COM 0571.002 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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To: Hawaii County Council, Pazks and Recreation Committee )from: Jon Olson, Virginia Aste, Members of Puna Friends of the Parks, 501(cx3), 13-631 Leilani Avenue, Pahoa, HI 9677$ 808-965-9869, FAX 965-5454 Date: August 21, 2007 Testimony In Favor of Acquisition of Access Parcel for Cape Kumukahi Regional Park Puna Friends of the Pazks offers the following testimony in favor of acquisition of a pazcel of private land owned by Russell Oda, in order to establish access to lava accretion land for a Regional Park at Cape Kumukahi. The lava flow of 1960 created more than one thousand acres of lava accretion land at Cape Kumukahi. This area is regularly used by 500 to 600 people on sunny weekends as they hike or use four-wheel drive vehicles to reach snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, swimming and fishing sites. Illegal, overnight camping is prevalent and cleanup falls heavily on the surrounding subdivisions, who defuutely are in favor of the creation of a planned and maintained regional park in this area. In order to create a Regional Pazk for the Puna District, the County of Hawaii needs to request that the State of Hawaii. grant to the County several hundred acres of lava accretion land which is already being used for recreational and educational purposes by many residents and visitors. This possibility has been blocked because there is no suitable access, even though the University of Hawaii owns acreage which would be suitable, but thus faz has refused to grant access. We aze therefore requesting purchase of private land from Russell Oda, who is willing to negotiate purchase of part of his parcel. Access through the Oda parcel would direct traffic away from the lighthouse and would provide a direct route to the areas most used now by visitors to Cape Kumukahi. Puna Friend's of the Parks has a long and successful history of collaboration with community associations and government policy makers to create recreational opportunities in Puna. We have held community meetings, helped introduce legislation and conducted tours for State and County officials, as detailed in the Comm. No._ ~7~• Ref. Toe Ref. Date