HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 485 Draft 01 2016-2018 •-•";;;'
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COUNTY OF HAWAII :`f s'k.'L' /.* • STATE OF HAWAII
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RESOLUTION NO. 485 ±8
A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS HOUSE
BILL NO. 1767,RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OF FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
VEHICLE USE AND TOUR OPERATOR REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESS TO
MAUNA KEA SCIENCE RESERVE AND WAIPI`O VALLEY.
WHEREAS, House Bill No. 1767 (H.B. No. 1767) will prohibit access to Mauna Kea
Science Reserve and Waipi`o valley, except through the use of a low-gear, four-wheel drive
vehicle; and
WHEREAS, the bill will require operators of tours of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve
and Waipi`o valley to obtain a certification for Hawai`i's professional tour guides, as well as
authorize the Counties and the University of Hawai`i to appoint individuals to issue fines and
enforce restrictions; and
WHEREAS, Waipi`o valley is located in the Hamakua District on the Island of Hawai`i
and is the second most visited site on the island; and
WHEREAS, Waipi`o Road is a short, steep, County road leading down to the Waipi`o
valley floor, and is the steepest road of its length in the United States with 45 degree sections
capable of severely damaging brakes and stalling engines; and
WHEREAS, this dangerous, winding, single lane road is very narrow and offers limited
guardrail protection to the pedestrian traffic sharing the road with vehicles and attempting to
yield to opposing traffic; and
WHEREAS, 2017 statistics, documented by Waipi`o Resource Rangers verify that, at a
minimum, this road is traveled by an average of more than 2,680 pedestrians and 2,290 vehicles
monthly, and 32,115 pedestrians and 27,450 vehicles, annually, as these statistics are only taken
when a resource officer is on duty, therefore, the numbers would be much higher if you were to
include after hours; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai`i County Council strongly supports H.B. No. 1767, introduced in
the current session of the Legislature, and supports any legislation that will increase the safety of
visitors and residents of Waipi`o valley; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai`i County Council is in support of allowing the people of Hawai`i
County to provide input and be involved in discussions regarding public safety in Waipi`o
valley; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Hawai`i State Legislature is urged to pass H.B. No. 1767.
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BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable David Y. Ige, Governor; the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor; Allan
Simeon, Director, Hawai`i County Public Works; the Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi, President of
the Hawai`i State Senate; and the Honorable Scott K. Saiki, Speaker, State House of
Representatives, for distribution to all State Senators and Representatives; Ross Birch, Executive
Director, Big Island Visitors Bureau; Raymond Kong, Corporation Counsel, Bernice Pauahi
Bishop Museum; Michael Yee, Director, Hawai`i County Planning Department; George Szigeti,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Hawai`i Tourism Authority; Jacqui Hoover, Executive
Director, Hawai`i Island Economic Development Board.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i, this 7th day of February , 2018 .
INTRODUCED BY:
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COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i CHUNG X
DAVID X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KANUHA
County of Hawaii on February 7, 2018 X
LEE LOY X
O'HARA X
ATTEST: POINDEXTER X.
RICHARDS X
ARUGGLES X
8 0 1 0
Iffle-eid,€- C__J Reference: C-717/Waived GREDC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 485 18
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