HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0657.007 2018-2020 I
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RESORT ASSOCIATION
January 3, 2020
Maile Medeiros David, Chair
Herbert M. "Tim"Richards, III, Vice Chair
Committee on Financen
Hawaii County Council
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
,74
Testimony in Support of Resolution 431-20 k :Y
Dear Chair David, Vice Chair Richards and Members of the Committee on Finance,
The Kohala Coast Resort Association (KCRA) is in full support of Resolution 431-20 directing Hawaii County to
strategically address its escalating housing crisis with urgency.
We concur with Councilmember Kierkiewicz' statement in the sixth whereas clause: that providing more housing
options is essential to meeting the diverse lifestyles and affordability levels that are critical to attract,retain, and
develop a diverse workforce pool.
We've seen firsthand how difficult it is to attract and retain quality employees, especially in the tight labor markets
we've experienced the last few years. The lack of affordable workforce housing is always one of the top challenges
mentioned by potential employees when explaining why they cannot accept our offers of employment.
We encourage you to adopt this resolution to address this critical housing crisis as a top priority in the 2020-2021 fiscal
year and in upcoming budget cycles.
Our Administrative Director serves on the Vibrant Hawaii housing Committee, and the Kona-Kohala Chamber of
Commerce's Economic Development and Government Affairs Committees, all of which have affordable workforce
housing as a top priority. We look forward to continuing to work together with the broad-based coalition of
stakeholders from the government, private sector, education, non-profits and members of the community to address
this important challenge.
The KCRA is a collection of master-planned resorts and hotels situated north of the Kona airport which represents
approximately 3,500 hotel accommodations and timeshares, an equal number of resort residential units, as well as
shopping, entertainment and dining destinations. KCRA member properties employ more than 5,000 Hawaii Island
residents. KCRA member properties annually pay more than $20 million in TAT and$20 million in GET to the state,
and $11 million in property taxes to the County of Hawaii.
Thank you for your consideration. We encourage your support of Resolution 431-20.
Sincerely,
1 Comm. (
Ref. To: P1FG
Ref. Date AN 7 2020
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w��., ( 08) 747-5762*kohalacoastresortassn clmail.com *www,kohalacoastresorts,com
Stephanie Donoho
Administrative Director
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PO Box 6091, Kamuela, FII 96743 (808)747-5762*kohalacoastresortassn@gmail.c,om *www.kohalacoastresorts.com