MIN RDC 2011-11-10.tif - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

MIKE PRICE (At this time Mike Price came forward via videoconference from Waimea to address members of the Commission.) MR. PRICE: I would like to begin by thanking the Commission; after the last meeting, for their efforts in looking at Plan B, which, you know, a lot of people in this area feel is the fairest approach. Another item: I think it is very important to keep Waikoloa, Waimea, Puako in District 9, keep Hamakua as a separate district. The reasoning behind that is: (1) you know the old ahupua`a system was from the mountain top to the ocean; for myself, I live and work in Waikoloa Village, but I use the beaches and I use the mountains. Our water supply comes off of Mauna Kea, and there's lots of users on the way down the mountain. And I want a representative in our area that understands that. We also have one hospital that most people use. I just came from a dentist office in Waimea. The communities are tied together. Kawaihae Harbor, which will develop in the future is an economic engine in the area; all of this ties together nicely in a community development program. I think it would be a travesty to separate it out at this point. I mean, maybe ten years down the road, fifteen years down the road, population growth will change this picture, but currently, after all the effort that went into the CDP, I think it is important to leave South Koahala and North Kohala as they are; maintain Hamakua, make it fair for Puna, correct the travesty of the past. But I think Plan _B does the best job of this. If you need to tweak it a little bit, so be it. But I think it is very important to pick a plan that is fair to everybody on the island. I try to look beyond my own district. I serve on a county committee and a state committee that deals with transportation issues. I think a lot of people in this discourse and testimony have more or less spoke on their district, but have also stated that they also see this as one island. I think this is good, and I think that the CDP approach and process has really developed this, and I think we need to keep moving on it, but we need to respect these very distinct districts. I thank you, and I wish you the best, and I challenge you to move from politics to fairness; and I think you have. I appreciate it. CHR. SIRACUSA: Thank you very much. I thank you for your good wishes. Our next testifier -- -Let's take someone else in Waimea as long as we are there. MS. HANANO: Thank you, Madam Chairman, our next testifier is Mr. Bob Green and he is also representing himself and he is making comments. BOB GREEN (At this time Bob Green came forward via videoconference from Waimea to address members of the Commission.) MR. GREEN: Again, thank you very much for listening to me. I talked to you in Waimea and then again in Hilo, so you know me, you know my wishes, you know my background. The one concern that I have right now is, I'm looking at the maps, I'm looking at Plan _A and Plan B; but the one that I really like, with some exceptions, is Plan _B alternate 2. So, when people are talking to you, it is very difficult to see which plan they are talking about. 10