HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0715.004 2022-2024 p / ibt
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From: Zan Ginger -1-7 ,
Sent: Sunday, February 4, 2024 7:24 PM
To: Council Testimony o `"
Subject Support study Puna Alternative Routes
ter:
27p
Aloha, ov _
This is my support testimony to begin promptly the study and construction of an alternative route "Puna Makai".
I am a mother of 4 and all of my children are born here right on the East Side. I wish we did not have to go to Hilo so
often but with the lack of recreational activities for my children,good schools, and high prices for food and materials
here in Pahoa-we must go.
My son was attending Nawahi; 14 miles away and we would have to donate 3 hours a day in driving. One hour in the
morning round trip and two hours in the afternoon... EVERYDAY!!! So unfortunately we finally had to pull him due to the
stress it put on our,.work time and finances.
Our middle children want to do sports such as canoe club,surfing and Muay Thai but I have to tell them no as we can
only afford the time to drive there on Saturdays.
Our eldest wishes to attend college at the University this upcoming fall so she can stay close to home still. Surely after
all that traffic we won't see her much either.
We are being robbed of time with our families,connection to the 'aina,and quality of life.We are exhausted by many
many hours of traffic to go to a town that is only 15-20 miles away.
Not to mention the most obvious,that a lack of proper road options to accommodate Puna's population is a major,
major Public Safety issue.To have a population so large bottle-necked into one mostly 2 lane highway is a major
catastrophe waiting to happen.
One time very recently there was an accident by Kea'au rubbish dump and we were stuck until 10am to get to Nawahi...
we left the house at 7!!! 3 hours!!!
Thank the heavens we have a household without serious health issues or aged ones otherwise I would have personal
accounts of hardships getting to Hilo for our lives!
And please don't do the current highway improvements until we have the alternative route.
Yes we need improvements, badly and promptly but please don't make it worse by not having a reasonable detour first.
I hope there is a way that this can be an Emergency Proclamation because it is surely overdue and needs the most
prompt attention and funding.
Thank you so much and best of luck that this can move forward with ease.
Mahalo,
Alexandra
Comm. N .Li
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1 Ref. Date EB m 6 2U