HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0568.001 2020-2022 PWMTCI
ill 105
t
January 3,2022
i
Sue Lee Loy,Chair
Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit
Hawai'i County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
awz
RE:Support for Bill 105—suspension of fares for mass transit until December 31,2023a
Dear Chair Lee Loy and Members of the Hawaii County Council,
The Kohala Coast Resort Association is in full support of the Mass Transit Agency's request to suspend fares for mass
transit services until December 31,2023. We have been working very closely with Mass Transit Administrator John
Andoh and his team cluing the last year.We fully support his efforts to implement a more robust public
transportation service island wide. Mr.Andoh met with our board of directors in October,and we have been building
stronger networks directly between our directors of human resources and talent,Mass Transit Agency employees,
Roberts Hawaii,and our employees who rely on Hele On's services.We are grateful for his leadership and believe
that this suspension of fares for two years will help build a sustainable transit system islandwide.
The KCRA members represent 3,940 hotel and timeshare rooms on the Kohala Coast.Our resorts house another
3,500 full and part-time residential and STVR units,as well as shopping,entertainment,golf,spa,and restaurants.
KCRA members employ more than 5,000 Hawaii Island residents,supporting 20,000 community members. In 2022,
KCRA members will pay more than$60 million in state and county TAT,$40 million in state and county GET,and$73
million in property taxes to Hawaii County.
Thank you for the opportunity to share our support for Bill 105 .
Sincerely,
Stephanie Donoho
Administrative Director,Kohala Coast Resort Association
Pat Fitzgerald,CEO, Hualalai Investors-President,KCRA
Craig Anderson,VP Operations,Mauna Kea Resort—Vice President, KCRA
Charlie Parker,General Manager,Four Seasons Hualalai—Secretary, KCRA
Charles Head,General Manager,Fairmont Orchid—Treasurer,KCRA
Scott Head,VP Resort Operations,Waikoloa Land Company—Board of Directors
Simon Amos,Hotel Manager,Hilton Waikoloa Village—Board of Directors
Rob Gunthner,Area VP Resort Operations, Hilton Grand Vacations—Board of Directors
Sanjiv Hulugalle, Regional VP and General Manager,Mauna Lani,Auberge Resorts Collection—Board of Directors
Steve Yannarell,General Manager,Waikoloa Beach Marriott—Board of Directors
Michael Hoover, Director Kona Village—Board of Directors
Comm. N10,
PO Box 6991,Ka uela,Nl 96743*(808)747-5762*kohalacoastresortassn@gmaii.com*www.kohal0
rlesorts.com P Q�
Me . 1 o:
Ref. Fete Jp ` 220222