HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0711.233 2008-2010Mr. Chairman and Members of the Council:
Aloha. My name is Naomi Morita and I am the President of the Hawaii Island Golf
Association whose 650 -plus members reside primarily in East Hawaii. I am here today to
offer testimony on Bill 211.
The members of the HIGA are concerned with the proposed amendment to Bill 211 that
would remove the $361,000 subsidy from the General Fund to the Hilo Municipal Golf
Course budget. The loss of this money would do irreparable harm to the operation of the
golf course and to the numerous citizens that use the facility.
First, we believe the golf course is being unfairly targeted for budget cuts while other
sport facilities and programs are not having their budgets cut proportionately. We hope
you realize that in spite of the $361,000 subsidy the course receives from the General
Fund, it does bring in revenue approaching $850,000. No other gymnasium, ball field,
swimming pool, tennis court or other recreational facility or service can match that
amount.
Second, the golf course is used by numerous non - profit organizations for fundraising to
keep their community oriented programs afloat. The organizations like Hilo High
School, Waiakea High School, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Junior golf, Business-
Education Partnership, Hawaii Island Adult Care, University of Hawaii golf team, KTA
Seniors for junior golf to name a few, all have fundraising golf tournaments annually at
the golf course.
Third, the Hilo Municipal Golf Course is home to the most successful junior golf
program in the State of Hawaii. More junior golf champions, and eventual college stars,
came through our junior golf program than any other junior golf in the state and those
junior golfers all got their start at the Muni where green fees were reduced in order to
make practice available and affordable.
And finally, the vast majority of golfers using the course are senior citizens on fixed
incomes. The course allows these seniors to exercise and socialize at a reasonable rate.
Many of the seniors are too old or physically unable to use the basketball courts, baseball
fields and tennis courts. They rely on the golf course for their exercise and relaxation and
any large increase in green fees would put golf out of reach for the majority of them
For these reasons we request you carefully consider the negative impact the removal of
the subsidy will have on the hundreds of residents that use the golf course.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Submitted by: Naomi Morita, President
Hawai'i Island Golf Association
P. O. Box 855
Hilo, HI 96720
Cows. No. 7 11. Z 33
Ref. To, Ca
Ref. Date. JUN 0 7 2010