HILO Hawaii Countys $155 million disaster funding request is not dead yet.
HILO — Hawaii County’s $155 million disaster funding request is not dead yet.
At least not in the state Senate.
The Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs passed on Tuesday the aid request for lower Puna as submitted.
That follows four House committees last week pulling a companion bill and instead passing a measure providing $60 million to help the area recover from last year’s Kilauea eruption.
A separate bill to provide $50 million in aid also passed a Senate committee last week.
Both Senate bills will be sent to the Ways and Means Committee for consideration.
The road to recovery starts with a road, actually 3 roads, Hwy 132, Pohoiki Road and connecting Hwy 137 through to Gov. Beach Road.
As it is now, lifeguards and other emergency vehicles drive between 50-70 miles round-trip from Pahoa to Pohoiki. Isaac Hale is only 8 1/2 miles from Pahoa on Pohoiki Road, anyone can do the math.