HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 091 Draft 01 2022-2024 �Msv oCOUNTY OF HAWAVI
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STATE OF HAWAVI
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RESOLUTION NO. 9 1 '�
A RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND THE HAWAVI STATE LEGISLATURE T
ALLOCATE SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO RESTORE THE POHOIKI BOAT RAMP IN
PUNA.
WHEREAS,the 2018 Kilauea volcanic eruption rendered Pohoiki Boat Ramp,the only
boat launching facility in the region of Puna, inaccessible and unusable; and
WHEREAS,prior to being buried under volcanic debris consisting of sand, rock, and
cobble, Pohoiki Boat Ramp provided ocean access for Puna lawai`a(fishermen), and was a
source of livelihood, playing a significant role in food security and sustainability, and as a major
economic driver; and
WHEREAS, 2023 marks the 5th anniversary of the Kilauea volcanic eruption and the
Pohoiki Boat Ramp remains intact but inoperable, requiring Puna lawai`a to launch their boats at
ramps in Hilo and Ka`u in order to access fishing grounds off of Pohoiki Bay; and
WHEREAS, the Pohoiki Boat Ramp is under the jurisdiction of the State Department of
Land&Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation(DLNR-DOBOR), which
in July 2020 engaged The Limtiaco Consulting Group to prepare an environmental assessment to
plan for reestablishing this critical ocean access facility to its pre-eruption status; and
WHEREAS,per Reso. 218-19, DLNR-DOBOR and Limtiaco consulted and worked
closely with Puna lawai`a, individuals with direct familial and cultural ties to Puna, and the
County of Hawaii to coordinate planning and outreach related to solutions for restoring Pohoiki
Boat Ramp; and
WHEREAS, Limtiaco is recommending a complete dredge of the accumulated volcanic
debris in Pohoiki Bay to restore the bay to its pre-eruption shape and depth, which is estimated to
cost approximately $40 million; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is committed to
helping the Puna community recover by restoring this critical infrastructure and is capable of
providing up to 75% of the total cost of disaster recovery projects; and
WHEREAS, restoring the Pohoiki Boat Ramp is vital to the social, economic, and
cultural well-being and vibrancy of the Puna and Hawaii Island community; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Hawai`i State Legislature are strongly urged to
allocate funding in their Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 budgets to complete all activities
necessary to restore the Pohoiki Boat Ramp.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all stakeholders and agencies involved in Pohoiki
Boat Ramp restoration continue to prioritize this work and expedite planning and permitting in
order to accelerate reestablishing boater access at Pohoiki Bay.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Brian Schatz, United States Senator; the Honorable Mazie Hirono,
United States Senator;the Honorable Jill Tokuda, United States Representative; Deanne
Criswell, FEMA Administrator; Erik Hooks, FEMA Deputy Administrator; Robert Fenton, Jr.,
FEMA Region 9 Administrator; Tammy Littrell, FEMA Region 9 Deputy Administrator;
Elizabeth Minor, Director of Hawai`i Long-Term Recovery Office within FEMA; the Honorable
Dr. Josh Green, Governor of the State of Hawai`i; the Honorable Members of the House and
Senate of the Hawai`i State Legislature; Dawn Chang, DLNR Chair; and Ed Underwood,
DOBOR Administrator.
Dated at Hi to , Hawai`i, this 5th day of Apr i 1 , 20 23.
INTRO;►4 CED BY.
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COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i EVANS X
GALIMBA X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by INABA X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted bythe COUNCIL of the
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County of Hawai i on April 5, 2023 KAGIWADA X.
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
ATTEST: KIMBALL X
LEE LOY X
VILLEGAS X
9 0 0 0
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Reference: C-175/Waived GOEAC
TY CLERK IRPERSON& RESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 91 23
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