HomeMy WebLinkAboutClark, Gary and Kari
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Gary Clark <gary.clark1605@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, September 8, 2026 4:53 PM
To:Council Testimony
Cc:Hustace, James; Kari Clark; gm@wvagolf.com; contact@wildfiresafetyadvocates.org
Subject:Testimony in OPPOSITION to Bills 186 and 187 (Applicant: Waikoloa Green LLC)
Aloha Chair and Members of the Council,
Our names are Gary and Kari Clark and we are permanent residents of Waikōloa Village.
Councilman Hustace has known our 'ohana for many years. Our 'ohana has deep roots in
West Hawaii. Kari's daughter and my step-daughter is Kirstin Kahaloa, Representative for
State House District 6 and Senator Tim Richards has known our family since my wife and
he rolled down hills on his ranch as children.
Kari and I have lived in Waikōloa Village for almost nine years. Kari's son, Aaron Kahaloa
is a firefighter at the Lahaina Station on Maui and he has been to our home many times.
According to Aaron, a major fire in Waikōloa Village is inevitable. It will happen!
You can help us prepare for that event.
We are writing in opposition to Bills 186 and 187. We are not opposed to housing.
Waikōloa needs more homes, including affordable homes. We are asking you to withhold
approval until the County has funded, scheduled commitments for the infrastructure that
keeps residents safe during a wildfire, starting with a second access road.
Concerning the proposed access road, here are facts to consider:
The current evacuation road (Hulu Street) can be cutoff by a fire in the Sunset Ridge
subdivision. We live in Sunset Ridge, so we know the area. The hills near our home run from
the Elementary School to vacant land bordering Sunset Ridge. Based on the typical wind
direction, a fire on the vacant land would spread into Sunset Ridge -- which would cutoff Hulu
Street. The proposed new road would offer an alternative.
The new apartments on Waikōloa Road have increased the number of people that will use that
road for evacuation. As we all saw in the 2021 evacuation, Waikōloa Road was overwhelmed.
With the new apartments and hotels, the road will be a parking lot during a future evacuation.
The proposed new road would give the Village three roads out.
Our son Aaron fought the Lahaina fire. He has seen our area.
As he said, a major fire will happen in Waikōloa Village.
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We respectfully ask you to hear the words of a professional firefighter from Lahaina. We
desperately need another evacuation road.
Please do not approve Bills 186 and 187 until these infrastructure needs are met with real
commitments, funding, and a timeline, not just plans. Housing and safe infrastructure should move
forward together.
Mahalo,
Gary and Kari Clark
68-1605 Ho'olauna Way
Waikoloa Village
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