Mayor Mitch Roth and his cabinet presented an update on issues impacting the Kona community at Tuesday’s Town Hall Meeting at Makaeo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport Park. This was the second in a series of meetings he has planned for the island.
“This community is important to us and you are not forgotten,” said Roth at the beginning of the presentation. “Our administration has been focused on sustainability, to me that means the ability to allow our kids to raise their kids here on this island.”
Planning Director Zendo Kern said a draft general plan should be coming out for public review later this summer. He said zoning and subdivision codes, which are decades old are being revised. Also, a consultant contract has been signed for a study of a Kona Open Space Network that would identify parcels that would remain open so we could eventually have a trail system with open spaces throughout the urban area.
Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina talked about several items that will impact the Kona area.
He said West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery became the number one priority in the entire nation for expansion. With the Federal and State government, he is hoping for a well to be put in that area because of the high cost of water, which is needed to keep it green.
He also said his department is working on a scope of operations to fix the runway at Old Kona Airport Park.
“We need to do it the right way, not just patching it with cold patch,” he said.
$100,000 has been allocated for pickleball courts. A portion of that money will be used to asphalt and surface six courts behind the tennis courts.
He reported that Jeff Fear of Fearless Painting is looking into ways to rebuild the bathrooms at Old Kona Airport Park that burned down.
He also touted public-private partnerships at the Kona Aquatics Center and Charles Lunalilo Park for contributing to maintenance.
He said his department is now working with the Army Corp of Engineers to do a study to see how we can better protect Kahaluu Beach Park.
“That park is getting the most impact from sea level rise,” he said.
He announced the county is going through an Environmental Assessment for the Kealakehe Regional Park, which has been in the conceptual phase for decades.
“The mayor is working to get it shovel ready by the end of this term,” he said.
Messina said the budget to repair and maintain the 302 facilities under Parks and Recreation when the administration first took over was $425,000.
“That meant our department was stuck with backlogs of decades of deferred maintenance. We are now up to about $4 million in this upcoming budget cycle. That’s going to allow us to fix these things that are broken,” he said.
Public Works Director Steve Pause reported paving projects this year in West Hawaii included Kuakini Highway, Hualalai Road, Wailua Road and Hina Lani. He said there are plans to resurface three to four miles of Mamalahoa Highway through Holualoa on a federal share project. He said there are plans to repave the county parking lot in Kona. He also referred the community to their website to review all the projects in the pipeline.
Susan Kunz, Director of Housing and Community Development reported this next fiscal year, the office is going to be administering close to $60 million in housing funds. She said they just recently awarded about $7.5 million for their homeless and housing fund with an additional $11 million to be awarded in the next fiscal year.
“The only way we are going to address homelessness and solve homelessness is to house folks,” she said. “The affordable housing production and the homeless services kind of walk hand in hand, and that is what we try to continue to do.”
She said there are several large housing projects in the pipeline this year. Kaloko Heights, which recently broke ground will consist of 100 units available for families making 30-60% of the average median income (AMI). Kukuiola homeless shelter is being graded and the road being put in, which is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year. The first phase will include 16 emergency shelter units, a community center, shared bathroom and kitchens. Waikoloa Family Affordable will soon be filling 104 units, also at 30-60% AMI.
She said about 1,000 units will commence construction islandwide beginning next year.
Director of Environmental Management Ramzi Mansour said wastewater is a big challenge on the island. He said this island has 55,000 cesspools which translates to 55 million gallons per day that is not being treated. He said they are in the process of getting a consultant to do a study on cesspool conversion for the entire island.
Research and Development Director Doug Adams announced that by the end of the summer, the old Kmart building will house as part of the film and creative industries, a new development called Kona Studios which will be the largest studio in the state.
Fire Chief Kazuo Todd announced funding has been approved to add lifeguards to Kohanaiki. The Kailua Fire station is in the process of getting a new rescue boat with funding through the Daniel R Sayre Foundation, who is also helping fund a new $5 million H125 Airbus Helicopter that will be based out of Kona.
Other department heads also gave updates on their progress.
Members of the community were then given the opportunity to express their concerns over a wide range of topics from traffic, squatters, overdevelopment, feral cats and homelessness.
The next town hall meeting will be held June 27 from 5-7 p.m. at the Waikoloa Elementary School Cafeteria.