2006-05-18 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 May 18, 2006 Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Gates - Locks Chairman Highley said some of the materials (some wooden poles and two gates) were stolen from the cemetery. Suggested that it may be time to change the combination on the lock. There were concerns about how families would get to gravesites - the cemetery is only open 8 am to 12 noon on the weekdays and closed during the weekends. There is a suggestion to request help from the state, the cemetery is on state land maintained by the County and there are two state parks nearby; Kua Bay right across the street of the cemetery and Kekaha Kai approximately (1) mile towards Kailua which have gates that are opened and closed daily by state employees (opened at 8 am and closed at 5pm - including weekends). That could solve the problem about the combination numbers being released. If people needed access to the cemetery for times other than those hours, they would need permission from the County. Besides the stolen items, people have been coming in to haul rocks from the Kukio property using the HELCO utility roadway; they even brought in a backhoe ( Kukio staff was notified and security guards spoke to rock gatherers). Keith Ribbentrop of OVS will make request with someone responsible from the state to have their employees open and close gate at the West Hawaii Cemetery. Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Expansion George Mukai said he was concerned about the amount of space left at Cemetery III. Chairman Highley said that County personnel are trying to use spots that can't be used for casket burials for urn burials. Minoru Hanato stated that he doesn't have an exact count of number of plots left especially since employees are having difficulty digging plots. That's why its important they talk to Mr. Kalua before he goes to their next meeting to share their concerns and recommendations about the expansion and parking lot area. Chairman Highley said in response to the number of plots left, it is estimated around (8), however, depending on what is underneath the surface they are unsure what areas can be dug. NEW BUSINESS VETERANS CEMETERY I Pavilion - Open Wall for Viewing Mr. Austen said that sometime back he mentioned cutting the wall at the pavilion to provide viewing of the flagpole and County Band during ceremonies at Cemetery I. The 442nd Veterans constructed pavilion, he wouldn't consider suggesting anything without first obtaining their consent. He doesn't know the cost of removal of approximately (2) feet of the wall, but hoping that funding requests could be made to the Mayor, Senator