HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1137.034 2016-2018 P/.PwpIZed
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COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
County Council of County of Hawaii 20' } V - 1
Il .
02
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
November 1, 2018
RE: Resolution 732-18 Urging the County of Hawaii to commence planning, funding and
routing of a replacement road and alternative routes to accommodate residents of
communities affected by the May 3rd lava eruption.
I am writing in support of Resolution 732-18. I am a resident and farmer with property in
the Halekamahina area of the May 3 eruption. My husband and I have lived and farmed
here since 1974 and raised three children on the farm. We built our home on the north
side of the fault line above the Kapoho Landing Strip. Over the years we have grown the
following field crops of vegetables (cucumber, corn,tomato, eggplant and string beans);
commercial orchards in papaya, banana, citrus, and tropical fruits; experimental orchards
of coffee, soursop and grapefruit; greenhouse orchids and hydroponic lettuce, and other
minor fruit trees. We also had a commercial fruit drying operation, experimenting with
solar drying.
We lost 10 acres to the lava flow on May 31, but we still retain about 47 acres. We have
been able to harvest our crops with the grace of several neighbors who allow us access
through their properties. Our former access is now under the lava river. We drive about 3
miles of dirt road and 17 miles of paved road now to get to Pahoa, adding an additional
40 minutes to our former route. Driving the approximate 8 miles of Government Beach
Road after dark can be frightening.
There is a much more direct route for us via Noni Farm Road to Railroad to
Nanawale/Kahakai Blvd.. Perhaps the County could open Railroad to residents who now
live on Noni Farm Road and Railroad on a trial basis to see what impacts this would
have. We have formed a new association for our community, the Puua Community and
Road Association, so that we can work together for safety, road improvement, emergency
access, and allowing land locked neighboring property owners access to their homes and
land.
Resolution 732-18 addresses these concerns and we are eager to work with the County
and the State to work on recovery action for the lava affected communities. We ask that
you pass this resolution and support any activity that would fulfill the intent of allowing
or providing better and safe access to our properties and homes.
We want to thank all the County agencies who have responded to our safety needs in
these difficult times.
Sincerely,
Jennifer and Delan Perry
Volcano Isle Fruit Co, dba Kapoho Grown
14-2807 Halekamahina Road
PO Box 537, Pahoa, HI 96778
Comm. No 1"1'.1-1Ref.To: P I PW PR/
Ref. Date NOV 01 .'2018