HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0313.011 2024-2026June 17, 2025
Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
P/FUU40
5410
NW. 313
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Subject: Testimony in Opposition to proposed Bill 60 an ordinance amending
Chapter 25, Article 1, Article 2, Article 4, Article 5, Article 7 of the Hawaii
County Code1 1983 (2016 edition, as amended), relating to zoning district
regulations for meeting facilities, churches, temples, synagogues, and community
buildings.
I am writing in opposition to the proposed Bill 60 that would prohibit churches
from gathering before 8:00 AM and after 9:00 PM
As a member, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -Day Saints and a former
Seminary Teacher, I taught daily scripture study classes for Youth (called
Seminary). These classes were held between the hours of 5:30 AM and 7:30 AM,
Monday -Friday. It was a blessing for me and the youths to meet before work and
before school studying the scriptures. The fact that any teenager is willing to get
up early before school to study ways to improve their behavior and relationships
with others (which is basically what scripture study does) is a miracle and is
nothing but a blessing to the community. It would be devastating to the hundreds
of youth on our island that currently participate in Seminary if we were no longer
allowed to hold these classes.
This bill may additionally affect my churches youth and sports activities which
sometimes extend beyond 9:00 PM. Our youth groups meet weekly in the evenings
and have several large special events throughout the year. Youth dances especially
would be a big area of concern as these typically go into the late evening past 9:00
PM and end by 10 PM. There are not many activities for youth to do on the Big
Island and to limit this even further, I think, would be detrimental to our
community. Youths, now a days, have much distractions from wholesome
engagements.
I believe that this proposed bill is in direct opposition to our constitutional
religious freedom and I hope that you will reconsider the implications of this bill. I
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Ref. Date 17 2990
am not sure what your original intent was but there needs to be a way to
accomplish your goal without infringing on religious liberties' and affecting the
community in such a negative way.
For these reasons, I humbly request that you VOTE IN OPPOSITIONS to Hawaii
County Bill 60,
Sincerely,
Barbara Kuikahi
Hilo, HI