HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0639.008 2018-2020 SUBMITTED BY: EILEEN O W HA A COMM. ON. 4 P/Pwwre,
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STATE CAPITOL
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813
March 3,2020
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TO:
e a tons an ailment Committee )
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 1402
Hilo, HI 96720
wall Lava Recovery Team (Douglas Le)Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at the
RE: Update from the County of Ha
GREDC
Aloha Chair Kierkiewicz and Committee Members:
I am writing to express my full support for the recovery of roads deemed important
to
Puna s havresidenti ds a top
priority for recovery efforts from the 2018 volcanic eruption. In particular,
dentif
recovery of the tap of Poho'iki Road, Highway 137 from its intersection
with
Highway
feet f lava n n132 to the idation blocks
ssac Hale
park at Poha'iki, and the entrance to Lighthouse Road where approximately
access to the pre-existing road that has always been open to the public. This request translates into recover y
of less than eight miles of roadway,whereas the County has already demonstrated the feasibility of road
recovery in restoring the three miles of roadway along Highway 132under of Highway x months at an expense of
hway 132 by the Federal
approximately$6.5M.The County was fully reimbursed for the recovery g
Highways and is expected to have 75%of the costs of recovering these other roadways covered by FEMA.
whicPlease allow me to remind the County Council members regarding HB 180
grant funding hpassed both houses othe
to address recovery
ss the co
Hawaii legislature in 2019 and awarded$40M in lawn and $20M to gra
efforts relating to the eruption of Kilauea Volcano in 2018. The report of the final committee hearing before
the Senate Ways and Means Committee contained the following language:
"..,funds appropriated under this measure are needed to provide relief and repairs for howes,, rcrMmUOities,
businesses,farms, schools, cultural sites, water systems, electrical grids, and roadways damaged or destroyed
by unprecedented volcanic eruptions on the island of Hawaiii
it was clearly the intention of the State legislature that the fundsiallocated
e such de HB118water s0 pmoldeadder Hawaii
County be used in the affected area, specifically to replace infrastructure
I've met with many of the affected communities in the last 18 months, and with a few exceptions, rnost would
simply like the ability to return to their homes and farms to rebuild their communities.The funds provided by
the State legislature are essentially restricted to expenditures for those purposes within the affected area.
Comm N VA -
Ref. o®
Ref. Dt. 0 20
March ],2O2O
Page Of
Expediting, the recovery ofthese roadways will allow residents ofproperties isolated by lava flows to return to
their homes and farms, Efforts and funding at the State legislature to reactivate Poho'iki began in 2019 and
continue in the 2020 session. Pohoiki previously served as the only boat ramp between Hilo and W1i|o|i.i with
direct access tothe rich fishinQ uroonds known as the Puna trench. it was a major economic driver bringing in
the third commercia| fish |andiu@sinthe State. Access has been restored to Hzholkiina limited
manne,wifl-) o amve| road over 0.8 miles ofHighway 187 in the W1a!ama Ki area south ofPmhn`lki but that
temporary rouie invites too much traffic along KamaiU Road (Opih|kau'KamaiU Road)which is winding and
dangerousboats to once again access Poho'iki for commercial fishing, Highway 137 between Highway 132
and Poho iki be recovered and is the responsibility of the County of Hawaii, Furthermore, recovery of
the water tOPoho`iki 'is also needed for both recreational and commercial uses,
Residents alon� Poho'iki Road have made accommodations to cross private property with makeshift
driveways to oetto their isolated properties with some residents still having to hike considerable distances to
reach their homes, Recover,\/ die top of Pohoiki Road would allow these residents to return home without
spending hours attempting to to their properties.
Therearesevens|fannsandhomesthatarepartoftheVacadonlandHawaiifannlot subdivision that remain
intact and cao be accessed byLi�hthousu Road, Additionally,the "corner" that was once known as4corners
attracts manytourists at1emphnp,'to view the impacts ofthe Z818lava event. Residents inthe area have
expresredin��restinmnderadn-jtourismimpactsa|ungLiAhthouseRuadtomdigateanynegativeimpacts
thatmight :)(,cur from re-opening that roadway, Keeping it closed creates public safety hazard aspeople are
walking and caf Cying bikes over the 700' of lava and heading Out to the lighthouse and newly formed 1/,mile
black sand bc--Ich daily,As to be, expected, the waters at this newly formed beach at Cape Kumukahi, the
eastern mosi Point of the Stav-,, is steep and exhibits a treacherous undertow unsafe for inexperienced
swimmers SiQnagebneeded rodiscourage swimming. Yet atthis point, the only way that emergency
personnel can respond should an accident occur is via helicopter at significant expense to the County.
In closing, app,eciate that the County Council continues to stay actively involved in the recovery of this area
which is part of my senate districL and isdear to my heart as a 3S-year resident ofPuna. Please do not
hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss this matter further.
Senator Russell EKudennan
Hawaii State Senate-2"" District
State Capitol, Room Z17
415 S. 8enetania6Lneet
Honolulu, H| 968l3
(8U8) 586-689O—Office
/808 SDG-G899— Fax
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