Viewpoint misleading according to HRA
I am writing to offer a few points of clarification on the recent article against the Kona Motorsport Park and the Move-On petition launched by Janice Palma-Glennie.
The petition states that she “oppose(s) that facility being built adjacent to Kekaha Kai State Park — our island’s only noncommercial, state wilderness park.
We ask public officials to protect Kekaha Kai State Park by opposing construction of a proposed 250- acre drag racing facility next to it.”
The proposed motorsport park is not adjacent to the beach park — it is a mile-and-a-half east — across Queen Kaahumanu Highway. It is not a 250-acre drag strip. In fact, the drag strip isn’t even being considered at this time.
What Mahiula Bay is adjacent to is the airport. We have all seen the beach park in flights coming into or departing Kona. The “wilderness park” is directly under the flight path. And a second military runway is in the plans.
At a recent meeting with county officials, it was discussed that the total KMP project should be broken into Phase One and Phase Two, with the dragstrip relegated to the back-burner in Phase Two … years later, if and when approved.
Phase One would concentrate on club-built tracks and trails for motorcycles, mini-bikes, 4x4s, ATVs, mountain bikes, other off-road vehicles and a go-kart track — plus the newly identified Kona Fairgrounds. The 30-acre fairgrounds portion of the park could host the annual county fair, commercial driver’s license training, driving schools, concerts and other public events.
Racing and riding activities at the park will be on weekends and holidays and only during the day. There is no electricity for claimed “extreme” lighting.
The highway which separates the two park areas pumps tons of hydrocarbons into the air 24/7 and hasn’t seemed to pollute our pristine waters. Far more cars, trucks and buses roll down Queen Kaahumanu Highway every day than will ever participate in motorsport events at the park.
So, without current facts about the proposed 250-acre recreational facility, Janice Palma-Glennie’s viewpoint and Move-On survey is only attracting misinformed citizens who are being led to believe there is going to be drag strip built “adjacent” to the beach park.
The facts, and Hawaii Racing Association’s vision of the project, are clear at hawaiiracingassoc.org.
Paul Maddox
President, Hawaii Racing Association Inc.
Kona