HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0189.068 2020-2022 From: Antu Harvey
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2021 10:28 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: RES. 83-21 - 'Ke Ala Kakou' (Holualoa Community Forest)- Support for
To County Council,
Please vote YES to 'green-light' the pursuit to acquire this parcel. It is critical to a future that includes any walking
opportunities for keiki and ohana. To the County this is Pay now or Pay later proposition.
This parcel stands out for the following key reasons:
1. It is needed to be able to build a path between the Elementary School and the Kona Community Imin Center.
• Enable keiki to walk to school and/or walk to the Imin Center for after school programs.
• Imin Center is the emergency shelter for the school and community. But, the only route is ON the
highway. Pedestrians and vehicles on the road lanes at the same time?!
• People would be able to stroll - we have no place, currently!
• There are NO alternate route possibilities. If we lose this parcel, we have lost forever.
2. This is parcel is largely a FEMA designated floodway (AEF). We can improve its ability to slow anda�nfiltrate
storm flood water.
• It can be a lovely riparian woodland
• It can be an outdoor classroom
• It can save the County in flood damage repair and liability claims
• It can be a lovely accessible public open space. No others' exist along the Mamalahoa Kona Heritage Corridor
(CR 180)
• the projects to restore and improve it can be a community builder
• It can be a civic space for people to meet each other.
3. This parcel has ready and capable and experienced steward organizations partnering to care for this parcel!
• Holualoa Village Ohana -the community organization -we already have a highly capable and active group
of volunteers who take care of the common areas through the historic village and have been maintaining the
County leased'lua' parking lots. We host the annual Holualoa Kona Coffee Stroll and Festival of Music and
Lights.
• Pulama Ia Kona Heritage Preservation Council - we have 25 years of working to preserve historic places
and stories of Holualoa and Kona 'Akau. We have experience getting grants and partnering with other
organizations and governmental agencies and grass roots community members to accomplish goals and
achieve enduring outcomes.
Please don't let this opportunity slip away. Kona needs more open space! This is an important mauka pocket
treasure.
Mahalo for your service and listening to our mana'o.
Antu Harvey
Holualoa, HI
Comm,
Ref, To:—PIMY101
1
Ref. ate MAY 00 5 2021