Positive energy in Hilo ADVERTISING Positive energy in Hilo What a pleasure it was to read the very positive, encouraging letter of March 5 in your newspaper from 11 of Hilo’s long-time business leaders. It is refreshing to learn that
Positive energy in Hilo
What a pleasure it was to read the very positive, encouraging letter of March 5 in your newspaper from 11 of Hilo’s long-time business leaders. It is refreshing to learn that these kamaaina individuals see an “unprecedented opportunity for Hilo” now that the state land leases established after the 1960 tsunami will be expiring soon.
These owners of family built businesses urge us to join them in preserving what “we all cherish about Hilo.” I plan to do my part as a resident of Hawaii since 1943 to work toward the revival of tourism and other sectors of the economy in Hilo. So, to these 11 leaders, thank you for taking pride in Hilo and encouraging us to join you in this worthwhile endeavor.
Paul Breese
Kapaau
Mixed-use development
plan not needed
I was horrified to read the lead article in Thursday’s West Hawaii Today. The last thing Kona needs is more shopping centers, hotels and high-rise condo buildings.
Every great city in the USA has a great city park. Central Park, NYC, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Balboa Park, San Diego, Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C., Griffiths Park, and Rancho Park in Los Angeles where as a young man I learned to play golf and tennis.
I propose a Kona citizen committee be formed to turn the 69.1 acres into a proper city park for the citizens of Kona. Public tennis courts, skateboard park, jogging and exercise track, county golf course, etc. There is no quality park to benefit the citizens of Kona. The Queen Liliuokalani Trust must be obtaining a substantial income for the commercial buildings on the land they currently own and lease for the benefit of orphans. Before the citizens of Hawaii allow a project like this we need to see a financial statement from the Queen Liliuokalani Trust how the money is being spent.
The hotel property next to Kahaluu Beach Park. For over three years the citizens of Kona have been promised by the Bishop Trust, now the King Kahkaha Schools Trust, to tear down the hotel land and create an enlarged park for the people of Kona. Nothing has been done. Every month the trust collects rental income for the Keauhou Shopping Center. The citizens of Kailua-Kona must have accounting of how the rental income is being spent. The name of the Bishop Trust was changed because the income from the trust was being paid to the directors in exorbitant salaries.
Please call West Hawaii Today for my contact information so we can form a citizens committee.
Dr. Martin Kelemen
Kona
