HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-27 Kilauea Eruption Recovery -- October SpeakOut sessions -- press release
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
September 27, 2019
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Tom Callis
Tom.Callis@hawaiiCounty.gov
808-961-8728
Kīlauea Eruption SpeakOuts Scheduled
Hawaiʻi Island residents are invited to attend SpeakOut events on Friday, October 4 and
Saturday, October 5 to help guide the 2018 K ī lauea eruption recovery efforts.
Both events will be held at the P ā hoa High and Intermediate School cafeteria, with the first
focusing on Puna’s youth.
The October 4 Youth SpeakOut is scheduled from 4:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will include a student
panel addressing the topic of resilient recovery, STEM activities, and a light dinner. Students,
their ‘ohana, and school faculty are welcome to attend.
The October 5 SpeakOut is held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is organized for the general public.
Residents can drop-in at any time.
This event focuses on Phase III of Kīlauea eruption recovery: identifying strategies and actions.
The Hawaiʻi County recovery team will provide a report back about ongoing engagement efforts
and interactive activities related to recovery strategies and decision making.
“The recovery process is at the point where some hard choices need to be made,” said Diane
Ley, County Research and Development director. “We want the public to understand potential
strategies and tradeoffs, so the County can make informed decisions that meet the needs of the
community.”
County staff and consultants are developing a Recovery Strategic Plan. The plan is expected to
be available around the end of the year and will include ways the County can support the
community post-eruption and mitigate future risks.
Input from these SpeakOut events will help guide recovery strategies and opportunities.
Additionally, the County is organizing an art contest for students attending high schools in Puna.
Students are asked to design an image reflecting what being “Puna and Hawaiʻi Island Strong”
means to them.
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
The top three entries will be awarded Individual Development Accounts in amounts of $500,
$750 or $1,000. The deadline for entry is October 21.
For more information on the contest, visit
https://recovery.hawaiiCounty.gov/connect/opportunities/high-school-logo-essay-contest.
To stay informed on recovery efforts, visit recovery.hawaiiCounty.gov, and sign up for
notifications.
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County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.