HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0838.001 2008-2010 p .1*: :: :,,,
, ,„,,
. ,
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720
RE: Bill 260 - Relating to Extending Public Use of the Haleki'i Street Extension
Aloha, Chair Yoshimoto, Vice Chair Naeole- Beason and Council Members Ford, Ikeda, Hoffmann, Onishi, Enriques,
and Greenwell:
We want to thank you for your leadership and for the work of the Administration's Corporation Counsel to negotiate
public vehicular access along the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass and mitigate impacts on Ali'i Drive. However we are
very concerned about the prohibition of pedestrians and bicyclists. We strongly support bicycle and pedestrian
access on Mamalahoa Highway Bypass from Haleki'i Street to the Ali'i Drive terminus in Keauhou. As a constituent
and a resident of this island, I enjoy walking and bicycling for exercise, to get to work or shopping or school and I
would like to be able to use this route on my bicycle or by walking.
We ask you to amend Bill 260 to require Corporation Counsel to negotiate bicycle and pedestrian access on this road.
There are several reasons why it is important to make the Mamalahoa Bypass accessible to pedestrians and
bicyclists:
1. The Ordinances that uphold this legal agreement refer to opening the road to Public Traffic. The definition of
Traffic in the Hawaii County Code includes pedestrians and bicyclists (Ch 24, Article 1 Section 24 -3). We feel
that the current prohibition of bicyclists and pedestrians may currently be illegal under this definition.
2. The Bypass offers a much safer alternative to walking or bicycling along Kuakini Highway through the narrow
sections in Keauhou Mauka, Honalo and Kainaliu. By opening the Bypass we make it safer for bicyclists and
pedestrians and we make it easier on car drivers who may be worried about hitting a bicyclist or pedestrian,
especially when school resumes in early August and roads become more congested.
3. Hawaii County is among the most unhealthy counties in our nation (http: // www.countyhealthrankings.org /).
We need places to walk and bike to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We have very few public trails, pathways or
bikeways. Opening the Mamalahoa Bypass to bicyclists and pedestrians provides an opportunity for Hawaii
County residents to get exercise on a daily basis.
We realize that a lot of work has been done to open this road to vehicular access but we ask that justice be served to
pedestrians and bicyclists as public traffic. Please amend Bill 260 to require Corporation Counsel to allow bicyclists
and pedestrians to access Mamalahoa Bypass.
Mahalo, PATH members:
Ken & Arlene Block David Hammes May Diaz Kevin Cavanagh Tanya Power Penn Henderson John
Karen Crawford Summer Colquette Dawn Henry Bill & Theresa Barto Julia Chatelard Rod Hinman Broussard
Judy Ann Williams Bill & Lynda Katherine & Neal Jenny Marine & Lynn Sinclair Kaye Levine Yasmin
Richard & Jolene Johnson Takach Craig White Kris & Kym Kiser Phyllis Thrall Vatter
Mears Chris Kutsch Michael Traub, ND Marty Barger Jim Bell Gary West Toni & Will
Emily Gail Frank & Robin Jeff McDevitt, MD Walter Enomoto Michelle, Jon, Toni Zolezzi Friesen
The Lindborg Family Parisi Margaret & Robin Sharon Faff Genevieve Curry Bob Smith Rich
Greg McPheeters Bill Greentree Elock Dan Sabo Mark, Virginia, Chad Taniguchi Tucciarone
Linda Greentree John & Chris Doug Sensenig Nova Lee Elizabeth, Chris Kutsch Anita
Sarah Egan Barnett Kathleen Johnson Walter Miller Mitchell Dixon Howie Simon Anderson
John Simmerman Bob Borns Roberta Hickman Peter Mazer Luis De La Torre Roberta Hickman Mindy &
Jeannette Vidgen Michael Hyrenyvch Lyda Liu Eddie Herd, MD Sylvia Ravaglia Robin Parisi Gerald
Janine Packett Dawn Velazquez Bennett Dorrance Clemson Lam, AIA Ryan Higgins Steven Okoji Gruber
Rocky Campbell Ann Peterson LeeAnne Lowery- Timothy Kiernan Steve Lundblad Terry Ladwig Laura
Gwen Hobbs Michelle Whitford Gorman Jeffery Manzo Gregg Mangan Kelly Pomeroy Dierenfield
CC: Bobby Command, Special Assistant to the Mayor, West Hawai'i & Warren Lee, Public Works Director
74 -56 06 Pawai Place Bay 5 Kailua- Iona, HI 96740 cow No.
www.pathhawaii.org - 8o8-936 -4653 - sharether oad@.pathhawaii.orRef. To
Ref. Data