HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0571.003 2006-2008 To: Pete Hoffman, Chairperson, and Members of the Hawaii County Council
From: Jon Olson, Virginia Aste, Members of Puna Friends of the Parks,
501(c)(3), 13-631 Leilani.Avenue, Pahoa, HI 96778
808-965-9869, FAX 965-5454
Date: September 6, 2007
Testimony In Favor of Resolution 288-07
Acquisition of Access Parcel for
Cape Kum~kahi Regional Park
Puna Friends of the Parks offers the following testimony in favor of
resolution to acquire a pazcel of private land owned by Russell Oda, in order to
establish access to lava accretion land for a Regional Pazk at Cape Kumukahi.
The lava flow of 1960 created more than one thousand acres of lava
accretion land at Cape Kumukahi. This area is regulazly used by 500 to 600 people
on sunny weekends as they hike or use four-wheel drive vehicles to reach
snorkeling, surfmg, kayaking, swimming and fishing sites. Illegal, overnight
camping is prevalent and cleanup falls heavily on the surrounding subdivisions,
who definitely are in favor of the creation of a planned and maintained regional
park in this area.
In order to create a Regional Park 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 are therefore requesting the County of Hawaii to purchase
approximately ten acres 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 Friends of the Pazks has a long and successful history of collaboration
with community associations and government policy makers to create recreational
5'1/•3
Ref. Ta '~~a ~ ~
Ref. oafs SEP 20 -
Resolution 288-07 Acquisition of Access to Cape Kumukahi Page 2
opportunities in Puna. We have held community meetings, helped introduce
legislation and conducted tours for State and County officials as detailed in the
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 Parkas an
opportunity for collaborative effort and it appears to us that the guarantee of
access is the first step toward securing from the State 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 pazk with
pavilions and campgrounds, located on the North Shore of Oahu. Following the
design phase, a Management Plan for campgrounds and pavilions which could
help offset maintenance costs could be developed and a corps of volunteers from
community associations, Sierra Club, high schools and other sources could then
add their efforts.
Please accept this brief testimony in favor of acquisition of an access parcel
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.
Jon Olson
- J
Virg' Aste