HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0532.002 2012-2014 West Hawaii Parks and Athletic Corporation
Makae'o District and Kealakehe Regional Park Testimony
COUNTY CLERK
December 3, 2013 COUNTY OF HAWAII
Testimony to the Hawaii County Council RECEIVED
Re: Bill 156: Comm. 532 Time 1 3 ...- By
Date 1 an
Support Funding the Makae'o &Kealakehe Regional Park Funding of$9.5M
West Hawaii Parks and Athletic Corporation is a 501C-3 nonprofit corporation whose mission included the
establishment of parks and recreational facilities in West Hawaii. It has supported the Makae'o redevelopment
plan and took the initiative to establish a regional park in the Kealakehe ahupua'a. Since November 2007,
community stakeholders have been diligently working to establish a Regional Park in Kealakehe.
First the Makae'o"Old A-Kailua Park"re-development plan&charrette participants of May 2009 agreed not
to"encroach on the open space and beach park area" and petitioned the Governor&DLNR to establish a
regional park in Kealakehe on TMK: (3) 7-4-020: 007. The Makae'o charrette created a master plan for the re-
development of the Old Airport runway and improvements to its recreational facilities. The Finance Committee
recommendation to fund the$9M initial construction of the old airport runway would enhance our shoreline
access and provide our Ohana&families in Kona with open space and a place to gather for fun activities.
Secondly, following the charrette in May 2009,regional stakeholders continued to create a plan for field sports at
the former proposed golf course in Kealakehe. On April 2011,the Honorable Governor Neil Abercrombie
executed the Executive Order 4355 establishing the Kealakehe Regional park as "public use"land on TMK: 3-7-
4 020:007 of approximately 193 acres,formerly a proposed golf course.
Regional stakeholders convened on May 17, 2011 to discuss establishing a federally designated 501C-3 non-
profit organization for the purpose of seeking funding for the design, planning, and construction of the
Kealakehe regional park. Soon thereafter,the West Hawaii Parks and Athletic Corporation was established in
February 2012 and is comprised of regional recreational stakeholders committed to creating,planning, and
designing a regional park for the future use of our Ohana and communities of West Hawaii. COH consultants
Kimura International helped the stakeholders develop a master plan which was adopted by the stakeholders and
WHIPAC in July 2013.
Therefore, as President of West Hawaii Parks and Athletic Corporation, we seek the County Council's support to
Finance Committee's Bill 156: Communication 532 to fund the Makae'o Re-development plan for the initial
construction of the old airport runway for$9M,and seek your further support to fund the Kealakehe Regional
Park planning and environmental studies for$500K.
Sincerel L..g,
Craig Bo ui, President
West Hawaii Parks and Athletic Corporation
File: WHIPAC Board
Comm.No, .J,302. °Z'
Ref.To:, /We-Ref.Dote DEC