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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0609.072 2022-2024 P/C©undi f fl7 COMM.041 r' From: Carrie Kowalski Sent: Tuesday,January 16, 2024 9:00 AM To: Council Testimony Subject: PMAR r - PMAR Aloha, My name is Carrie Kowalski. I have been a resident of Kalapana Black Sands Beach for forty-three years. I also serve as Secretary of our association. I am a retired educator and resource specialist for Kamehameha Schools. My late husband was a math teacher at Hilo High School.We raised our two sons right here in Black Sands.Jason is a manager of the Vascular Department at UC-Davis. Jacob is a Human Protection Administration at UH-Manoa. Now I want to take you back to 2018 when the volcano erupted.We really did not think that much about it, until it kept on erupting! When Civil Defense came down my street to warn us that we should be prepared to leave, and when we had to have placards that were given to us in order to come home at the stop station at Pahoa Schools,we realized that this was some serious business.When my best friend who lived in Kapo'o had to evacuate, she was surprised. She always said the the Green Mountain would protect them.Well,the lave took her house,that she and her cousin build forty years prior. Her house now sits under tons of lava. Folks were now being evacuated to the new facility above Pahoa Community Center, including folks in my community. For months we never saw the sun unless we drove to Hilo. But at night,the sky was blood red. However,we decided to stay put until we were forced to leave. Then the lava started to move toward the Pahoa Dump.That is when,we realized that if it continued to highway 130, and crossed it, literally thousands of folks would be cut off. My friends in Hawaiian Beaches and Shores were already preparing to move. My friends in Leilani had already left.And the lava kept on coming. It seemed that crossing highway 130 was eminent. Then just like that, it stopped! Or should I say 'She' stopped!. It would have made Lahaina pail by comparison,yes? Do you get the picture?Acting on establishing an alternate route out of lower Puna is way passed due. Please, please stop playing games with this. I strongly recommend that you take a trip to the Pahoa Dump. It is a mind blowing sight.Take photos. I don't see the need for a study. But, at least it is a place to start. Get on it! I bet if that lava had crossed highway 130,you would have been forced to bypass all this bureaucratic nonsense and immediately addressed the problem then. Right. Do the right thing`before' circumstances forces your hand. Mahalo. Comm. No 1YV •}L Ref. To: Ref. Date r' 02. 1