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From: Aislinn Chalker
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Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 9:09 AM
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To: Council Testimony
Subject: Support of Communication 159.41 to amend Bill No. 32, Draft 2
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Aloha Chair and Members of the Council,
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am testifying in support of Communication 159.41 to amend Bill No. 32, Draft 2. 1 fully suppoif_this
amendment for funding the initial engineering of Waikoloa's second arterial road.
I am a long-time resident of Waikoloa Village. By this time, I am certain you know the basic fact that
Waikoloa Village, a community of 7500 residents, is served by one main road for the entire community.
But beyond these 7500 residents, Waikoloa Village is one of the fastest -growing communities on the Big
Island, with housing plans set to double the population over the next 20 years.
No community should have to rely on a single road in an emergency. Especially not a community as
vulnerable to a major wildfire disaster as Waikoloa Village. In 2021, the largest wildfire in the history of
the state burned within 3 miles of the Village. This is a very real danger to our community.
As you enter the village, you are greeted by red street signs that say "EXTREME FIRE HAZARD". Beyond
these signs, hundreds of thousands of acres of dry, brown, fire -prone invasive grass as far as the eye can
see. We are sitting ducks.
The people of Waikoloa Village are exhausted, and we are scared. After decades of stalled progress,
broken promises, and bureaucratic delays, residents are at their wits' end. Did you know that May 21 st
marks the one-year anniversary of a groundbreaking for a new emergency road for the village? Gov
Green, then Mayor Roth, and HDOT Director Sniffen were all in attendance, celebrating this new
evacuation dirt road for us. At the event, Governor Green himself said, "Butif you don't have a road, all
the warnings in the world don't do anything for you."Yet one year later, we have no new evacuation
road and no clear update on when, or if, it will ever be finished.
Each year that passes without real movement on a second road compounds not only the logistical and
safety risks but also community frustration and distrust. It is difficult to overstate the sense of anxiety
that hangs over families every fire season, or the frustration of seeing development for dozens of new
homes continue while basic infrastructure and safety are left behind.
There is a growing sense in the community that, if the County cannot demonstrate visible, tangible
action, residents will have no choice but to explore other ways to make their voices heard; including
public demonstrations, direct appeals to State and Federal officials, or even demanding that
development be paused until a real solution is in place.
This is not a threat; it is a reality of what happens when a community's basic needs go unmet for too long.
We want to work in partnership with the County, but people are running out of patience and time.
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We know you face tough budget decisions, but this is a rare opportunity to prevent disaster rather than
react to it. Your `yes' vote will save lives. We're hopeful that with'your leadership, we can finally move
forward in securing the second road that our community has needed for years.
Thank you for considering this critical amendment. We are counting on your leadership to address our
community's safety needs. We humbly ask for your `yes'vote on this amendment.
Mahalo,
Aislinn Chalker