HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0153.002 2018-2020 P/Couvieil
COUNTY CLERK COW4. I53
COUNTY OF HAWAII
From: Susan Kim
To: Council Testimony 2019 MAR I2 AM 8: 544
Subject: Council Testimony for Resolution 90-19,91-19,Bill 29
Date: Tuesday,March 12,2019 8:04:56 AM
Thank you Council members for this opportunity to testify.
As I'm sure you are all aware, over 70% of disaster victims—lost or isolated homes- lived
along Rt. 132 and Rt. 137. Imua Lower Puna coalition was created to ensure that tax-payer's
disaster dollars are allocated and prioritized to disaster victims and disaster areas.
I understand the entire island felt the impact of the eruption. But imagine, now that the
eruption has been officially declared over for several months, you still cannot easily return to,
your home. The home you built, lived in for decades, paid taxes for decades ($4M a year to
the County alone) and in addition had crops that contributed to the entire island's economy
and can do so again. As we all know, the elements of Hawaii are not kind to our homes and
plants without proper care and attention.
Not only have some of us lost our homes, but some of us continue to be burdened paying rent
to temporary homes, without FEMA support. Now it feels like we fighting for what Senator
Ruderman says is "surely one of the most basic government services". While my house is
gone, I still own property there and have property rights. I still want to return to Kapoho when
the roads are rebuilt. Some say this post-disaster experience is like having PTSD—and do not
want to relive the trauma through talk stories. Some cannot even attend talk stories as they
have been displaced to the mainland, Molokai and other islands and simply don't know about
them or trust that our stories will be heard.
Kapoho Kai to 4 Corners is only 1.17 miles to serve most of the victims of the lava flow as
measured by lost homes. \
I urge this Council to prioritize the hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster funds and
immediately allocate funds to road and infrastructure recovery in Kapoho and Leilani. $177M
from FEMA, potentially several hundred million from Federal community development block
grant, $12M from Govenor Ige of which we are told there are several million remaining. I
thank these individuals and organizations for these fund. I ask the County urgently restore
public infrastructure. A year anniversary is not far off.
I also urge this Council to be transparent in the allocation of funds and the logic of decisions
made. Announcing an "arbitrary" six-month moratorium appears also to be selective as PGV
has built a driveway (right next to where residents need access) and Pohoiki Road completed
to a recreational area. I trust there are sound explanations that the community would benefit
from hearing.
Comm. No. 19 .2
Ref.To: Ptcounal
Ref. Date AR 12 2019
elk
I also ask the County to provide consistent messaging. Initially, we heard the preliminary risk
assessment would be shared in January, then were told February and now it is March. Some
said future planning of the disaster area would rely heavily on the risk assessment, others said
it would not and would factor in other assessments. This type of mixed communication adds
to confusion and frustration.
We can all agree no one can predict where the lava will flow. No risk assessment or any other
assessment will be able to determine what is the\likelihood of future disasters on the
population and the island of Hawaii. Even last year's eruption, no one could have predicted
Pele's path. Some scientists consider Hualalai more dangerous than Kilauea due to its
unpredictability. Some could argue Mauna Loa to be even larger threat. Disasters are a
threat to many areas of the world—wild fires in California, flooding and hurricanes in coastal
areas on the mainland. Kapoho is now safe from flooding, the area does not have fire dangers
associated with the west coast of Hawaii, no risk of landslides. We live on the Big Island. We
choose to live here. We choose to buy property here, raise our children here and retire here.
We do NOT choose to live here because it is the only place we can afford.
One of the greatest blessings that has come out of this disaster, for me, is experiencing the
unity and support of the community. If the County is willing to support the recovery of the
disaster areas, I believe our community will be stronger, thrive and add tremendous value not
only to the island of Hawaii, but to the entire state, as it once did and continues to do.
Please prioritize and allocate disaster funds to disaster victims and disaster areas.
Susan Kim
(917)518-7732
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