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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0124.017 2004-2006 Kailua Village Merchants Association The Eclectic Craftsman 75-5729 Alii Drive G110 Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740 808 334-0562 ~ 808 331-0562 fax March 16, 2005 Honorable Councilman Angel Pilago County Council Office Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740 Aloha Honorable Councilman Pilago, We share a common goal for our community in preserving historic Kailua Village and bringing its beauty and charm back to its potential. Our historic village honors our Ahu'ena Heiau on the shores of Kailua Bay where King Kamehameha spent years of his life. The Kailua Village Merchants Associations has been working together to bring back the attention this historic village deserves. We have had two Hawaiian Cultural and Music festivals "Aloha Hawaiian Night" and it helped the image that we have been struggling to attain. Our goal is to have this village present itself with a place for visitors to feel safe and free to shop, dine, and visit our historical places, such as Ahu'ena Heiau, Hulihe'e Palace and Mokuaikaua Church. Comm. No. ~ Z~• ~ 7 Ref. To: _ L Ref. Date We are in dire need of special funding to bring this historical village to its realistic potential. We have business leaders from our association, as well as those from the Chamber of Commerce, and the Kona Outdoor Circle and Destination Kona Coast. who have been working together to make it a better place to visit. Our village needs special funding for brighter lighting which would include more lamp posts within the area and more added security. The village has suffered in the past years with having significant problems in crime related to drug use. There has been success with Federal aid from our Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Senator Daniel Akaka which has brought significant activity to lower levels, but we are still struggling because we lack good lighting and more security. It would seem that our present policing of the area has too few policeman assigned. As the President of Kailua Village Merchants Association and a board member of Destination Kona Coast, we shall share some of our concerns with you and we sincerely hope that you can share these concerns with our Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel Akaka during your visit in Washington. We specifically request that during the forthcoming County Council meeting for the County Budget on March 16r1i , a portion of the budget be allocated for S new police positions to West Hawaii and additional lighting fixtures and Lamp Posts be added to Alii Drive and other public right of ways in Kailua Village. Each of these proposals should be approved to the County Budget today. The business owners have suffered in the past few years due to lack of more policing of drug dealing and today these criminals are discouraging our visitors from returning to our businesses and our village. The additional lighting would give those a better surrounding for a safer and protected business community. Please act now and give these property tax payers the services that are needed. We can not loss our visitor industry, it brings jobs and support of our community. Mahalo. We are counting on our new Council to move forward with progress for our community. We will assist in any way that we can to make these projects a reality for historic Kailua Village. Respectfully, d~v ,l~ Ma 'e Ag 1 r President Kailua Village Merchants Association cc: Hawaii County Councilors Mayor Harry Kim