County must set rules for land use and impose the obligations
County must set rules for land use and impose the obligations
Regarding West Hawaii Today’s Dec. 4 story, “Hualalai development questioned,” Hawaii County has the opportunities to comply with the ordinances, to clarify nagging ambiguities, and to carry out the actions needed to resolve the continuing disagreements. This means to discard unworkable precedents and to embrace today’s reality of much-needed right thinking and to engage in hard choices.
Rezoning proposals of the past have been tainted with sugar-coated rationales. The prevailing bias had favored developers. The resultant impacts were increased infrastructure deficit. This phenomenon continues today. The implementation of the Kona Community Development Plan is hazy. Embrace the principle and vision of balanced growth and specify responsibilities for rezoning projects and the commensurate needs such as adequate mitigation.
Thus, a dilemma over rezoning proposals along the Hualalai Road corridor exists. Rezoning and adequate infrastructure are absent. Hualalai Road supports residents and commuters. Whether the road improvements are done piece by piece or do the ultimate immediately, the rules and standards must be set now. Define the corridor, set rules of land use and impose the obligations that come with it. Standardization would help with rezoning of future proposals which are likely to follow.
So, decision-makers on all fronts, quit the game of wrangling and firmly do your respective obligations. Then, all of us can be proud of accomplishments that were meant to be.
Harold Murata
Kealakekua
SKEA issues mahalo for concert support
The Society for Kona’s Education &Art wishes to thank the community for its support of our event, Music on the Lawn, which was recently held at our site in Honaunau. Many volunteers made this event a success by providing wonderful island-style entertainment;and an army of community volunteers set up tents, cooked food and served it, greeted visitors, cleaned up and helped out in many ways. Mahalo also to those who gave donations at the door.
SKEA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing events and programs that contribute to a vibrant community. We hope to make Music on the Lawn a regular South Kona event.
Susan B. Rice
SKEA Executive Director
SKEA Board of Directors