HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-29 PL-CCI-2026-000013, & 015 Tiffany Edwards Hunt & Jeff Hunt Support TestimonyFrom:Tiffany Edwards Hunt
To:Planning WPC Testimony
Cc:; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Darrow, Jeffrey W.; Council Testimony;
Subject:Testimony in Strong Support of Bill 124 and Bill 126 – Pahoa Revitalization
Date:Sunday, March 29, 2026 5:59:58 PM
To: Windward Planning Commission
From: Tiffany Edwards Hunt & Jeff Hunt
Date: March 29, 2026
Subject: Testimony in Strong Support of Bill 124 and Bill 126 – Pahoa Revitalization
Chair and Members of the Windward Planning Commission,
My name is Tiffany Edwards Hunt, and I am submitting this testimony on behalf of myselfand my husband, Jeff Hunt. We have owned commercially zoned property in Pahoa for a
couple of decades. We stand in strong support of Bill 124 and its companion, Bill 126, whichtogether will establish and govern the new Downtown Pahoa Commercial District.
We are heartened to see this district described as a way to encourage a "dynamic town whereenvironment, culture, commerce and community co-exist harmoniously." As long-time
stakeholders, we have seen Pahoa suffer tremendously over the years:
We witnessed the devastating Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant fire.
We felt the economic toll when lava threatened to cross Pahoa Village Road in 2014-2015.
We saw the 2018 Kilauea lava flow wipe out 700 homes in our surrounding area, andwe were among those with homes that were inundated.
We endured the COVID-19 pandemic and tried to continue to operate our businessdespite the challenge of a government shutdown.
Our regional town center, as outlined in the Puna Community Development Plan, is in greatneed of revitalization. We believe the zoning changes in Bill 124 and the updated standards in
Bill 126 are vital steps toward that recovery.
Beyond zoning, we hope the County will use this momentum to address the significant
challenges of homelessness and vagrancy. We ask that the County proactively work withcommunity partners to reinvigorate the "Weed and Seed" program that thrived here more than
a decade ago.
Furthermore, we suggest the County prioritize the revitalization of the old Pahoa Council
Office. We urge the County to pursue whatever renovations are necessary to make thatbuilding habitable and work with a social service partner to inhabit the space. Having a
dedicated service provider located in the heart of the village would be a transformative step forour community’s well-being.
We are in desperate need of parking options. Because on-street parking is minimal and manyPahoa lots are small and logistically challenging, we urge the County to:
Widen hours of operation and remove restrictive fencing for the Pahoa District Park andthe Pahoa Swimming Pool.
Open the back area of the old Pahoa Council Office (the former Pahoa PoliceSubstation) for public parking.
We thank our elected officials for the clear communication regarding these bills, specificallyCouncilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz, who did a significant amount of "front-loading" to
support Pahoa property owners.
Note on Mailing Address Change: Finally, please note that our mailing address has changed.
We request that the Planning Department update its records for our correspondence to: 15-1682 Second Avenue, Keaau, HI 96749.
Thank you for your consideration of our testimony.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Edwards Hunt & Jeff Hunt
-- Tiffany Edwards Hunt
(808) 938-8592
KVIKS Media Foundation Board MemberBig Island Press Club Past President
Tiffany Edwards Communications Founder HSTA Government Relations Committee Member
&Big Island Educator
Ask me about my educational tours! June 2026 Spain
June 2027 Ireland, Scotland & UKJune 2028 Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam