HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0815.001 2010-2012 PI
8083294786 COUNTY COUNCIL KONA COUNTY COUNCIL KONA 09:36:12 a.m. 09-19-2012 1 I1 ,
Kelly Greenwell 7171 ,} I 2 L; 9: 110
Kailua Kona,HI
September 19,2012
Testimony Bill 289
By most accounts the long term economic well-being of Kona,the Big Island for that matter,appears to
be rather bleak. With agriculture in decline due to market forces,disease and drought,the visitor
industry near saturation and significant manufacturing unrealistic,the only real opportunity for the
future is in education.
The University of Hawaii has made significant strides toward this end but that effort is not sufficient to
sustain extended economic viability. To be effective the University's work in Hilo work must be coupled
with a vastly expanded mission toward situating this island at the center of intellectual achievement.
What is being called for is a regeneration of the thinking that sparked the East-West center. A vision to
include tropical agriculture,marine biology and ocean science,international law,civics and humanities,
vital technology and systems engineering and further,putting us on the map as the premier place for
intellectual discovery.
This is the essence of what Mrs.Ford is advocating through Bill 289 and I sincerely hope the entire
council will back her in this effort.
Unanimity on the vote for this bill supporting a parallel but independent component to the work of the
University of Hawaii with an expanded agenda for the future will dramatically facilitate the procurement
of federal monies needed to get the ball rolling. It's the kind of project that will appeal to federal
mandates which will occur in the future as the US economy gets back on track. Please support Mrs.Ford
with this legislation as it will spawn sustainability,not only for us,but for the planet as well.
Comm. Np} C.\
Ref.To: C l0.11A-ftuI
Ref. Date SEP 1 9 2012