HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0532.017 2012-2014 Pa e1of1
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Murashige, Laura �r `�`� '�,. CtM 1
From: Ron Terry [rterry@hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 8:57 AM 2013 DEC ! 7 All 9: 43
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us; 'Stan Lawrence'; 'Bob Duerr';jim @maunakeaorchids.com; 'David Imata'; 'Leonard Bisel'
Subject: Testimony on Bill 156, Draft 2, in support of Kaipalaoa Landing Park funding, for Wed, December 18 County
Council Meeting
Bill No.156, Draft 2. Kaipalaoa Landing Funding.
Hawaii County Council 30th Session
Wednesday December 18, 2013
25 Aupuni St, Hilo
Aloha County Council. My name is Ron Terry. I am a volunteer with the Malama Kaipalaoa
Working Group (MKWG), which is working with the County to design and construct improvements
to make Kaipalaoa Landing more useable for the public.
Kaipalaoa is a splendid location at the gateway to Hilo, on the northern edge of Hilo Bayfront,
adjacent to the Wailuku River and the famous Singing Bridge. Literally translated "whale sea", it is a
significant Hawaiian historic site associated with an important battle involving King Kamehameha
the Great, and the site where his son Liholiho's piko was cut. It has also been reported as
Kamehameha's favorite location to surf. A succession of small lighthouses was built on a small
portion of the land often referenced as Coconut Point starting in 1904, with one still active and under
the control of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Mary Kawena Pukui (1983:162) referenced Kaipalaoa in Olelo Noeau:
Ka niu pe`ahi kanaka 0 Kaipalaoa The man-beckoning coconut palms of Kaipalaoa
The meaning of this poetical saying is that the swaying palms that grow at Kaipalaoa seem to wave
an invitation at this true gateway to Hilo. Neglected for several decades, Kaipalaoa Landing received
new life when Stan Lawrence and artist Sig Zane, both surfers and owners of shops in downtown
Hilo, along with many other volunteers, formed the MKWG. For over a decade this group has
regularly maintained the area. MKWG also worked for over two years with the State Department of
Land and Natural Resources to convey the largest portion of the area to the Hawai`i County
Department of Parks and Recreation to create Kaipalaoa Park, which was finalized in August 2010.
The public uses the area for surfing, picnicking, fishing and just enjoying the ocean breezes. As
befits a gateway, it is a meeting place for local and cruise ship visitor, for fisherman and surfer, for
keiki and kupuna. We have created a modest design involving simple surface stabilization, two
showers, and a walkway leading to an accessible picnic area to make it safer and easier for all to use.
We humbly ask the Council's support to leverage our volunteer efforts to make this park a reality.
Mahalo
Comm.No S'3./7
Ref.To: P 17Ci/
Ref. Date DEC 1 1 901'
12/17/2013