HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0159.121 2024-2026/6, C"d l
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From: Mary Schramke
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Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 10:44 AM
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To: Council Testimony
Subject: Support of Communication 159A1 to amend Bill No. 32, Draft 2
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My name is Mary Schramke and I'm a seven year resident and live in Waikoloa Village.
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I am testifying in support of Communication 159.41 to amend Bill No. 32, Draft 2.
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I fully support this amendment for funding the initial engineering of Waikoloa's second arterial road..:
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I have personal experience of the danger wildfire can bring to this community as I was evacuated on Aug 3,
2021 due to the 40,000 acre Maria Road Fire.
I sat in traffic for over one hour using our single public road out of the Village.
Our Village is a Firewise Community as recognized by the National Fire Protection Agency.
Currently I serve as our Firewise group Chair and very familiar with the evidence that exists that clearly cites
our high wildfire risk in our community.
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.
The Attorney General;s second draft report on the Lahaina fire cites the wildfire risk of Waikoloa Village to be
higher than Lahaina:
2.1.1. Statewide Risk
Much of Hawaii, including Maui, is fire -prone.
Hawaii has a very high risk of wildfire —higher than
88% of other U.S. states.8 Lahaina has a 98% higher
risk than the rest of the country.9 Other parts of
Hawai'i also have extreme risk, for example,
Waikoloa Village on the island of Hawai'i has
100% higher risk than any other place in the U.S.,
and is not the only community in Hawai'i facing
extreme risk of wildfire.
Another credible source, the USDA/US Forest Service site Wildfirerisk.org shows the Waikoloa Village risk is
92 percent higher than anywhere else in the entire US.
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 *2-
Mary Schramke Comm. �
Waikoloa Village Firewise Chair Ref. To:
1 Ref. Date M Y