HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0467.002 1998-2000 Janice Palma-glennie please call first 325-3416 xi10/12199 'T 10.20 AM !3 V2
ganice yals+,a-~lennie
p.o. box 4$49
kailua-kona, tiawai'i 96745
telegkone~~ax#So8-3~5-34~6 ri:_,i_
F.->L\ TO: Council Chair James .arakaki~c~~n~ei~i~er~Qf~1~eQI~~~ai'i Counw Council, 2
C~, pages
P,1='~CJiI U 4~"II"`'J f*J,-~ ~g oa i~"~ "TPV' 'd~S"i'C[~}'1'6'~F^~!C ~ ~f~l F4~'I IITI~i " f'J rl";;,'.All'I' ii511.-~P\C?
I ; ~ ; 2 - ~ , e_ '?(:aiac?io. October 10, 1999
aloha, Council members:
It has cotue to m}' attention that Resolution =150-99 has been introduced regarding research and
possible development of a car racing track in \~'est Ha~~ai'i.To summarize t~h} I am against
creation of a drag racing facilip in \Vest Ha~rai'i and cannot, therefore, support the above
resolution:
• 1)~g_1'aciug is a nois~~,~11g~L41t~, en~~ronmentall~~i magillg acti~it~_.~ drag strip evil]
encourage, rather than decrease, the popularit} of racing cars in \Vest Hawaii.
Education and a drag~in do not ens r l ss ill gal street racing.( as is proven in
Hilo and Puna).
• Z)SLoL~pressing_zecreational needs face our c9tt~mut 11it~, i.e., mauka and more
neighborhood parks for hiking, camping, biking, etc.. Less ezpensi~ e and safer
rea~eational options for our } oath should be encouraged before car racing.
• 3) P~p9~~d North bona. are~it~idhig those near lekalla_Ii~i-(I~4na Coast)- State Park~li~
residential areas in 1yalaoa are narticularl~ unsuitable for this type of facilit~~
• -I) NQpubli fund sho Ild b 1 d in r ar hing nor setting~p this facilit,_ Backers of
such a project would include oil companies, car and parts manufacturers and other
well-heeled interests who would love our } oath to bu} more of their products.
• 5)~ag~3si11g detracts from the natural beauty of Hawaii--an increasingl}' unique
"product" upon which our qualit} of life and econonti depends. Loud noise,
petrochemical runoff, fumes, and the appearance of a motor racing facility' all
threaten our delicate resources.
• 6) If one enjo}~s driving so much, then a dri~~e to Hilo to race can't be too far. Rain happens.
nue r1o. 7. 00Z IRp
To elaborate: Ref. TwP~eserM'ed co~~u~iL
Ref. Date ~T 1 4 1999
Though I understand that there are members of the conununin who would like a racing facility . I
do not believe that it is appropriate for the I:ailua-bona, North bona area in hich I reside.
I do not wish to push a potentiall}~ negative project onto other communities on this side of the
~Omm. 19oi~6..~
7~~
jamca Palma-glennie ~ please call first 325-3416 $10112199 ? 10.20 AM ~ 2l2
isiand ~~ho ma} not want such a facility near them, so I will limit m}° remarks to i~h} I feel a drag
racing strip should be far down the priorit} list of "improvements" planned for m} district.
First, it is ironic that, though a facilit} exists in East Hawaii, complaints of illegal street racing
continue in areas like Puna. So matter where a drag strip is located, there will be those t~ho use
the streets for this dangerous, nois} and en~iromnentall}' destructive activit}. lfech~nical abilit}_
and technical kno~~ledge can flourish ~tithoui car racing. ~lahalo to the Big Island auto Club for
teaching the dangers of street racing. L'nfortunatel} , as much as we hope that education will curb
illegal racing, education onl}° works on those who wish to be educated. For the rest, if the mood
moves them on a late Frida} night at~a} from a designated track, there is still a strong likelihood
that a race will occur. How man}' track locations ~~~i11 ultimatel}° be necessar}° to stop illegal
racing? Racing~.p ar will in r at s ra ing becomes more pQnular--the pressure of peers
drieing (pardon the pun) more } outh to spend their none} and time on race-read}' vehicles.
The areas mentioned as possible sites in \-orth kona are unacceptable et en to those in m~
conununit}• i~ho support legal drag racing. The ~~orst snot that hav b n m ntion d r tho
~jacent to hekaha hai (Fona Coast) State Park. These locations (south of it as trell as mauka)
ensure disruption of the peace and serenit} which along-planned wilderness park was meant to
guarantee, as well as the right of residents to low and health}- noise levels near their ~~ork, home,
schools and recreational areas. I lire in 1\alaoa at 1800 feet elevation. I am reg~laLl}- awakened b~_
jet which leaves Iona International airport at aRnr~t~imateh 3:00 am. Two "wrongs" don't' make
a "right": the airport will get busier; but, in the future, will we accept noise at an} level just
because some airlines would like it so? The answer is "no". Hai-vaiian air has just bought a fleet of
new generation jets which will reduce noise al our airport. This is the ware of the future. NQiSQ_
reduction will prose to be imperative as ~~e become more aware of the dang r of s iv not
to our health and well-being.
I do not condone proposals to conduct noise tests near hekaha hai State Park in order to "prove"
that negative effects will not occur. This ~~~ill not only 1) become a publicitt~ acti~it)~, but it will 2)
deeply divide the conuuunit} , as is the case with HELCO. If people don't t~ant a drag strip in Iona,
the} shouldn't have to ha~'e it, regardless of tested noise levels. * * There is never, no matter ~~hat
is mitten don~n as a !an in this Countl-, a guarantee that wore races, more noise, etc ~ron't come
later once the track is in place.
I am not totally against the occasional (once a }'ear?) use a public road for a special car race. Other
than that, I cannot support the abo~~e resolution, though I have great respect for some of the
people t~~ho do..a faciliit already exists on this island. For those who like to race...God bless them as
the} use and enjoy it. '~fahalo for }our time in this matter.
~Ie ke aloha pumehana,
f~441C1 .~(~tq4-LJ~i RAti