HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0609.008 2022-2024 P /CAurtai l
Bill 107
COHl4. 601
From: Kupuna Moopuna
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 8:17 AM
To: Council Testimony; Kimball, Heather; Evans, Cynthia F.W.; Inaba, Holeka; Kanealii-
Kleinfelder, Matt;Villegas, Rebecca; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Galimba, Michelle M.;
Kierkiewicz, Ashley
Cc: Kupuna Moopuna
Subject: County Council Testimony - 12.20.2023 - Bill 107 - COMMENTS
Attachments: DHHL Chair Ltr Puna Bypass Alternative Route.pdft7= CD
("fit C
Kupuna for the Mo`opuna
committed to the well-being of Hawai'i for the next generations to come
Re: County Council Testimony 12.20.2023 - Bill 107 - COMMENTS
Aloha,
We, Kupuna for the Mo'opuna, a hui of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA) beneficiary
kupuna farmers from Pana`ewa, Hawaii, submit COMMENTS pertaining to Bill 107.
We support an alternate route site selection study from Puna to Hilo, however, the following
corrections must be made to Bill 107's Communication 609 dated November 16, 2023, to provide
necessary clarity and direction.
Corrections to Communication 609:
1. INSERT at end of second paragraph to B. "Background and Justification"- Alternate
route site selection study exempts lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Hawaiian Home Lands. (reference DHHL Chair William Aila's testimony, HB1403 HD1,
March 15, 2022 and DHHL Chair Kali Watson's attached letter,August 8, 2023)
2. ADD to the "County of Hawai'i Project Data/ Financial Impact Statement FY 2023-2024"
the following: #5  Council Benefit District(s),ADD District 3.
3. And to ensure that DHHL lands are excluded, please ADD a second sentence in #11-
Project/Program Description- Excludes lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Hawaiian Home Lands. /� G
Comm. No 4.b
Ref. To:
1 Ref. Date DEC 2 0 2023
4. Finally, #13 - Long Range Plans/Community Values, please CHECK box "Other Plans"
and ADD to "Details" - Pana`ewa Regional Plan 2016 adopted by the Hawaiian Homes
Commission.
Mahalo.
Attachment: DHHL Chair Kali Watson's letter,August 8, 2023
2
.CP 195g~�v9
JOSH GREEN,M.D. `° "`e'I!%S:�•; KALI WATSON
{{ C.
GOVERNOR � b { i � CHAIRMAN,HHC
STATE OF HAWAII I •,}IF rI t Ka Lima Ho'okrle
Ke Kla"mna o ka3foB,•maa'o n 1 Ise
'7.7
r SYLVIA J.LUKEQ,2`, •�'n,m KATIE L.DUCATT
LT.GOVERNOR ��•Np DEPUTY TO THE CHAIRMAN
STATE OF HAWAII Ka Hope L,,AHo'okele
Ka Rope Kia'6i,mo ka:Ifo8A'Si,
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS
Ka 'Oihana Aina Ho'opulapula Hawai`i
P.O.BOX 1879
HONOLULU,HAWAII 96805
August 8, 2023
Aloha Elected Official:
Over the last several years, the State of Hawaii and the County of Hawaii have
proposed initiatives that have explored options for an alternative route between Puna
and Hilo should the Kea`au-Pahoa Road (Highway 130) be cut off by a Kilauea Volcano
East Rift Zone Eruption, other potential hazards and/or natural disasters, and to provide
relief for increasing traffic congestion for Puna residents.
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is supportive of the intent of
an initiative to provide a safe alternative route between Puna and Hilo to address risks
from natural hazards and to relieve traffic congestion for Puna residents, however
DHHL is strongly opposed to any consideration of a proposed by-pass route that
would run through the existing DHHL Pana`ewa homestead community. With the
adoption of the DHHL Pana`ewa Regional Plan in 2016, the Hawaiian Homes
Commission took a position to oppose any proposed by-pass route through Railroad
Avenue. The utilization of Railroad Avenue as an alternate route would unjustly burden
Pana`ewa homestead lessees with additional traffic, and increase the risk to the safety
of our homestead communities. The DHHL Pana`ewa Regional Plan identified potential
alternative routes that could alleviate traffic between Puna and Hilo and avoid adverse
impacts to DHHL Pana`ewa Homestead lessees. A map of those alternative routes is
enclosed for future consideration during the selection of a by-pass route.
Mahalo for your time and consideration of both DHHL and its homestead
communities in future planning efforts. Please involve DHHL and the Keaukaha-
Pana`ewa Farmers' Association in future conversations and meetings regarding this
matter so that we can collaboratively work together on a solution. Should you have any
questions, please email DHHL Planner, Lilliane Makaila at lilliane.makaila@hawaii.gov .
Sincerely,
Kali Watson, Chairman
Hawaiian Homes Commission
Elected Official
August 8, 2023
Page 2 of 3
CC: East Hawaii Hawaiian Homes Commissioner Michael Kaleikini (via email)
Office of Governor Josh Green, M.D. (via email),
Senator Lorraine Inouye
Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura
Representative Chris Todd
Representative Greggor Ilagan
Office of Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth (via email)
Hawaii County Council Members (via email)
KPFA President Maile Lu'uwai (via email)
Russell Rudermann (via email)
Enclosure:
DHHL Pana`ewa Regional Plan Puna Alternative By-pass Route Map
Elected Official
August 8, 2023
Page 3 of 3
A"' t uu Rd A .; "gad St �,.
������yaa11a j \a. 1
11111
.s O /1 '.s,r ►op
i %
•e ; i c�ll_/11S g
IV I;imAlliP, 1
i{ t P
0
aw- Mil hi 11"",f.-1 :•.• '
2 IV IN dill 101.,,a
t1►
2 • i Iti al- I
i '' I / ‘
1 A /Delete connection to Railroad Ave
1 Noe , ..St g i I 0,009
✓EIGCe
I
,/ t -•
•
5 'Claw,. ��' N.
b8 .
'�
``.
MEND DATE:B/17/2016
=Planning Area Resldentlet_HomesteadLots FIGURE 15
Proposed GP Roads Amendment 1 N.5 acre Existing end Proposed Roads
supplemental Ae Lots in Relation to Lot Density--•Proposed OP Colector Roads __...__,
-Stele Highways 1000000 30000
00
Pana'ewa
—County Roads i..._.-1 3.000001-5.000000
Other unimproved roads _5.000001-10.000000 Regional Plan Update
-10.000001-12.500000 '�-=� I �s''
OOM1
F�/1
OW...Th.9npl.k nwben.p.ep..O.9e^wSp ut.g poroow.o^k end shay m nm be vied for...newy....prem...a other WOW w.eryII$