HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-19 Letter to Sylvia Luke and Ty J.K. Cuellen HB 2578, HD1 Relating to Public Lands r osRoy Takemoto
'4pQ0�' ...... :19anaging Director
Harry Kim • �I:'
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.. y 01..-- Barbara J.Kossow
�TtoF'N''�-' Deputy afanaging Director
County of Hawai`i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
February 19, 2020
Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair
Representative Ty J.K. Cullen, Vice Chair
Committee on Finance
Dear Chair Luke, Vice Chair Cullen, and Committee Members:
RE: HB 2578, HD1 Relating to Public Lands
Thank you for this opportunity to comment on HB 2578, HD1, as it would impact the Waiakea Peninsula
in Hilo, Hawaii.
We support any legislation that will help the revitalization of Banyan Drive and the rest of the Waiakea
Peninsula. Virtually everyone familiar with this area agrees that it is underutilized and in disrepair. It is the
center of tourism in East Hawaii, but it is a jewel that is quite tarnished at the present time.
Hawaii County has taken first steps toward revitalizing the peninsula, including the creation of the
Banyan Drive Hawai'i Redevelopment Agency (BDHRA); and a conceptual master plan has been created as a
starting point. But funds are needed to conduct the environmental impact statements necessary to complete
the redevelopment plan and move forward, and those monies are not available.
Under HB 2578, HD1, DLNR would create a new planning committee to oversee Banyan Drive and
would require that BDHRA be disbanded. This might mean going back to square one, but the tradeoff is that
the bill presumably will provide meaningful funding using current DLNR revenues.
Although we may not agree with all provisions of HB 2578, HD1, we support a measure that directs
resources, both statutory and financial, toward the redevelopment of Banyan Drive while providing some local
perspective in decision-making.
Therefore, we ask that you act favorably on HB 2578, HD1, so that a resolution can be hammered out
in conference.
We also wonder whether there would be any point in reconvening Conference Committee on HB 1219,
which is another bill dealing with these issues. The electronic record does not indicate that the conferees on
HB 1219 were ever discharged.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry im
MAYOR
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.