HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.062 2022-2024 /0,3/14 P/PEPLUD
• Sift 121
COUNTY CLEIRK COW
COUNTY "0r" '\WA.11 Good Afternoon Members of Hawaii County Council
7074 ‘'I L12:
My name is Lorna JeYte. My husband Albert and I live in Volc'a-no -) Pl wherelj
we
own
two vacation rentals. In 2018 we sold our Volcano business, Kilauea Lodge and
focused on up keeping and maintaining our historic rentals in the heart of the
Village. We meet guests from all over Hawaii, the mainland and Pacific, many of
them returnees. Our guests hike, explore the National Park, dine in the Village
restaurants, shop in the many galleries, enjoy cool mountain air, and bird watch.
They do not party late at night. Volcano goes to sleep early and gets up early.
Historically, Volcano has been home to second homes Going back in time, the
full-time occupants were farmers, ranchers and Park employees. Keakealani
School was built to educate the youth, Hongo and Okamura stores carried
provisions. Second homes were built for luna from sugar plantations, families
from Kona and Hilo looking to beat summer's heat, and well heeled families from
Oahu who loved having horses, riding trails and picnics in the Park and Village
My parents and I moved from Maui in the 40's and were graciously
accommodated in one of the plantation second homes until we could find
permanent housing. This is how I came to love Volcano, the forest, the birds,
the Park, the Japanese culture, the community'
Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park is the second most visited,site by visitors
coming from the mainland and abroad. Those that drive from Kona or Hilo to
enjoy the Park find they do not have:the time to see and do what they intended
They look for an accommodation which would afford them time to stay and •
explore. Hotel and Lodge rooms are limited in supply
Hence the rise of B and B's and vacation rentals. Albert and I spent our
honeymoon in My Island Bed and Breakfast, now Hale Ohu, in 1986 We
Purchased the property that was to become Kilauea lodge during that•
honeymoon!
During the last several years there was talk by the County of designating
Volcano as a Vacation Node, allowing legal alternative accommodations. Being
a gateway village to the National Park, it made sense that homes, many of them
second homes, could help accommodate the many many travelers who wished
to stay longer than half a day.
It now appears the County and the State wish to make vacation rentals and Bed
and Breakfasts disappear. This would spell disaster for the commerce of the
Village. Housekeeping and landscape maintenance jobs would disappear.
Stores, galleries, gift shops, restaurants would lose sales. Please help us keep
our legal alternative accommodations. Comm. No 111.
oct Ref.To:
ctiao) 4 /
ir Ref. Dote JAN 2 3 2024,