HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1026.014 2004-2006
Oct 31 06 08:46a Elli Heritage-Mench 808-885-5583 P.1
As a business owner with 2 locations in Kawaihae and as a member of the South Kohata Traffic
Safety Committee and a member of the Advisory Board for the Hawaii Superfery, I wish to give
this testmony to the County Council of Hawaii Island.
Resolution 432-06 is a redundant piece of legislation fostered by one agency of our government
not talking to another.
It was originally announced by State DOT Harbors that work on a new Master Plan for Kawaihae
Harbor, including an EIS, would be initiated this year, but plans were changed to doing the Master
Plan at Kahului Harbor first with the consideration that Hawaii Superferry would commence
service there first in 2007. The plans were announced as I recall at the Govemor's council
meeting in Waimea some months ago by Barry Fukunaga, as best as I can recall. Hilo Harbor is
also scheduled for an update on the Master Plan there. The process will include input from the
community, businesses, county, all harbor users and residents, and it will at this point also have t
addressinfraslructure changes due to the recent damage at Kawaihae.
In speaking with Terry O'Halloran, Director of Business Development at Hawaii Superfarry, he
indicated to me that Hawaii Superferry is in favor of and supports DOT Harbors in updating its
Kawailhae Harbor Master Plan and all of the updates for Harbor Master Plans throughout the
state, including having an EIS done at all affected harbors as a part of the 2025 Master Plan
update.
As reported in pacific Business News on October 4, 2006, the update process has begun in
Kahului with the hiring by DOT Harbors of a consultant team including Beft Collins Hawaii and
TEC Inc. These contractors have been directed to forecast marine activity through the year 2030
and figure out what facilities are needed to handle it.
I was notable to reach Barry Fukunaga or Ian Bimey this morning to reconfirm the plans for
Kawaihae Harbor, as both men are at a convention meeting in Kona at this time, but in light of
there already being a plan in place to have this EIS performed by Hawaii DOT Harbors, I believe
this legislation is narrow in scope, does not address the issue of the entire harbor, and is
essentially redundant when an update of the Master Plan for the entire facility is already in the
works.
This information could be easily confirmed with a call to State DOT.
Thank you for giving me an oportunity to testify before the council.
Aloha,
Q
Gunner Mench
PO BOX 6050 c-Z)
Kamuela, HI 96743 Z -r t
808-885-5583 w
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