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From: Natalie Rickman -
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 11:24 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Second Road Testimony - Waikoloa Village
Aloha Chair Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Hustace, and
Members of the Committee;
My name is Natalie Simotas and I'm a property owner in Waikoloa
Village. I am submitting testimony to urge you to include initial
engineering funds for a second arterial road for Waikoloa in the
2025 Capital Budget.
Waikoloa Village is experiencing explosive growth. The Village is
one of the fastest -growing communities on the Big Island. 1200
units of new affordable housing and 2100 units of single-family
housing are planned, which will double the population over the
next 20 years. And only one road to serve the community.
Wildfires around our community are becoming more frequent and
more intense. During the evacuation ordered by the Mayor in
response to the 2021 fire, residents experienced hour-long delays
in traffic seeking to exit the Village on Waikoloa Road and the Hulu
emergency road. Had the fire burned into the Village, people
trapped in traffic could have died in their cars.
The County recognized this danger nearly 20 years ago, ranking a
second roadway as a `very high priority' in adopted plans. Four
mayors later, we're still waiting. Without engineering funds in this
year's budget, this long -delayed project will be delayed... again.
Even as Waikoloa Village faces increasingly devastating risks of wildfires.
This isn't about convenience; it's about survival. Please honor the
County's own life-saving priority and fund this engineering now.
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Natalie Simotas