HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0189.057 2020-2022 •
April 18, 2021
Commissioner and County Council Members g:17
RE: Res. 83-21: KE ALA KAKOU (HOLUALOA COMMUNITY FOREST)
TMK 76-004-003 Land Area (Acreage): 2.488 acres
Mitigating FEMA Flood Hazard, protecting Holualoa Village from immediate flood damage &conning
Civic Spaces (IMIN Center& Holualoa Elementary School)to strengthen the community. It would
nourish the existing cultural practices in Holualoa and connect educational spaces. Becoming more
disaster prepared to host displaced Kailua-Kona and South Kona residents in case of tsunami and/or
Mauna Loa eruption.
Our community would greatly benefit from the development of a safe walking path off the main
highway. The land could also benefit the community by having native and fruit bearing trees for the use
of the local community. Native plants, lauhala, ulu, etc. can be used to help perpetuate the multi-
cultural members of our community.
As a Kona girl, I am very concerned about the current growth and development in our small Holualoa
Community. We humbly request that more attention and supervision be given to our small community.
Our small community lacks adequate infrastructure. There are too many vehicles utilizing our narrow
two lane highway. Parking is totally lacking in our area. Street vendors are being allowed to encroach
their tents into the pedestrian lane and into the traffic lanes. Some vendors block or obstruct the sight
from vehicles trying to exit their private driveways,they are an attractive nuisance which has caused
many near miss motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
Holualoa is only 2.5 miles from the ocean, if we create a riparian community forest, it could help slow
down the water flow in this FEMA Flood hazardous PONC parcel. The community forest could assist by
slowing the flow and filtering the water back down into our aquifer system to protect our village and our
ocean quality. This forest has the potential to reflect our cultural background, giving our local people a
sense of place.
The walking path,would connect two major educational civic spaces (Kona IMIN Community Center&
Holualoa Elementary School). It could support our community economically, assist in flood mitigation,
create community connection and help build Kupuna, Keiki to teens programming during and after
school hours. It could also enhance support to all existing cultural events and classes that already exist
in Holualoa like our weekly Lauhala weaving group, Hula, Mixed Martial Arts and our church/temple
members. Our annual events like Bon Dance, Children's Festival, New Year Ceremony, Holualoa
Elementary School's Spring/Winter Festivals, Kona Coffee Cultural events, Music& Lights Festival and
the Arts. The walking path could build a stronger community to support potential natural disasters from
Mauna Loa eruption or tsunami by preparing and connecting these civic spaces.
Comm. No._________
Ref. To:
Ref. Date APR 2 0 2021
L
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This small lot has multiple potential if given the chance that goes beyond just a green open space. For
that reason, I feel this PONC Parcel, Ke Ala Kakou (Holualoa Community Forest) is worth the financial
venture for the future of our land, our culture and our next generation that reaches beyond our village
into our Ahupua'a connection.
We would also request that you look into acquiring additional land for parking and to get the street
vendors relocated to a new parking lot. This would get both the vendors,vehicles and pedestrians off
the main highway. A possible area to consider is the empty lots directly makai of the Kona Koyasan. We
also request that your stop the growth for businesses like, B&B, hotels, etc., that would add more
people and vehicles to our narrow highway, our small community cannot safely accommodate anymore
growth.
Thank you for consideration.
Sincerely,
Sandy Yamasaki
Kealakekua, Hi 96750