HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0088.057 1998-2000 ' 4/ ) • RECEIVED
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Date_•_ --- - -• r
County Council
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PUAKEA
BAY
P.O. BOX 879 I y ! TELEPHONE (808) 889 -6102
KAPAAU, HAWAII 96755 L- a n - -� - ui FAX (808) 889 -5510
March 17, 1999
Mr. James Y. Arakaki, Chairman
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Mr. Arakaki:
The undersigned has not picked up his pen regarding statements and actions
purportedly said and /or taken by members of the Council for the past two
to three years.
As a significant taxpayer and a land owner on this Island, I must take
strong exception to Rothstein, Graham, et al. I would have thought after
all these years, you folks would have understood that Rothstein et al have
only one agenda, and that is to be in the Press as much as possible, which
perhaps offsets his inability to make a living. Several years back it was
apparent that he was going to take over as the negative commentator on
everything on this Island hum Ross, who apparently got his second wind
and is going after several of the landowners on this Island. Just check
his record, not one positive thing to say about any development in twelve
years.
The items, not listed in any priority but in the past several months are
in my opinion going to really bring this Island it its knees, and without
question will drive children from here the Big Island to the Mainland,
etc.
(A) Zoning Code has been up for change for years. It was finally halted
by Rothstein and a Judge who handles, for the most part, traffic
tickets. The bottom line with these two is they have never had to
make a payroll and never will.
(B) One would think that when JAL was bringing in a flight a day to this
Island and many more to other Islands, attempts to get a development
started in the lava below Kona Surf, this project was to be done by
JAL and Mr. Lyle Anderson, who is the premier Golf Course developer
in the world today. Yet they had to go through hundreds of hearings,
i.e., one hundred and thirty -eight and I have no doubt that based on
restrictions against them, JAL will not survive this particular
development. 85 %057
Comm. No. „®
File No. f l CC ZN
Ref. To: CotliJ "
P1AR 2 3
Ref. Date 19��
Q M .:41,
0
Page two 0
March 17, 1999
(C) The water program re North Kohala to be redistributed in South'
Kohala. This p eject appears to be headed in the same direction as
the Mahukona development, i.e., ten years plus and no real progress.
It is most likely that now they do not have the funds based on the
economic situation in Japan and what they have been through for ten
years with the pressure brought on them by the Rothsteins of the
Island. When he comes to one of your Meetings, he will ask for ten
minutes and take an hour on many unrelated subjects. Just cask the
prior Council.
Regarding the water situation, 25 to 30 years ago we were attempting
to run water from North Kohala to the Resorts. There was never any
concern in those days from Kohala but, then again, Kohala didn't
have 1500 or so retirees and /or trust fund babies here that have
nothing better to do than file protests, etc. In the past there was
never a concern about water in Kohala, in that everyone knew it was
here in great abundance. In those days it was $25mm to run the water
down to the Resorts. As I understand it, it is now $75mm to $80mm.
The County then wanted a bond, but being they had been hu L. on a bond
in the southern part of the Island, they would not accept
Rockefeller's signature, Boise Cascade's signature and Signal Oil's
signature. I think somebody at the Mayor's level and /or Council
level didn't accept their signatures, but instead wanted a Letter of
Credit. They walked away. Perhaps in retrospect, that was the
beginning of what is happening on this Island.
In spite of all the rhetoric and criticism by parties such as Rothstein,
who has attempted to stop any progress in this County, many of these
developers were successful in completing their projects, but as I trust
you are more than aware, none are making money today and are faced with
negative cash flow in almost all cases, with the possible exception of the
Hilton Waikoloa. Yet Resorts are supplying 4000 to 4500 jobs on this
Island.
Regarding this correspondence, I must strongly urge you to pass the zoning
bill /law. If there is not one by September, which is the Anti's goal,
than you in fact will never see anytiiiiy developed on this Island of
consequence for years to come.
Very truly yours,
C_
i7,EORGE E. ISAACS
GEI /cdV
cc: All Council Members