HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0735.000 1996-1998
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.Zobert Keli'iho'omalu
RR 1, Box 4972
Pahoa, Hawaii
February 6, 1998
Hon. James Arakaki, Chairman r? _ ~ -
Hawaii County Council
County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
Re: Lack of Sanitary Toilet Facilities To Accommodate Tourists and Tour Buses
Visiting Kalapana At Edge of Lava Flow '
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Council Members:
Over the last four months, I have written to A~ayor Stephen Yamashiro,
Councilman Al Smith and George Yoshida, as well as Jack's Tours, Inc. and Robert's
Hawaii Tours (see correspondence copies attached) about the lack of bathroom
facilities for the tourists that are brought here by the tour companies noted above
and those tourists who arrive on bicycle and in rented cars without any satisfactory
answer.
Tourists come to our area everyday to visit county property which once used
to be the black sand beach of Kalapana and there are no bathroom facilities.
Tourism is the State's largest industry. ~Nhy has nothing been done about this
matter? Is the County discouraging tourism in Puna? I am bringing this matter to
the Council because nothing has been done.
I have been providing bathroom facilities at my home to at least 1/2 dozen
tourists a day. Many more just use the bushes at the edge of my property. The
health of my family is at risk. I do not have the accommodations to take care of
these people but it is very hard to turn them away because of our concern for aloha.
This situation is getting ou± of control.
I am seeing more tour buses every week. This matter needs immediate
attention. Two portable toilets and a trash receptacle is what is needed to relieve
this intolerable situation.
I will appreciate the Council looking into this matter.
Ve ruly urs,
ob rt ''iho omalu _
I<apuna o' Kalapana
73s
R~ PwD
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Robert Keli'iho'omalu
RR1 Box 4972
Pahoa, Hawaii 96778
October 5, 1997
Hon. Stephen K. Yamashiro, Mayor
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Mayor Steve,
Everyday bus loads and rental cars filled with of tourists come to Kalapana to
view the lava and to walk to the beach. At least half of the visitors come to my
home and ask to use my private bathroom. At times it is very hard to turn them
away because of our concern for aloha. For my sake, I just am taking a chance
everyday they do use my bathroom. I really do not have the facilities to handle this
and I do not have facilities for the handicapped.
I have brought this problem to the attention of Al Smith and he has said he
would look into it. But how long will it take? A couple of more years? Most of the
tourists use the bushes, whatever bushes are left of my plumarias. flower bushes
and fruit trees. This is not a very sanitary situation.
Since there are four portable toilets up the road at the Painted Church, why
cannot tivo of them come down this way? We also need a trash can. The people are
coming here and they do not have any place to put their trash. A closed trash can
and someone to empty it and the portable toilets regularly is what is needed.
If tourism is the #1 industry of Hawaii, let's accommodate them.
Could you please get back to me and give ine an answer. Mahalo.
Very truly yours,
r i'iho'omalu
Kapuna o' Kalapana
cc: Al Smith, Puna County Councilman
George Yoshida, Hawaii Co. Parks & Recreation