HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0571.002 2006-2008 To: Hawaii County Council, Pazks and Recreation Committee
)from: Jon Olson, Virginia Aste, Members of Puna Friends of the Parks,
501(cx3), 13-631 Leilani Avenue, Pahoa, HI 9677$
808-965-9869, FAX 965-5454
Date: August 21, 2007
Testimony In Favor of Acquisition of Access Parcel for
Cape Kumukahi Regional Park
Puna Friends of the Pazks offers the following testimony in favor of
acquisition of a pazcel of private land owned by Russell Oda, in order to establish
access to lava accretion land for a Regional Park at Cape Kumukahi.
The lava flow of 1960 created more than one thousand acres of lava
accretion land at Cape Kumukahi. This area is regularly used by 500 to 600 people
on sunny weekends as they hike or use four-wheel drive vehicles to reach
snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, swimming and fishing sites. Illegal, overnight
camping is prevalent and cleanup falls heavily on the surrounding subdivisions,
who defuutely are in favor of the creation of a planned and maintained regional
park in this area.
In order to create a Regional Pazk for the Puna District, the County of
Hawaii needs to request that the State of Hawaii. grant to the County several
hundred acres of lava accretion land which is already being used for recreational
and educational purposes by many residents and visitors. This possibility has been
blocked because there is no suitable access, even though the University of Hawaii
owns acreage which would be suitable, but thus faz has refused to grant access.
We aze therefore requesting purchase of private land from Russell Oda, who is
willing to negotiate purchase of part of his parcel. Access through the Oda parcel
would direct traffic away from the lighthouse and would provide a direct route to
the areas most used now by visitors to Cape Kumukahi.
Puna Friend's of the Parks has a long and successful history of collaboration
with community associations and government policy makers to create recreational
opportunities in Puna. We have held community meetings, helped introduce
legislation and conducted tours for State and County officials, as detailed in the
Comm. No._ ~7~•
Ref. Toe
Ref. Date
Testimony -Cape Kamukahi -Puna Friends of the Parks Page 2
information packet recently submitted to the Hawaii County Public Access, Open
Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission.
(A copy of that information packet is available from the Commission or from
Puna Friends of the Park.)
We have always viewed the creation of Cape Kumukahi Regional Pazk as an
opportunity for collaborative effort and it appears to us that the guarantee of
access is the first step toward acquiring the acreage needed for a large, open
recreation area, which would be an asset to Big Island residents and visitors alike.
The County General Plan specifies a Regional Park as a requirement as the
population of a given district increases. It is time to guarantee that a Regional Park
is available at Cape Kumukahi for our keiki.
Park design could follow the model of Malai Kahana, a large park with
pavilions and campgrounds, located on the North Shore of Oahu. Camping and
pavilion use funds could help offset maintenance costs and a corps of volunteers
from community associations, Sierra Club, high schools and other sources would
add their efforts.
Please accept this brief testimony in favor of acquisition of an access pazcel
which could begin the process of creating a much needed Regional Park for the
Puna District and relieve the cleanup burden which now falls upon residents of
Kapoho and Vacationland.
Mahalo for your consideration.
J n Olson
_
Virgini Aste