HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2022-14-HCDP AC Support Letter to Director Maurice Messina Laupahoehoe Boat Ramp County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
www.planning.Hawaiʻicounty.gov Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning@Hawaiʻicounty.gov
Zendo Kern
Director
Jeffrey W. Darrow Deputy Director
Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
Lee E. Lord
Managing Director
East Hawai‘i Office
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288
Fax (808) 961-8742
West Hawai‘i Office
74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy
Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
Phone (808) 323-4770
Fax (808) 327-3563
September 20, 2022
County of Hawai'i
Director Maurice Messina
Department of Parks and Recreation
101 Pauahi St. Suite 6
Hilo, HI 96720
Cc: Councilmember Heather Kimball
Dear Director Maurice Messina:
The Hāmākua Community Development Plan (HCDP) Action Committee (AC) is writing
in support of repairing and maintaining the Laupāhoehoe Boat Ramp and Breakwater.
The HCDP acknowledges that there are infrastructure challenges in Hāmākua,
particularly due to our long and remote coastline. The Laupāhoehoe Boat Ramp area is cited as a
resource for the Hāmākua community, which should be utilized and maintained because of its
importance in providing access and resources along the coast. The HCDP’s values and vision
statement clearly support this, stating: “We, the residents of Hāmākua recognize that the
foundation of our life, livelihood, and well-being comes from the ‘āina-the land, the seas…As
active stewards, we mālama the ‘āina as the source of sustenance for ourselves, and future
generations.” As volunteer stewards of the land and sea, the Hāmākua community needs
government assistance in the maintenance and repair of this integral facility.
The June 16, 2022, U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on Coastal
Navigation explicitly describes how preference is given to larger economic centers when
considering repair and maintenance projects. Developing facilities for large economic gain is not
a sustainable policy for Hāmākua and for Hawaiʻi Island in general. The COVID-19 pandemic
placed sustainability and local resources at the forefront for a viable economy. Having small
harbors that allow local fisherman to access fisheries for local economic development and
subsistence practices is desirable.
The same GAO Report also considered how an inoperable boat ramp remains a risk for
stakeholders:
Local community members and Corps officials stated that this project serves as a “lifeline” to
several communities with district cultures. Specifically, Laupāhoehoe Harbor is the only ocean
Director Maurice Messina, Director
Department of Parks and Recreation
September 20, 2022
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access for boats on the Hāmākua Coast, which is served by a single highway, raising the risk of
isolation of the community from major population centers, medical services, and supplies should
the highway be inaccessible. As a result, an operating boat launch ramp would provide another
method to get resources to the community or to evacuate community members in the event of an
emergency.
In terms of providing access, Section 5.9 of the HCDP, Improve Emergency
Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation is another example of how the ramp is an invaluable asset
to our community. The area should be a focal point for disaster preparedness, as an access point
for communities cut off from roads due to bridge failure or landslides. We note this is not a
hypothetical scenario. Currently, two of our highway bridges are weight restricted and all traffic
has been re-routed off the Hāmākua coast. It is logical for our community to anticipate needing
the ramp/breakwater for emergency assistance.
In addition, Section 4.2.6, Community Action 4 of the HCDP encourages the
development of a hui of fisherman on the Hāmākua coast. On Sunday June 12, 2022, that
fisherman community was invited to voice their support for the repair and maintenance of the
Laupāhoehoe Boat Ramp and breakwater. That meeting was facilitated by Councilmember
Heather Kimball with your attendance and support. Approximately 75 people attended and
voiced their concerns.
Lastly, the Laupāhoehoe ramp, with a functioning breakwater, can provide another option
for community recreation. Per Section 5.13 of the HCDP, Expand Parks and Recreation,
communities surrounding Laupāhoehoe may use the Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park extensively
for family time, socialization, and enjoyment. The ramp and breakwater area is a popular place to
gather, and it needs to be safe. The Action Committee acknowledges budget restrictions, but we
want to emphasize that the area is beneficial to the health and well-being of our community and
deserves the required repair and maintenance to function properly.
For all these reasons combined, the Laupāhoehoe Boat Ramp and breakwater is
considered a top capital improvement priority of our Community Development Plan. Thank you
for considering how central and significant the Laupāhoehoe Boat Ramp and breakwater is to our
Hāmākua community. We look forward to the ramp and breakwater functioning properly in the
near future.
Sincerely,
Hāmākua CDP Action Committee
Nicolette Hubbard, HCDP AC Vice Chair
Brad Kurokawa
Carol Ignacio
Desiree Moana Cruz
Director Maurice Messina, Director
Department of Parks and Recreation
September 20, 2022
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Rhonda Pollard
Crystal Kua
Robert Nishimoto
Tawn Keeney