HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0092.024 2016-2018 P1PEWL
CouPaL
grILL 12 D1 .2
COMM. 82.14
May 18, 2017
Members of Hawaii County Council
My name is Gail Elizares and I would have come in to testify if I didn't have a prior commitment today. I
have fished out of Laupahoehoe Boat Ramp for many years. I have been fishing out there from 1982
from when I met my husband. I have fished using the old ramp and the new ramp that was later built.
It has been a big controversy with the new designed ramp. The community leaders told the Corp of
Engineers that the newly designed ramped would not work due to we having more Hilo waves than we
do Maui waves. The currently design continues to erode because of the Hilo wave coming around the
break water. The location of the old ramp was a much better location.
I have been working from the early 1990's with our Senators to work with the County into finding.a
solution for our ramp today. The Corp of Engineers at that time of constructing the new never listened
to our concerns and this is what we ended up with. With speaking to the Corp of Engineers they actually
agree it would be cheaper to build a new ramp then to expand the break wall which is what would be
needed to protect the ramp.
This ramp is very important to the community. With more land being taken away from the hunters, a lot
of them have turned to fishing. We currently have a lot of younger fisherman who are starting to use
the ramp. You would also get an increase of users if we had a better ramp. My husband has passed
away still without a solution for our future generation. I currently still own my boat and still fish out of
Laupahoehoe as do others who brave to use this ramp.
I hope we can finally appropriate some funding towards our ramp so we can continue for our future
generations.
Sincerely,
Gail S. Elizares
P.O. Box 246
Laupahoehoe, HI 96764
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