KAILUA-KONA — Business owners and invested community members interested in talking story with county leadership on the state of West Hawaii’s economy will have the chance to do so.
KAILUA-KONA — Business owners and invested community members interested in talking story with county leadership on the state of West Hawaii’s economy will have the chance to do so.
The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Mayoral Luncheon will be held at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay from 11:30 a.m – 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
“(This event) is important because this is the first opportunity for the new, returning mayor to speak with the West Hawaii business community, and for them to hear what his vision and objectives are for the next few years,” said KKCC Executive Director Kirstin Kahaloa. “West Hawaii has a lot of needs and there has been a feeling for a long time that mayors could do more.”
Mayor Harry Kim said he sees a substantial opportunity to grow the economy of West Hawaii and envisions doing just that.
In many ways, that process begins Thursday at a venue providing county leadership a chance to become better acquainted with ideas and priorities from inside the West Hawaii business community.
“The North Kona area has tremendous growth potential,” Kim said. “This is a two-way opportunity. We will provide a general picture of where we are and what affects business owners — finances, problems. This is (also) an opportunity to have a question and answer period.”
West Hawaii wasn’t immune to the impacts of the Great Recession, and Kim said former Mayor Billy Kenoi’s first term in the recession’s immediate aftermath was a “low point” for the local economy since the turn of the century.
However, Kim characterized the last two years in West Hawaii and across the state as a far more stable situation, creating opportunities specifically for Kona, which he described as “perhaps the best planned community in the state, ever.”
The same way that construction and tourism go hand and hand, affecting one another and creating the greatest impact on both the state’s and Hawaii County’s economy, the infrastructure in Kona — from the developing road systems to the growing educational community at Palamanui to affordable housing projects — are working in concert to create opportunities Kona residents should be excited about, Kim said.
Beyond interactive talk story to inform county policies, Kim also mentioned instilling a sense of confidence in West Hawaii about immediate economic possibilities. Part of that objective involves facing the concerns of the West Hawaii business community head on, Kim said.
“It is our growing responsibility to be sure we address the problems of at-risk factors for homelessness,” he explained. “Housing and the health element are things we have to make sure we focus on to stay ahead of these growing problems.”
Beyond issues of housing and infrastructure, KKCC’s release said other topics of conversation Thursday may include specific county priorities, a mass transit system and several other future opportunities for economic development.
The price of general admission is $68, while Chamber and Rotary members can purchase seats for $58 each. Also included in the event is KKCC’s annual Business Expo, featuring information on developing and established businesses in West Hawaii. Expo hours will run from 10-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-2 p.m.
No walk-ins will be allowed at the luncheon and all who plan to attend must RSVP by Monday. Those who wish to register may do so at www.kona-kohala.com or by calling the KKCC office at (808) 329-1758.