HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 091 Draft 01 2022-2024A RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND THE HAWAIʻI STATE LEGISLATURE TO ALLOCATE SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO RESTORE THE POHOIKI BOAT RAMP IN PUNA.
WHEREAS, the 2018 Kīlauea 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 Kīlauea 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‘ū 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 Hawai‘i
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 Hawai‘i Island community; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I 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 _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai‘i
Hilo, Hawai‘i
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
EVANS
GALIMBA
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawai‘i on _____________________________________.
INABA
KAGIWADA
KĀNEALI‘I-KLEINFELDER
KIERKIEWICZ
ATTEST:
KIMBALL
LEE LOY
VILLEGAS
Reference:
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
RESOLUTION NO.