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From:
Rascha Marie Haulikelani Jelks
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Sent:
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 12:01 PM
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To:
Council Testimony
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Subject:
Testimony Waimea Trails - County Capital Budget Amendment
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Aloha Councilmembers,
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Councilmember Hustace has
introduced an amendment for the reappropriation of county funds for the Waimea Trail and
Greenways (Ke Ala Kahawai) project. Growing up near Kawaihae down in Kohala Estates, Waimea
was always the place we went for things, not a walkable place, or the place for recreation and that's a
shame as it is so picturesque.
It's important for our keiki to connect with their'aina, with the rolling green hills of Waimea, the
sideways mist, and observe the seasonal changes of our streams and watershed. The disconnection
between humans and our ecosystem has brought us to the upsetting and unequal situation we find
ourselves in today.
The Waimea' Nature park was one of the few places we could go growing up to find a peaceful place
to eat lunch or sit and contemplate, once we got chased off Buster Brown by the cops.
The making of and maintenance of the trail Isai true product of grassroots organization and
community -led initiatives, and it's time the County kicks in and helps us move this project forward.
Waimea was not designed to be a walking town, maybe a horseback town, but today, the cars and
trucks have priority, and the nature trail provides an alternative route to walk or bike away from the
anxiety of the streets.
For more than 30 years, Uncle Clem and the Waimea Trails & Greenways group have been working
hard to apply for permissions and funding to ensure that this trail is safe for our school children to
use. The design process to upgrade Increment 1 of our trail to county standards was started over a
decade ago. The existing trail from Lanakila Park (Lindsey Road) to Kahawai Street should be
recognized and appropriated by the Country.
Our Community has made steady progress, and hopes the Councilmembers will support us
in reappropriating this critical funding. We have been meeting and walking the trail with Parks & Rec,
Mayor Alameda, and any county officials who want to learn more about this project and its history,
and we have the momentum now to keep dreaming of its extension.
The future vision for the trail connects us to past and kupuna who walked this Ala Hele (mauka to
makai trail) from Waimea down to Wai'ula'ula. The trail is intended to join with the Na Ala Loa trail
along the coast. Connection with the Ala Kahakai federal trail would qualify ours for federal funding as
well.
Appropriating these funds to build out the trail in the Waimea urban corridor such that it is accessible
to all and so the county can officially take it over. It is the first important step in this process, which we
as volunteers will be happy to keep shepherding forward. (f
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Mahalo for your consideration,
Rascha Jelks