HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-19 Letter to Donovan M. Dela Cruz and Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran SB 457 Relating to the Puna Distance Learning CenterHarry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawai i
Office of the Mayor
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553
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February 19, 2019
Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair
Committee on Ways and Means
Senator Gilbert S. C. Keith-Agaran, Vice Chair
Committee on Ways and Means
Dear Chair Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Keith-Agaran, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 457 Relating to the Puna Distance Learning Center
Puna, with a land mass about the size of Oahu, is the largest geographic area in the State of Hawaii
without an institution of higher learning. Its residents, perhaps attracted by the relative affordability of housing,
are among the state's lowest income and suffer the highest poverty rates. Much of the district lacks access to
reliable, high speed internet making on-line or web -based learning a challenging hardship, and the long
commute to Hilo and its "big city amenities," like the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community
College, may be prohibitive for reasons of both time and money.
The establishment of a distance learning center within the Puna district would provide essential access
to post -secondary education within a reasonable commute distance; thereby enhancing opportunities for
students to develop their skills and improve their futures without leaving their home district.
I hope this Committee will act favorably on SB 457.
e�pectful.ly. Submitted,
a "4\
Harry Kim
MAYOR
County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.