2016-25 Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity 9.14.16

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Kea`au High School. The diligent work of the Subcommittee at the PREP Fair and at its meetings since then allowed for the gathering of public input and data to assist in resiliency efforts for the Puna District. The Subcommittee divided Puna into four broad regions — Volcano, Puna Uka, Puna Waena, and Puna Kai — and made a total of 48 options for road connectivity. This report was adopted by the Puna Community Development Plan on May 13, 2014. The connections, as well as the top three priorities for each region, were revealed to the public at the second PREP Fair, which was planned for August 30, 2014. The timing of this fair coincided with a disaster declaration as a result of the impact of Tropical Storm Iselle, and the district was days away from a second disaster declaration due to the approach of a lava flow from the June 27th outbreak. As a result, the second PREP Fair was well -attended by the public, and the Subcommittee received additional input to help it fine-tune suggestions and identify connections that were unfeasible or unwanted by residents. The County Council's Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation discussed, and approved on August 18, 2015, a request by Council Member Greggor Ilagan regarding the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Puna Connectivity. The members of this committee were identified as the council members who represented Districts 3, 4, 5, and 6, Puna CDP Action Committee Chair Patti Pinto, and Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee Chair Marlene Hapai. The Ad Hoc Committee met on August 26, 2015, January 27, 2016, May 11, 2016, and July 13, 2016. In addition, the Committee made a field trip to selected sites along the Puna mauka subdivision corridor on October 30, 2015.