HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0339.005 2022-2024 P/COAG
Re.5. (1!-23
COMM. 331
State of Hawaii
House of Represenatives
Mark M. Nakashiq r-,
Testimony for Hawaii County Council Resolution No. 199-23 L.
July 3,2023 r--
W rte.
Testimony of Representative Mark Nakashima
State House District 1 - -' •
—
Hamakua • Hilo ry
Dear Members of the Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs
I am State Representative Mark Nakashima. While my district does not include Banyan Drive,I have had
a keen interest in the improvement and revitalization of Banyan Drive since my election in 2008. I am
disheartened by the fact that the legislature has been unable to agree on a plan for the redevelopment and
revitalization of the Banyan Drive Peninsula and trust that working together with the County,we will be
able to redevelop this important area and once again return it to a viberant hub of commerce and tourism
that it once was.
The deterioration of the former Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel has been one of the major reasons for the
need to have a comprehensive redevelopment plan be put forward and hopefully also consider re-
purposing of the Banyan Drive Golf Course into a more beneficial and productive purpose. I have been
working with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Community development
Authority to put forward a redevelopment plan for the Bayan Drive Peninsula which takes into account
much of the groundwork that has already been invested into the plans for the revitalization of the Banyan
Drive area.
The members of the Committee and the full Hawaii County Council can help lead the way toward this
effort by supporting this resolution urging Governor Green to provide immediate support and action to
address the numerous problems that the former Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel creates for the Neighboring
hotels and the Banyan Drive peninsula.
Aloha and Mahalo!
Mark M Nakashima
State Representative District 1
Mark M.Nakashima HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Chair,Committee on Consumer Protection
First District Hale o na Luna Maka`ainana and Commerce
repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov
Thirty-Second Legislature
• ,, , F 415 South Beretania Street
11! Honolulu,Hawaii 96813 Comm:No.
Ej• �r P � (�IOG
Telephone(808)586-6680 R@f.To:
Facsimile(808)586-8884 Ref. Date SCOL - 5' 2023