HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0595.102 2020-2022 (/ r
( n
t
3
t _ Alr N
March 7, 2022
Councilmember Ashley Kierkiewicz,Chair
Councilmember Rebecca Villegas,Vice Chair
Hawaii County Council Committee on Planning
Hawaii County Building
t
25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI 96720
RE: Support for Bill 112 and Bill 115-Waikoloa Land Company's Kumu Hou Project ZE
Affordable Workforce Rental Housing0-1
®.
Dear Chair Kierkiewicz,Vice Chair Villegas and Members of the Hawaii County Council Committee on Planning,
As we have previously testified,the Kohala Coast Resort Association (KCRA) is in full support of the affordable rental
housing component of Waikoloa Land Company's Kumu Hou project,addressed in Bill 112 and Bill 115.To the best of
our knowledge, Kumu Hou will be the first affordable workforce housing project located directly within a resort's
footprint.The KCRA has been a staunch supporter of affordable workforce housing projects throughout Hawaii
Island. We serve on Vibrant Hawaii's Housing Coalition, and have also supported the Planning Department's efforts
to amend zoning and building codes to find creative solutions to address our affordable housing needs.
We would also like to share what a great community partner and land steward Waikoloa Land Company has been
during its entire tenure with the Kohala Coast Resort Association. From managing the repairs after the tsunami
damaged the Kuualii anchialine fish ponds adjacent to Anaehoomalu Bay;to partnering with the small businesses,
restaurants and retail outlets within the resort,to make sure those families were not overlooked in our Kokua for
Our Ohana food program while the visitor industry was shut down from March through November 2020;to
sponsoring and supporting numerous charity events at the Waikoloa Bowl; Waikoloa Land Company has shown time
and again that its leaders,officers,and employees have the community's needs at heart.
KCRA members employ 5,000 people, supporting 20,000 Hawaii Island residents at their hotels,timeshares,
restaurants,retail outlets,golf courses and spas. Additionally,in 2022, KCRA members will pay an estimated$60
million in state and county TAT, and$40 million in state and county GET. Further, KCRA members,and the residents
within our resorts, pay$73 million in property taxes to Hawaii County, one fourth of total collections.And finally,
between 2018 and 2021, KCRA members invested more than$450 million in infrastructure and property upgrades,
supporting Hawaii Island's construction industry.
We hope this Kumu Hou project will keep our construction industry running strong for years to come, as we address
our island's affordable housing needs. Mahalo for your consideration of this important project.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Donoho
Administrative Director, Kohala Coast Resort Association
Pyr Box 6991,Karnuela,H1 96743*(808)747-5762*kohalacoastresortassn ernall.corn* ww.kohalacoastresorts.com
Comm. No. •�
Ref. To: pc�
Ref. Date MAR 8 2022