Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNOT A LPC 1-18-24 AGENDA ITEM Miscellaneous Testimony 01.16.24 Jenise Barr RE Kahakai Access Road NOT A LPC 1-18-24 AGENDA ITEM Miscellaneous Testimony 01.16.24 From: Jenisa Barr from Jenise Barr RE: Kahakai To: LPCtestimonv Access Road Cc: OoalfarmsCnbaol.com Subject: Testimony for Leeward Planning,Kahakai Access Road Date: Tuesday,January 16,2024 1:36:51 PM Attachments: Stardust Lane Gate Testimony(2).Ddf Aloha, I have a matter that I would like to bring before the Leeward Planning Commission. It is regarding an intersection in Kailua-Kona that is being blocked from Tsunami Evacuation. I have written testimony on this subject, but since it is not in regards to any of the items currently on the council's agenda for January, I would like it to be submitted as new business. If it can be added to the January 18 agenda, so much the better. Kahakai Elementary has been granted funds to pave the area in question, so this matter urgently needs to be discussed before permanent blockage occurs and people's lives are endangered (please see testimony for more detail). Mahalo, Jenisa Barr Testimony Requesting Removal of the Gate on Stardust Lane Urgent notice to Hawaii County: Please remove the locked gate that is blocking tsunami evacuation and emergency access on the public roadway between Stardust Lane and Kahakai Access road. Kahakai Elementary School T P�4 q a e .�o ,�,IN Ali'i Kai Park co A Ole. .�rJa�a �G,�� .� I` `� ♦► GATE BLOCKING ''P, TRAFFIC A 10A Era°pz �A IusProgram`1 0 � � e t � a� Comment on HB 1349 item 13 In HB 1349 in 2023, the State of Hawai'i Legislature approved $2,100,000 for capital improvement projects at Kahakai Elementary School including paving the access road (See below: Image attachment 5). We request that the County of Hawaii earmark part of this money for the removal of the dangerous roadblock gate, and ensure traffic access through this intersection as part of the road work for this project, because it blocks an official public evacuation route. Concerns Tsunami Evacuation The County of HawaiTs Civil Defense tsunami evacuation map publicly lists this connection between Stardust Lane and Kahakai Access Road as the neighborhood's tsunami evacuation route; it is the only street leading mauka away from the ocean. The state of Hawai'i Department of Defense interactive map also lists this as the official evacuation route. (Please see attached images 1 and 2). This gate blocks evacuation along the publicly posted route, and therefore it is illegally endangering the public. Emergency Access Residents depend on this being a safe route to drive out of the neighborhood in case of fires and medical emergencies, as well as fast access to fire trucks, ambulances, and police personnel. As seen in the catastrophic and tragic fire in Lahaina on Maui, street blockages can fatally trap residents attempting to flee via the road. All major maps give directions going through this intersection, and crucially, this is the route given to any vehicle coming from Kona Community Hospital. Even civil agencies that know the area, such as USPS delivery personnel, get stuck on the wrong side of the gate because maps direct them to drive through it (please see image 3). Lifesaving minutes could be lost as emergency responders are blocked, and have to reroute and go around via Ali'i drive. Ali'i Drive Closures With access to Kahakai Access Road blocked, the only exit from Stardust Lane is Ali'i drive, which closes several times a year. At those times, residents will be trapped with no escape. This is not a question of if, but when- Ali'i closes each year for the Ironman race, the Jingle Bell Beach Run, and more events. Ali'i has also closed many times in the past for floods, storms, traffic accidents, utility work, and road work. Residents must be able to exit the neighborhood when Ali'i closes, which it will. Nuisance Long term closure of this through-way has created a "dead end" that encourages illegal dumping on Stardust Lane, not to mention parking there for other unwelcome activities such as smoking (major fire hazard), drinking, and dumping the trash from these activities. Needles, unsanitary broken furniture, feces, broken glass, and cigar butts are just some of the concerning items that have been dumped on the street corner since the closure this year (please see image 4). Unsupervised Children Closure of Stardust lane has created a non-designated school "pick up area" where children walk off of school property to to be picked up by car on Stardust, instead of parents driving in the sanctioned car pick up line and picking their child up from the supervised area at Kahakai Elementary. To be clear, this is not a school-sanctioned option of walking home, bussing, or being picked up, it is cheating the system in order to cut in line with a car. At the time school gets out, there are often 5-10 "parent" cars parked on Stardust as they "skip the line". This results in children walking out of the view of school staff and supervision, into an unattended public street to wait to get into a car. This situation creates a needless risk of predation and kidnapping- please don't wait to secure the safety of these keiki. Potential Solution The safest and simplest solution would be to remove the entire gate. One argument that Kahakai Elementary staff have made for keeping the gate closed is that traffic used to drive too fast through that gate during pickup times, and that they don't have the manpower to open and shut the gate. However, the school is already currently placing cones and a traffic director at the end of Kahakai Access Road at Royal Poinciana during pick-up times, and locking and unlocking the front entry gate of the school daily, less than 10 feet away from the other gate. Additionally, students who have been authorized to walk home on their own already navigate traffic on streets other than Kahakai Access road, and the school is not responsible for traffic interventions on any public streets. If the gate on Stardust were removed, there is no reason that the school could not do the exact same thing at that intersection as they currently do on Royal Poinciana. The traffic cones could be placed by the same staff with the same cart at the same time they are already doing so, 600 feet away. Community parents have volunteered for traffic safety duty at this gate as well, there need not be additional staff cost to the school. Kahakai Elementary needs to be responsible for restoring normal traffic flow outside of those times, not force a permanent traffic revision without oversight or input. Past Context In the past, the gate at the intersection of Stardust and Kahakai Access Road was opened outside of school hours and on holidays. There was apparently a verbal community agreement with past principals of Kahakai Elementary that the gate would remain open when school was not in session. The current principal, Kori Takaki, decided to permanently lock the gate without a public hearing, consultation, or notification of the surrounding community. This year, Kahakai also disbanded the PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association), so community parents no longer have any means of direct communication with each other and the PrincipaINP. It has been locked since the start of the 2023-2024 school year, blocking all traffic. Several requests have been made, asking the principal to address these concerns or to schedule a meeting to hear them, as well as parents volunteering to act as safety crossing guards at the intersection during pickup and dropoff hours, but all have been denied. The Department of Education also declines to take any action regarding opening the gate. Closing Summary This gate is detrimental to the community. Its closure was imposed without a fair public comment period and without good cause. It is endangering our lives and the lives of our Keiki, by blocking emergency access and evacuation and causing other unnecessary risks, and we urge you to hear this request to remove it. Testimony submitted by Jenisa Barr, a resident of Stardust Lane and a Parent of a Kahakai Elementary student. Attachment images: Image 1. County of Hawai'i Department of Civil Defense Tsunami Evacuation Map 10 Landmark Facilities � �� 9 ®Konawaena Elementary School OS Konawaena High&Intermediate Schools 13 pQ ©Kealakekua Post Office O7 Kona Community Hospital Emergency ®Holualoa School Holualoa Response Agencies O Holualoa Post Office Bay 3 Hawaii Army National Guard 10 Kona Imin Center o ®Public Works 11 Sheraton Kona at Keauhou Bay White Sands Keauhou Fire Station 12 Kahaluu Makai Beach Park 13 Kahakai Elementary School Manned Roadblocks Kahaluu c 0 Keauhou Punahele CondolAlii Drive Bay E 0 Kaleopapa Street/Alii Drive 12 Keauhou / Kamehameha III RoadlManukai Street see inset r 0 Manukai StreeVKamehamehalII Road G m Keauhou Shopping Village/Alii Drive F m Laaloa Avenue/Kapukapu Street c ® Laaloa Avenue/Kuakini Hwy Keauhou ® Royal PoincianalKahakai School Road Bay 11 Keauh Keauhou Shopping Village G Gj Honalo �m F (( o Kainaliu Mai The following facilities f `St need not evacuate c D during tsunami evacuation: Keauhou ti Q Keauhou Punahele Bay ©Keauhou Akahi Kealakekud ©Keauhou Vista Restaurant Halekll St 7 1 &Club House S (�Country Club Villas B O0 Keauhou Resort >U 3 A Keauhou Palena r ©Keauhou Gardens Y 5 q l EVACUATE ALL SHADED AREAS Image 2. Hawai'i State Department of Defense Interactive Tsunami Evacuation Map Hale Hood Kona Hawaiian Smiles o Orthodontics-Kailua...� Z .o �e uak�i flP a�u�ui Dr a!a/aq/ eaK°a Pi ywy o. y- Fe �o .o o Sadie Seymour QCalvary Botanical Community Church Q a Gardens and Kahekai 4 the Kona... Elementary School 0 9y L V•ame�° �A/a2 Sr R AIPi Kai Park© a aO` Au S O�O nd r j �a6 P6P°9a� �a/ao S�ytdJs`S '�A�7a ��yK SC S� t O P�Om lea\ras 6� ° Na POo Pa Living Stones Church ,01 0 KIP i r o t s Lutheran a Church-Holy Trinity yaia,,a.P dQ ' Holualoa Bay' v �£ Image 3. Postal Worker van stuck on far side of gate as delivery person accesses mailboxes * Image 4. Trash dumped on the road next to the gate. All photos taken on Stardust lane at the corner intersection with Kahakai Access Road by Jenisa Barr in 2023. Hazardous trash dumped in 2023 on corner of Stardust Lane and Kahakai Access Road d;a � uy ya A ,er.�'331 � �iP mod' y� 8 11 cigars Q�bls ��,• -.t F� �-` e ' fin` it� �, ��n; 6c�. ` Y books matches a� AN Ad MW •� lip r k f�` f 3p Image 5. Excerpt from 2023 Hawai'i State Legislature HB. NO. 1349 Item 13. 13. Kahakai elementary school Plans, design, and construction for a staff parking lot, paving the access road, and roadway extension. Plans $100,000 Design $300,000 Construction $1,700,000 Total funding $2,100,000 The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the department of education. Links for images 1, 2, and 5: Hawaii County Civil Defense https:Hrecords.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/l/edoc/73316/Tsunami%20Evacuation%2OMap%2007 %20Kona%20(Part%2002).Pdf Hawai'i State Department of Defense Interactive Map https:Hdod.hawaii.aov/hiema/public-resources/tsunami-evacuation-zone/ Hawai'i State Legislature HB. NO. 1349 httos://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2023/bills/HB1349 .HTM