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From: Aki Yoshida
Sent: Friday, April 4, 2025 1:01 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Request to Include Budget for Second Evacuation Road Out of Waikoloa
Dear Hawaii County Council,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Aki Yoshida and I am writing to express my strong support for including
the budget for the second evacuation road out of Waikoloa in the upcoming plans. I am a local resident, a mother of a 1-
year-old, and expecting my second child later this year. As a parent, ensuring the safety of my family is my top priority,
and I feel strongly that we cannot afford to wait any longer to address this issue.
In addition to being a resident of Waikoloa, I am an architect and a small business owner here in the community. I have
deep roots in this area and want to see it thrive, but that also means ensuring that we have the necessary infrastructure
to protect us, especially in times of emergency.
As you may recall, during the 2021 fire, our only evacuation route was severely impacted. I have attached a photo from
that day to highlight the dangerous conditions we faced while evacuating. If you think the current VOG is bad, I can
assure you that the fire was far worse in terms of air quality and overall safety. It was a terrifying experience, and the
thought of being trapped without an alternate route is a constant concern for all of us who live here.
We are asking the Council to allocate just $2.5 million in the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to complete critical
steps, including: C, nr�� 11PR
a
• Final engineering design �' _: I -
a Environmental and cultural reviews 1 Ref. D:� :,-_-
• Construction cost estimates
This is a small investment compared to the value of ensuring the safety of our community. We simply cannot afford
another tragedy like the Lahaina fire on Maui. The lives of our families and the future of our community depend on
having multiple evacuation routes in place. A second evacuation road out of Waikoloa is not just a convenience —it is a
matter of life and death. I urge you to prioritize this safety measure and allocate the necessary funds to make it a reality.
Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to seeing
action that ensures the safety of our residents and visitors.
Mahalo,
Aki Yoshida AIA, LEED AP (Sheihei)
Co -Owner, Architect
aki@hamajangstudio.com
HAMAJANG STUDIO