Don’t forget about
the long-term problems
WHT recently reported that Mayor Mitch Roth is reconsidering the Ironman. What hypocrisy, and a demonstration of his ignorance of or disdain for West Hawaii. The Ironman brings a huge amount of money, as well as great worldwide fame and publicity to Kona, (not the mayor’s Hilo) with only a slight and temporary traffic back up.
But the mayor has his planning director, (along with prior planing directors and mayors), recommend approval of every private proposal for Kona development putting more and more traffic into what has become permanent stop and go, emergency vehicle blocking, traffic jams during rush hours on Kuakini Highway, Henry Street, Mamalahoa Highway to Kailua-Kona town, Alii Drive and soon on Hualalai Road mauka of Kuakini.
What does the mayor even know about this so he and his planning director can consider their responsibility for it? Why is he adding to these problems? They are greatly increased by administrative delays in development, commonly, 5 to 25 years, without any infrastructure, that receive favorable approvals, so the mayor can be “nice” to the developers at the expense of the residents of West Hawaii? Why doesn’t the mayor and his planning director in Hilo consider these big time, long-term problems and do something about them for West Hawaii residents who incur up to an hour traffic jam delay every business day, which permanent problems far outweigh any minor very short-term Ironman complaints. It is a very small and gladly paid price paid by the silent majority which sincerely appreciates the Ironman.
Mark Van Pernis
Kona
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Where is the money going?
The Ironman this year was possibly one of the largest mess to our community, and yes, especially our population should be able to vote on this! Some $100 million? For who? Airlines, hotels, rental car companies, illegal (non-taxpaying ) “vacation rentals.” On the other hand, are Ironman participants giving appropriate tips? Are they respecting or acknowledging our Hawaiian culture, or are they just doing their self-promoting, profiting (professional) thing? An aproximately 20,000 people in our tiny community, with an already weak infrastructure, then adding on up to two weeks stay and two race days — you’ve got to be kidding me.
I want to know, where is the money going? Probably not to small business owners, and mom and pop shops who were unable to keep their stores open due to road closures. This was going out of the mayor’s hands.
Please, keep these events out of our community!
Sven Lindemann
Kailua-Kona
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