HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0159.036 2024-2026From: Mike Shattuck/Suzanne West
Sent: Friday, April 4, 2025 1:01 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Second road for Waikoloa testimony
Aloha Chair Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Hustace, and Members of the Committee;
Aloha, My name is Suzanne West. I live in Anekona Subdivision. I would like to urge you to include funding
for at least some kind of start on a second arterial road for Waikoloa in the 2025 budget. I know it takes
many studies and years of planning, etc. It is time to start now so something can be accomplished as soon as
possible. Waikoloa is one of the most hazardous areas for wildfires in the state. There are already engineering
studies about the traffic patterns and studies about the wildfire probabilities and knowledge of planned building
in the future.
With only one road in and out it is an accident waiting to happen. I know there are many other areas on our
island that are in the same situation but none as critical as Waikoloa. There have been numerous fires in the
area over the years and Waikoloa got lucky with the winds changing direction or stopping altogether. Most
were not stopped by the firefighters but by mother nature I hear. Lucky. The fire breaks that were cut are great
but with the winds as they are the fire and ashes will blow right over those. It is the blowing embers that can
cause fire to travel quickly. Firewise is doing a great job of encouraging people to prepare their homes but that
can only do so much. They still need to evacuate in case of fire.
I have driven the emergency access road and it is not a very good alternative. It is one lane, narrow and curvy
with little to no shoulder to pull onto if one needs to for some reason. It runs to the North which is usually where
the fire will come from. There are gullies along the way that fire tends to run through. It may be needed to be
used by firefighters to access the area as well which would cause issues.
Please support some kind of initial funding for a second arterial road for this years budget.
Mahalo,
Suzanne West