HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0159.138 2024-2026P /5. CAund
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From: Robert Yagi
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:55 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Additional Road for Waikoloa
Aloha Council,
My name is Robert Yagi, I am the Preserve Manger for the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative and a resident of
Waikoloa Village since 2016. Due to the nature of my work protecting our dry forests' rare and
endangered species, I've tracked multiple fires in the South Kohala region every summer for nearly 10
years.
In this region, the grass/fire cycle has already progressed beyond reasonably safe levels and is only
expected to worsen with fires becoming larger and more frequent year after year.
After evacuating my family from Waikoloa during the fire of 2021,1 have now realized that our current
infrastructure is not adequate to safely evacuate the town in the event of a real emergency. With all of the
traffic, it took us nearly 2 hours to get from Waikoloa Village to the bottom of Waikoloa Road.
I am here to testify in support of Communication 159.41 to amend Bill No. 32, Draft 2. Please amend this
bill for funding the initial engineering of another exit road for Waikoloa.
Thank you for your thought and consideration,''
'C
-Rob Yagi
Robert D. Yagi
Preserve Managerw
Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative
808-333-6323o
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