HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.011 2022-2024County Council, County ofHawaii
Public Hearing March 5, 2824
RE: Testimony on Resolution 438-24
County Council Members,
I would like to acknowledge the generosity and foresight of a few of my neighbors. During the 2018 lava flow we
drove from Hawaiian Beaches, down 1mGovernment Beach Road and upPapaya Farms Road. K4aayaQand Kaika
who own alot connecting Papaya Farms Road 10Railroad gave permission toall those who have homes onMoni
Farm Road tocross their property. Mike and Tammy Moser opened their macadamia field gates 10give access to
our farm and to those 25 or so die hards who hiked over the fresh lava to get to their homes in the Kipuka until
Highway 132 was rebuilt. Those residents carried propane, fuel, batteries, water, food, tires, children, you name it
over avery rugged path.
[Our farm needed heavy equipment work, but Civil Defense did not allow us to bring in a bulldozer over
Government Beach Road (which is narrow and back then busy with traffic). We had to wait until the State and
County finished construction of Highway 132 over the fresh lava, which was dangerous but amazingly quick. I
Also mahalo to the papaya growers who opened new fields on Lyman leases which we can use to drive from
Railroad up to our farm (about 1.5 miles). And of course to Lono Lyman and his family for giving access via the one
mile Cinder Road and to Brian Christ of Alohilani orchid farm and the County for maintaining that road with
continually putting fresh cinder, keeping the invasive trees under control, and regular mowing.
Ithas been almost six years ofdriving anextra 7miles, 2Y2ofwhich bdirt road, wear and tear onour vehicles and
stressful during evening rainy drives. Double that for a round trip to Pahoa/Hilo.
|wmnt tothank the Lava Recovery Committee for allocating $125,000 for those of us who have been land locked by
the lava flow along Hololio Road. It won't be enough to finish the road, but landowners will be contributing to
finish the job and get a decent legal access once again. There is still good agriculture land that did not get covered
by lava but has no access. There are lava covered lots which can be rebuilt upon. I envision greenhouses since the
weather here isperfect.
Kapoho is one of the most beloved areas inthe State. |want to show you apainting done byour watermelon
farmer Aki Kuwahara, who ran for council back in the early 1970s. This painting is of his tractor with the 1955
spatter cone inthe background. | feel his love for farming when | look atit.
[When | was ateacher | took aclass where wepresented our culture and almost everyone there talked about their
fond memories of Kapoho, either the beach, the ponds, or working with relatives in the papaya fields. Some of the
other teachers in this class were from other islands. It was very heart warming.]
Weall want to8oback home toKapoho Thank you for all your help and wecontinue to look forward to more
roads being restored.
Mahalo for allowing me to speak,
Jennifer Perry
POBox 537Pahoa,H|96778
jperry06778gmaU.com
Comnri. No. 1A 11