HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0159.069 2024-2026P15. CAu�t�il
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5/21/25 20�) I L $ A,N 9= 5
Aloha Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi, and Members of Council,
I am writing one final time this budget cycle to urge you to fund the initial engineering and
design phases for a second, two-lane, primary arterial road connecting the north end of
Waikoloa Village to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. Specifically, I am testifying in strong support
of Communication 159.41 to amend Bill No. 32, Draft 2. This has been the Village's top safety
need for decades, as multiple advisory boards, County planning documents, and community
voices have repeatedly emphasized. The need for a second road is clear and urgent:
• Evacuation & Safety: Waikoloa has already faced two mandatory wildfire evacuations
(2005, 2021). The existing single road creates a dangerous bottleneck that could cost
lives if a fire ever breaches the village itself. The Hulu emergency road is an appreciated
safety valve, but simply insufficient for the size of our community.
• Ongoing Development: Rapid construction, new housing, and even a new public library
are adding to traffic pressure and increasing risks for children and families, especially
along Paniolo Avenue.
• Longstanding County Recognition: As far back as 2004, County leaders and advisory
boards recognized the cul-de-sac design of Waikoloa as unsafe. The 2008 South Kohala
CDP made the second road its #1 priority for the village. Yet, despite decades of
discussion, actual progress has stalled.
The current budget proposal, Councilmember Hustace's amendment, asks for $2.5M to fund the
necessary engineering, design, and alignment work for this vital second road. Approving these
funds is not only the right thing to do; it's also the necessary next step to make this project
"shovel -ready" and position the County for future grants or additional funding.
Addressing Concerns about Fund Flexibility and Developer Progress:
There have been claims that developers may be further along in their design process than the
public is aware. Regardless of the status of developer work, allocating these funds now will not
be wasted or redundant:
• Flexible Use: Should the County discover that credible, completed engineering already
exists, these funds can be reallocated to support construction, land acquisition, or other
road -related expenses as needed.
CFD/Bond Recovery: If the County ultimately establishes a Community Facilities
District (CFD) or issues bonds to fund the road, any planning/design costs already
expended can be rolled into the project financing and recovered accordingly. This is not
a "sunk cost."
Comm. No
Ref. To: _ 2025. i
Ref. Doi
Demonstrated Commitment: The most important message the County can send right
now is that it is committed to this project. Visible action and budgeted funds are the only
way to show residents, partners, and State agencies that Waikoloa's second road is truly
a priority.
Twenty years ago was the ideal time to start this project. The next best time is today. Please
take this opportunity to get the ball rolling and finally deliver the safety and infrastructure that
Waikoloa residents have waited for far too long.
Mahalo,
Matt Chalker
Waikoloa Village Resident and Parent