HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0159.016 2024-2026April 6, 2025 COW, 159
Nana Kawasaki -Jones
Waikoloa Village
Aloha Chair Kaneali ' i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Hustace and Members of the
Committee;
My name is Nana Kawasaki -Jones, a resident of Waikoloa Village. I am
submitting testimony in favor of including the initial engineering funds for a
second access road to this community in the 2025 Capital Budget.
During the 2021 evacuation, I was horrified at the long line of cars trying to
exit through the one road out of the village. The helpless feeling of sitting in
my car added so much anxiety to an already tense situation. I had PTSD
watching the burnt out cars lined up in the Lahaina fires and still get
triggered seeing photos that come up. So I am begging you to take this
simple action of approving the funds in this 2025 budget to start planning for
a second arterial road. The thought of living in a wildfire zone with only one
road out is unbearable in this rapidly growing community.
Did you know that Waikoloa is included in a FEMA Emergency Management
Training as an example of a community that is not planning to defend itself
from a wildfire disaster? It's true! Please act on this Very High Priority
project by approving the $2.5 million to begin the initial engineering plan.
Mahalo for hearing my testimony