HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0609.013 2022-2024Matt Kiineali'i-Kleinfelder
Hawaii County Council
District 5
Phone No.: (808) 961-8263
matt.kanealii-kleinfelder@hawaiicounty.gov
HAWAPI COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1405 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Date: January 10, 2024
To: Heather Kimball, Chair
And Members of the Hawaii County Council
From: V Matt Kdneali'i-Kleinfelder, Council Member
Re: Bill No. 107; CIP Budget, Adds Puna Makai Alternate Route Study — County &
State Projects; Additional Information (Letter from Kali Watson, Chairman of
Hawaiian Homes Commission)
The attached is submitted as additional information for Bill No. 107, scheduled to be heard by
the Council on January 10, 2024.
Chairman Kali Watson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission sent this letter to several elected
officials on August 8, 2023. It indicated their opposition to any route that would run through the
existing DHHL Pana'ewa homestead community.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
1 uvr.4' .4 8 11
q. Comm. No. 0
Ref. To:
Ref. Date
Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
STATE OF HAWA]l Ke Jaa'dfw o ka Maku'dina 'o
Hawaii
SYLVIA J. LURE
LT. GOVERNOR
STATE OF HAWAU
Ka Hope Kia'&w o ka Mau'dina
10 H 7
Aloha Elected Official:
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS
Ka 'Oihana 'jina Hoopulapula Hawaii
P. O. Box 1879
HONOLULU, HAWAR 96805
August 8, 2023
KALI WATSON
CHADMAN, HHC
K. L— H.'ohzk
YATIE L. DUCATT
DEPUTY TO THE CHAIRMAN
KaHope Law H.'.kd�
Over the last several years, the State of Hawai'i and the County of Hawai'i have
proposed initiatives that have explored options for an alternative route between Puna
and Hilo should the Kea'au-P5hoa 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
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supplemental Ag Lots
State Highways
1.000000. 3.000000
County Roads
3.000001 - 5.000000
Other unimproved roads
5.000001 - 10.000000
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DATE:8/17/2016
FIGURE 15
Existing and Proposed Roads
In Relation to Lot Density
Pana'ewa
Regional Plan Update
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O Miles 1 --9