HomeMy WebLinkAboutGreto, Rebecca
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Rebecca Greto <rebecca.coastalconnection@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, September 8, 2026 4:21 PM
To:Council Testimony; Rebecca Greto
Subject:Testimony in OPPOSITION to Bills 186 and 187 (Applicant: Waikoloa Green LLC)
Dear Councilmembers,
My name is Rebecca Greto, and I am a resident of Waikōloa Village.
I am writing to express my opposition to Bills 186 and 187. While I support the need for affordable
housing in Waikōloa, I respectfully request that you withhold approval until the County secures funded
and scheduled commitments for essential safety infrastructure, starting with a second access road.
Waikōloa Village currently relies on a single road for nearly 7,000 residents. The County's 2008
Community Development Plan designated a second access road as a top priority. During the 2021 Mana
Fire evacuation, residents experienced severe traffic delays on Waikōloa Road, and the population has
increased since. Additionally, the State Attorney General's Lāhainā investigation identified Waikōloa's
wildfire risk as higher than any other area in the country. Adding new housing without a second egress
poses a significant public safety risk.
Emergency water supply is an equally critical concern. Firefighters require a dependable water system
when responding to wildfires, yet questions regarding the reliability of this supply during emergencies
remain under ongoing Act 258 rulemaking with the Public Utilities Commission. Before approving further
development, the Council must evaluate whether the water system can support emergency firefighting
demands across all planned projects in the Waimea Aquifer.
Furthermore, Waikōloa Elementary and Middle School does not keep buses on-site during the school
day, leaving students dependent on the single evacuation route. Infrastructure improvements must
precede further growth.
Please do not approve Bills 186 and 187 without concrete funding, timelines, and commitments for these
necessary infrastructure improvements. Housing expansion and public safety must move forward
together.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Greto
Waikōloa Village
Hawai ʻ i Resident for 25 years
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