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FUKU-BONSAI CULTURAL CENT & HAWAII TATE BONSAI REP RY ,Sharing a ble88in~ since ~ tL?2 p17 ~ ~ PO Box 6000 (Olaa Road), Kurtistown, HI X96760 Phone (808) 982-9880, FAX 982-9883~.~ March 20, 2000 James Y. Arakaki Chairman & Presiding Officer Hawaii County Council Aloha! Keaau singularly and naturally has the potential to be a great regional center for the entire Puna district. It should be an advantage that much of the land has a single owner but the Gateway proposal is lose-lose. It reflects an abrupt directional change that will alienate many in the Puna community who previously supported the W. H. Shipman Estate. I write to express my strong opposition to creating an intersection where the Keaau By-Pass Road meets Volcano Highway. My reasons are as follows: • IT'S BAD PLANNING. To become East Hawaii's "Second City," Keaau needs a consistent master plan and the major commercial areas preferably should be contiguous. I support quality growth and development. But growth will only occur where there is a critical traffic mass, attractive development terms, and favorable economics. To create another major Keaau non-contiguous commercial district and another Volcano Highway intersection will create an undesirable type of growth and development. • IT CREATES A "LOSE-LOSE" SITUATION. Compared to other large Hawaiian estates, the W. H. Shipman Estate had an extensive and commendable history. In now unilaterally forcing through a development plan that negatively affects Keaau Village, the estate alienates a significant segment of the Puna community. In obtaining community support for its initial Keaau Village plan and in now preventing that plan from having a chance to succeed, the Estate creates enemies and divides the community. • IT WILL CREATE AN UNDESIRABLE LONG-TERM TRAFFIC PROBLEM. The Keaau By-Pass Road is a beautifully designed solution for those living on the Pahoa side of Keaau who travel to Hilo. Currently, it is not economically possible to create a Hilo to Pahoa overpass to further speed traffic. One day it will be possible. Pahoa to Volcano traffic can be rerouted and the traffic lights can be removed. But if a four-way intersection is allowed there now, it will not be possible to eliminate the traffic lights in the future. • ANOTHER INTERSECTION WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE FUTURE HILO TO VOLCANO THROUGH TRAFFIC. It's common sense and a principle of good highway planning to have the least number of intersections to efficiently handle through traffic. Volcano Highway is destined to be the primary corridor for traffic headed toward Volcano and Kau. It will be necessary to have a major interchange where Pahoa Road meets Volcano Highway at Shipman Comm. PIo. ~I'7 • ~~5 File No.,~~G /F~ H,ef. To:LL_' G Ply 'V ttef. Date MAR 2 2 2000