HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0217.011 2020-2022 Resolution 105-21 (Hawaiian Acres Road Improvement District Testimony)
There are worthy,essential reasons to support or reject the Hawaiian Acres road improvement district resolution.
Although a survey of the Hawaiian Acres community indicated that 80 percent of the survey respondents support the
roadway improvement district,some community members expressed valid reasons for rejecting the proposal
including:
• improving the roads,will undermine the original intentions for forming the subdivision and take away from
the rural,pristine living settings,
• concern that road improvements may cause an influx of new families into the area,and
• that the initiative will raise property tax or assessments to a level not sustainable for some communi
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These reasons,along with other concerns regarding the initiative,have merit w C
Grounds for supporting the initiative are likewise valid and reflect potential positive results for the communit}i'w=z
• Most importantly,creating paved,well-maintained roads will provide unimpaired access for emergency
responders who potentially take an extremely long time to reach parts of the subdivision or,in some oes,
will not travel into the area at all.This alone should be reason to support the initiative.As a side question,
how many of the subdivision's residents have bent wheel rims,blown tires,or broken suspensions because
of the present road conditions? Admittedly,these are accepted as part of rural living,along with its
associated benefits.
• The recent turnover of property and home construction in Hawaiian Acres (and island-wide)indicates that
with or without good roads,people are moving here.Our family lived in Hawaiian Paradise Park,Hawaiian
Beaches and most recently resided twelve years in Ainaloa.We relocated to Hawaiian Acres to expand our
farming interests and protect and enjoy the nature that is rapidly disappearing from this earth and our
islands.Billy Kenoi once mused that this island's roads and subdivisions would eventually look like Oahu's.I
was saddened when I heard those thoughts.But then I realized that,prior to moving to Hawai'i,we resided
in seven rural and urban mainland locations. Each of those communities lost some of their natural habitats
to growth. This island's development is something we should anticipate and work together to preserve its
aboriginal habitat To facilitate these efforts,the Hawaiian Acres community could work with Hawai'i
County to collaboratively create policies which promote preservation while not inhibiting the community
members from exercising their freedoms.
• Finally,the concern that part of the cost of this initiative will be borne by the Hawaiian Acres landowners is
a fact However,this encumbrance is somewhat tempered considering any accrued fees or taxes are paid
over an extended period and are a minimal price when considering the potential for saving lives during an
emergency.Hawai'i County could possibly shoulder some of the fee burden if a road partnership could be
agreed upon.
I respectfully submit this testimony in support of Resolution 105-21.
Mahalo,
James Kiley
Comm. No. ll'II
Ref. To: PIN/
Ref. Date MAY - 4 2021