|
You know, Mr. Stevens and Mr. Brooks and I spent quite abit of time talking about this.
<br />I worked with the Kona Palisades Estates Community Association because they have
<br />been very, very concerned about the Haseko project, of which this is a part of a former
<br />Haseko project, etc., and especially about the alignment of the road. So we worked with
<br />the University of Hawaii Chancellors Office because they wanted this road to run right
<br />through the middle of the Kona Palisades Estates parking lot and also which would, you
<br />know, mean to negate the whole volunteer fire station which weve worked I dont know
<br />how many years to get that thing there.So, fortunately, because they got 500 acres or so
<br />they were able to move this thing, you know, 100 yards or so makai and still not impact
<br />the petroglyphs in the cave that are located just in close proximity.
<br />In any case, the University is not going to construct that road right away. Theyre going
<br />to go through, use Hilo, Hilo, and its going to come out by the airport, if I understand
<br />that.Sothatsnotgoingtobeaproblemfornow.ButatleastwhenLokahiwentin,
<br />Mr. Stevens and his group did get that road graded, and it is in the proper alignment. And
<br />I was assured that that road would be opened, and I think it is their plan to do so. But
<br />lets not play hocus pocus with bonds cause, you know, by the time the County tries to
<br />build the road, I dont need to tell you that in 40 years they havent been able to build Alii
<br />Highway; and based on yesterdays meeting it doesnt look like its going to happen.
<br />So, the other comment I wanted to make is that when Mr. Stevens, and actually
<br />Mr. Dickler, the president, when he subsequently came on board, we had a meeting.
<br />When we talked, and Mr. Brooks, when we talked about this project, and they talked to
<br />me about affordable housing, I was very, very happy to hear about affordable housing.
<br />Now, we all know that affordable housing is in the eye of the buyer and the seller. And,
<br />you know, the Council just had a big workshop on this in Kona on Tuesday. And we
<br />heard from the people loudly and clearly that affordable housing shouldnt be 150 percent
<br />of the median income, it should be 60 percent of the median income, which is $51,000,
<br />because nobody else can afford that. And the people at a 150 percent or even at $51,000
<br />dont need a subsidy, you know. Those of us who make a lot less money than that, we
<br />understand what these people are going through, and we also understand and anybody
<br />whos just has their eyes open in Kona knows that property values are just going
<br />outrageously high.
<br />So any effort that you folks in concert with the Council and in concert with landowners
<br />and developers can make to promote affordable housing in close proximity, as
<br />Mr. Stevens mentioned, to the place of employment is going to assist all of us, and its
<br />going to help to at least prevent further deterioration of our quality of life.
<br />And I wanted to thank Commissioner Springer for her sensitivity regarding meakanu, the
<br />local, the native plants. You know we have a State law that says public projects is
<br />supposed to use meakanu, native plants, and yet we see Norfolk pines put in. Im sorry to
<br />say my wifes great-grandfather brought those to Hawaii in the 1870s. Nevertheless, we
<br />have the most beautiful plants in the world, and they are no place else in the world, and
<br />16
<br />
<br />
|