HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0050.012 2020-2022 P/PC-
Nil 10
COH14.50
Z71 JAN 25 F; 3: 38
Hawaii County Council
Planning Committee
Dear Ms. Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair
My testimony is to support the request by Palamanui to a. AMEND REZ 05-
000010 and b. AMEND REZ 09-000094.
Many years ago, when this project was presented to County of Hawaii Leeward
Planning Commission no one could foresee a pandemic causing the catastrophic
economic woes on the Big Island, the State and beyond. Projects like Palamanui
will become the economic engine the County needs to rebuild our Island
economy and community
Palamanui contributed installed water lines, built portion of the Ane Keohokalole
Highway from Kaiminani Drive to the Hawaii Community College Palamanui
campus and other infrastructure items costing over $22 million dollars which
made possible the building of the HCC educational facilities and offering state of
the art higher educational programs and classes for West Hawaii residents.
I understand the Palamanui project is requesting to amend building the regional
connector from mauka to makai after building the planned 900 homes instead of
visa versa. Given the economic slowdown, it is reasonable to build revenue
generating homes by Palamanui first to provide financial sustainability of the
entire planned project for the long run.
Serving as the Chair for the Daniel K. Inouye Highway Task Force since 2004,
the DKI Task Force have met regularly to affect the completion of the planned
connector in the near future between Highway 190 to Queen Kaahumanu
Highway. That connector will help ease traffic flows.
I have been a supporter of a college here in West Hawaii for decades. I served
as the Executive Director of the UH Learning Center in Kealalekua from 1987 to
1995 successfully building the foundation to bring permanent higher educational
programs to West Hawaii. The Palamanui Campus was strategically located
central to West Hawaii's long-term development. Building a community around
the Campus, such as student housing, is necessary to further develop and
expand educational opportunities for our region.
I humbly ask for your support to the amendments identified above to energize the
Big Island economy and to help build a village around the HCC Campus.
Sincerely,
Walter Kunitake
Comm. No.
Ref.To: PtPG
Ref. Daae SSB e 2 2021