HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-07-24 County of Hawaii Kilauea Recovery SpeakOut -- press release (2)
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440
July 24, 2019
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Ali Slous
Alexandra.slous@hawaiicounty.gov
808-961-8369
County of Hawaiʻi to Hold SpeakOut Event on July 27, 2019,
Seeks Input from Community on Kīlauea Eruption Recovery
Hawaiʻi County residents are invited to drop in anytime for a Community SpeakOut on
Saturday, July 27, 2019 at the Keaʻau High School cafeteria, between 8:30 am and 4 pm. The
event, part of the county’s Talk Action, Take Action initiative, is to share information with and
gather input from the community regarding priority Kīlauea recovery objectives for Puna and the
rest of the Island.
The day-long event will include the latest, most accurate information on recovery. It will include
workshops and other opportunities for learning. The event is free and family-friendly; there will
be interactive, educational activities for keiki, as well as food and refreshments.
“We designed the event to provide an opportunity where you and your family can share your
voice and shape what your future Puna looks like,” said Bob Agres, Manager for Disaster
Recovery Community Engagement & Collaboration. “We hope the exchange of information will
provide insight and will lead to many ways for the community to engage in the recovery
process.”
The event will address the critical challenges and opportunities with regard to Kīlauea eruption
recovery, raise awareness and understanding of the disaster recovery process that includes
County, State and Federal efforts, and share information about collaborative community-based
recovery actions.
There will be two workshops, with key financial and economic experts.
The ‘Ohana Self-Sufficiency Workshop from 10:30 am -12 pm will cover issues and
opportunities relating to: financial capability, housing, education, and employment.
Panelists from the workshop include leaders who will speak about available resources
and programs to help families
The Economic Recovery Workshop from 1 – 2:30 pm will cover issues and opportunities
relating to: economic impact baseline and implications, community-based tourism and
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regional identity, agriculture and food systems, and energy and transportation. Panelists
from the workshop include specialists like Paul Brewbaker, former Chief Economist of
the Bank of Hawaiʻi, and Stephen Jordan, CEO of the Institute for Sustainable
Development
The SpeakOut event’s results will provide additional information to the Puna Community
Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee to make informed recommendations regarding
priority recovery objectives. The committee meets on August 6, 2019 to consider various
recovery goals relating to village town centers, infrastructure, natural and cultural resource
management, and health and wellbeing.
To qualify for federal government disaster recovery funds, this level of public input is required.
“One big goal of the SpeakOut is to catalyze collaborative partnerships—a Community-Based
Recovery Network—and to increase involvement by residents in the recovery planning and
implementation process,” said Recovery Manager, Diane Ley.
The SpeakOut event follows the recently announced County surveys to collect community input
that will shape both near- and long-term recovery efforts on Hawaiʻi Island. The surveys will be
available at the event and are on the Kīlauea Recovery website
https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/connect/impact-status-survey-suite/
For more information on the Community SpeakOut, go to the County’s website:
https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/88/138.
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County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.