HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-04 PL-REZ-2024-000070 Support Letter from Applicant Susan Osborne (1) C.Kimo Alameda,Ph.D. F"•'!!,,� Jeffrey W.Darrow
Mayor ��'�'' Director
William V.Brilhame,Jr. Michelle S. Alm
Managing Director Deputy Director
•N�,•f�
West Hawaii Office East Hawaii Office
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3
Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 County of H awa i Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Phone(808)323-4770 PLANNING DEPARTMENT Phone(808)961-8288
Fax(808)327-3563 Fax(808)961-8742
March 4, 2024
Aloha e Windward Planning Commission,
I kindly submit this letter of support for Ho`oulu Lahui regarding the Change of Zone
Application (PL-REZ-2024-000070) requesting to change the zoning of TMK (3) 2-2-048:013
(por.)from Agricultural-10 Acres to Agricultural-5 Acres.
Ho`oulu Lahui and its affiliate Kua O Ka La Public Charter School lost their campus and
symbolic home during the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Further, many families that make up the
school's community also lost everything they had during this historic eruption. Nonetheless, I
have seen the resilience, creativity, and tenacity of this organization and its leaders to rebuild
over the six years since the eruption.
The School serves as a vital resource to the Puna community and a close partner to the County in
our recovery efforts following the 2018 Kilauea volcanic eruption. The County's Disaster
Recovery Division provided $500,000.00 to their efforts through the Kilauea Recovery Grant
Program for Ho`oulu Ldhui Noho Pa`a to support the rezoning, subdivision, and eventual
acquisition of the school site by the Applicant. Approval of this rezoning will achieve a critical
step to securing a permanent home for the School to further cultural revitalization and education
for our keiki.
We appreciate your consideration and support for this Change of Zone Application. If you have
any questions regarding this letter of support, please contact me at (808) 961-8174 or
douglas.le@hawaiicounty.gov.
Warm regards,
Douglas Nam Le, AICP
Disaster Recovery Officer
www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planning(ahawaiicounty.gov