HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PSPRC 016 05/06/2008 2006-2008
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
AND PARKS AND RECREATION
DATE: May 6, 2008 RE: Comm. No. 1197/Resolution No. 631-08
PLACE: Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa
78-128 Ehukai Street
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 8:32 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, flawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation, to which was referred
Resolution No. 631-08, reports as follows:
Resolution 631-08, transmitted by Council Member Stacy I-Iiga via Communication No. 1197, dated
April 23, 2008, supports the construction of a memorial monument to the veterans of the Korean War
in the Lili`uokalani Gardens at the corner of Banyan Drive and Lihiwai Street, in honor of the Korean
War veterans.
Public testimony was given by members of the Korean War Veterans, Chapter 231, and the general
public. All spoke in support of Resolution 631-08.
Council Member Stacy Higa introduced a proposed amendment to Resolution 631-08, via
Communication 1197.1 dated May 5, 2008. The amendment added Kalakaua Park or next to the
Vietnam Memorial near the Wailoa Visitors Center as alternate locations for the construction of the
memorial.
Mr. Higa stated that the amendment was necessary, as the Department of Parks and Recreation was
unwilling to consider Lili`uokalani Gardens as the site for the memorial. Under questioning from
members of your Committee, Pat Engelhard, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation,
stated that the department felt that Lili`uokalani Gardens is an inappropriate site because: 1) it is a
Japanese-themed park; 2) it was established prior to the Korean War; and 3) Kalakaua Park already
contains a memorial.
Your Committee felt that the appropriate thing to do is to acquiesce to the wishes of the veterans
themselves. Your Committee agreed with the members of the public that were present that if the
veterans wanted a memorial to be placed at Lili`uokani Gardens, then that is where it should go.
There were nine ayes in support of Mr. Higa's amendment.
Your Committee was also unanimous in its support of Resolution 631-08, stating that the veterans of
the Korean War (and all wars) were deserving of recognition.
Your Committee on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation is in accord with the purpose and intent
of Resolution 631-08, as amended to Draft 2, and recommends its adoption.
awm
AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted,
FORD X
RIGA x COMMLCTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
HOFFMANN x AND PARKS AND RECRLATION
IKEDA x
JACOBSON x
NAEOLE x~ CK~
PILAGO x DONALD IKEDA, CI IAIR
YAGONG X PSPRC REPORT NO. 16
YOSHIMOTO X ADOPTED: `UN R 1 -2009--