consulting and construction -related fees over the years to fix the mis-alignment of Wailele Road that meandered outside of its historical government right-of-way and onto Trust properties. It has been a significant financial burden upon me that has consumed a large portion of my life over the past 14 years and spanning four different County administrations. But each step along the way, we found many supportive County and State officials who saw the importance of "making things right". Your support of this resolution will ensure a functional public road from Akaka Falls Road to the Hilo Forest Reserve, providing permanent public access to a valued natural resource. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank the many County and State officials who have supported this effort over the years, including the steadfast support of Councilmember Heather Kimball. With kind regards, w Stella Larsen, Trustee for the Stella May Swain Trust