Elected officials talk story on session’s achievements, remaining goals

KAILUA-KONA — A standing-room-only crowd filled council chambers at the West Hawaii Civic Center Wednesday evening for a legislative talk story session with West Hawaii lawmakers.

State Sen. Dru Kanuha, Rep. Nicole Lowen, and County Councilwomen Maile David, Rebecca Villegas and Karen Eoff recapped their achievements for this legislative session at a community forum that brought out more than 100 community members.

David, Council District 6, reported the Captain Cook Police Station is still on the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) list, however there is no funding slated for the South Kona station. South Kona is the only district on Hawaii Island without a police station. However, the Ka’u district has been slated to receive six new police officers for an area larger than the island of Oahu. Those positions will be gradually be worked in, with the first officers staffing the district by the end of the year.

David also mentioned Parks and Recreation and Community groups are improving Kahuku Park in Ocean View to include a skate park. She indicated that with community involvement, the park, once improved, will resolve the situation of undesirable individuals loitering at Ka’u’s only park.

In regards to the transfer station situations in her district, David reported the green waste situation at Keei Transfer Station is being addressed by providing security assure commercial haulers do not dump at that facility, and the 80 cubic yard limit is sufficient for residential needs. Phase 1 of the new Ocean View Transfer Station will be open in a few weeks, and Pahala’s station hours will be reduced from four to three operating days because of population demands.

Two sewage treatment plants have been identified in David’s district, one in Pahala and one in Naalehu. She indicated the Pahala station is on hold, and will be fined by the EPA if it is not resolved soon. The county will apply for another extension for that project, as a site has not been secured.

David is also working on a resolution to fund the purchase of land for the Amy H.B. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden under the open space fund. The finance department is negotiating a purchase agreement.

Rebecca Villegas, Council District 7, next presented her report. She indicated 8 acres at Puapuaa are on the PONC list, for sale by a seller willing to work with the county. The area contains several archaeological sites and holds the potential for becoming a park. Also, the county is looking at purchasing a parcel at the popular Banyans Surf Spot, slated for condo development.

“This is a place where keiki thrive,” said Villegas.

The councilwoman also talked about trying to find money to finance a sewer improvement project for Alii Drive. “We need to get rid of the cesspools, protect and rehabilitate our ecosystem,” she told the audience.

Villegas also talked about the “Shave and Pave” project being done on Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa. County crews have been expanding the shoulder between the gravel parking lot and Holualoa Elementary School, making the corridor much safer for keiki transversing the area going to and from the school.

“We are at a tipping point” with the homeless situation, Villegas said. She talked about the grassroots community meeting organized by Umekes owner Nakoa Pabre, and the community’s support for solutions. The responses of “what can we do and how can we do it?” indicated the community is willing to work with county departments tasked with addressing the monumental issue.

Karen Eoff thanked her constituents for the opportunity to serve district 8 on the county council. Her main focus has been working on the affordable housing crisis in her district. She said working with housing and community development to increase housing inventory and provide housing units and section 8 subsidized rentals has been a high priority. She has been working to change the formula for affordable housing guidelines. “What works in Hilo doesn’t work in Kona,” she said about the disparity in rental rates.

Eoff also referred to the 190-acre Kealakehe Regional Park which is slated to be implemented in four phases. An Environmental Assessment is currently being done.

Eoff indicated population density is slated to be implemented in the area of the West Hawaii Civic Center. Besides the Village 9 homeless solution, Kaloko Affordable will provide an additional 100 units, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will add 60 more units and the Ohana Zone will provide emergency, transitional and low-income housing.

Kanuha touted disaster relief as his top priority for this legislative session, gleaning $60 million for volcano and hurricane assistance.

He also spoke of a coordinated effort to secure funding for lifeguards at Kua Bay, with the lifeguard station being installed this past weekend.

Though efforts to widen Kuakini Highway from Henry Street to Kamehameha III did not make it out of conference this session, he agreed that it needs to move forward.

Nicole Lowen, House District 6, disclosed the legislative release of $15 million for the construction of a new classroom building at Kealakehe Elementary School, the status of the new Kona Courthouse and airport construction.

The courthouse construction is complete and is slated to open late this summer.

The Federal Inspection Station at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport is scheduled to start work in September, with a completion date of June 2021. The terminal modernization, which is currently under construction, is expected to be complete by early 2020.

Lowen also talked about the Aquaculture Accelerator Program at NELHA which will be a worldwide incubator for developing technology and clean transportation technology, a policy that will transition state and county vehicles to an electric fleet. She talked about a clean transportation policy to transition to electric vehicles and the need for an infrastructure to accommodate a rebate program for charging stations at public places.

Lowen also mentioned an obscure House Bill that was passed where gift card issuers must give cash back for balances under $5.