Any ideas for economic growth for Puna?

[Loren Baker]

James,

We're looking forward to the future. And remember, that was an EXAMPLE of future possibilities. The county doesn't have legal jurisdiction to change things in its own county? Then we need to put measures in place that can be used to alter systems which just aren't working. In my EXAMPLE, not a serious proposal, it means the county would have to work WITH the state, not against it.

I'm tired of people "bashing" big box stores as the greatest evil-doer of all time. People here used to pay $10.00 for a gallon of milk. Competition brings prices down. Being a retired business man, one thing I know for sure, competition in business helps a community overall.

An NO, this does not mean I want a Wal-Mart in Pahoa, I don't. But having Malama Market just down the road is nice, isn't it?

Has anyone noticed that Malama, without competition out here, has higher prices than Hilo? Yes, there is the Cash and Carry, but they are just as expensive.

We need to look at models that work, and implement them. Rob's ideas for future businesses are all good. But everything takes time, including any business start up.

Loren Baker
baker4puna.com

[Bob Orts]

Whenever you hear about development talk in the Puna District, there are five major development corridors being looked at:
1. Hilo - Keaau
2. Keaau - Volcano
3. Keaau - Pahoa
4. Pahoa - Kapoho
5. Pahoa - Kalapana

Both 1 & 2 are continuous in most developers mind. Given the opportunity for development along that corridor (especially along the Hilo-Keaau) there are few negative characteristics for the site selection process.

But once you exit that corridor and look at 3, 4 & 5, the infrastructure hurdles are just too negative for any true meaningful development along those corridors. Even if you took away all the issues of zoning and land use, developers will still pass on development opportunities that use roadways makai of highway 11.

Unless highway 11 expands and the PMAR is implemented, you won’t see any substantial development that will make Puna a destination and not just a pass through.

I don't care how many community villages centers you build, how many industrial parks are developed, or how much 'Buy Local' campaign funding there is, without a major retailer or service that will anchor these places, they will be half filled, here to day, gone tomorrow operations with little substantial economic impact to the community. People are going to go to Costco, Target, Walmart and Macy's because they are destinations. They will spend their money at the ancillary stores bordering these.

Consumers are not going to shop locally and only drive to Hilo or the west side and shop for the big items not available locally. Once they plan on making that trip out of the area, they are going to buy pretty much everything they can at that location. Especially if the price is lower.

A manufacture that caters to the entire island and all of the state isn't going to bury themselves back off the beaten path. If there was a brand new, modern industrial park in Pahoa, and a manufacture was looking for space, where do you think Pahoa would sit on their list when compared to a location in Hilo around the airport area?

Likewise, why are all the major shopping developments along the expanded highways? If there was a major shopping development along Highway 11 in Puna, it will be successful. Put in down on some 2 lane back road, and tenant interest will drop.

Until the roadways expand to accommodate development, until the County establishes a reliable municipal water system to accommodate development, until the electrical grid is improved to accommodate development, until the area's image changes to accommodate development; Hilo will be the destination for development with a positive economic impact.

Bottom line, widen 130, or kiss off any real meaningful economic development.

[Rob Tucker]

Aloha Loren,

Regarding things taking time...

I have noticed that the clock doesn't stop whether one is having fun or not. Many things can be done on a county level to set the stage for economic improvement. Puna in particular has not had any effort expended on setting the stage for much of anything. The Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP) may be the first tangible step in improvement. The PCDP may not be perfect and anyone and everyone can take issue with items in it but it is the first successful broad effort to aim in a direction put forth by the community.

I am hopeful that FoPF's proposed amendment to the PCDP which will call for increased community input on Village Centers will improve the planning in meaningful ways. The draft language for FoPF's amendment can be found here:

http://www.hcrc.info/community-planning/...-puna-cdp/

[Loren Baker]

My time comment was directed at Kapohocat, in that there are no quick fixes. This discussion about the PCDP and generalized improvements to the community should have taken place at least five years ago.

Where would we be now if the PCDP had been implenented, in parts, at least five years ago? We need to start now, so that the future looks better. We need to look at short term fixes, but as I said, any new business start-up takes time. No one will have an idea today for a new business, and have it up and running, employing people, come next Monday morning.

We would love to have a quick fix, but there is no such thing. Our President has been looking for a quick fix, and so far things haven't improved by much, economically speaking.

When I take over my seat on the council and my office in Pahoa, the door will always be open. But I'm asking everyone to bring me more solutions than problems, more answers than questions. If we all plan and work together, we can eliminte this "you can't do that" attitude I keep seeing and hearing. We need to work with our State Reps, we need to work with our PCDP planners and reps, we need to work with each other for the betterment of all Puna.

Again, I make no campaign promises except that I will work 24/7, like I have always done, so that we may all be successful.

Loren Baker
baker4puna.com

[Obie]

A Tractor Supply would be nice in the Pahoa area.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/

[Loren Baker]

Obie,

Great job thinking outside the box. This is what we like to see.

Loren Baker
baker4puna.com

[Rob Tucker]

Aloha Bob,

$56 million is in the pipeline for widening Hwy. 130 at this time. The planning is underway so I am making the assumption that it is a done deal. There are still aspects of the highway project under discussion but with the Hwy. 130 project on the schedule board it is time to look to PMAR and other aspects to follow.

[Loren Baker]

Rob,

Why is the widening progressing before the PMAR? Aren't we putting the cart before the horse? We're going to back up the traffic during construction for months in the future, with no alternate route to ease the traffic congestion. PMAR shoud have been planned, accepted, and built first, then look at Hwy. 130.

Typical government lack of common sense.

Loren Baker
baker4puna.com

[JerryCarr]

Regarding locally owned vs. national or "big box" businesses, I would like to point out that the local guys are not always the benign good citizens that they would like us to believe. Why does the Malama Market in Pahoa charge 10-25% more than their sister stores Foodland and SackNSave charge for the same items? Does it cost them that much more to haul the stuff the extra ten miles to Pahoa? I doubt it, especially since they have stores in Kailua-Kona and Waimea that are farther from port and distribution facilities than Pahoa, but have lower prices. The reason is because they can get away with it. I know lots of people who drive right by Malama on their way to get groceries in Hilo and only use the place as an oversized convenience store, something that I suppose does offer limited real value.

Why does KTA pay entry level workers about the same as WalMart and considerably less than Safeway? Because they can. While these companies may indeed keep their profits in Hawaii and make some charitable contributions, they are not paragons of virtue when it comes to their pricing or pay for employees.

[Rob Tucker]

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda.

I agree. Hwy. 130 will be a magnificent mess for four years at least. The main reason the widening is
moving forward is that they have the money in place, there is a demonstrated need and the consultants
and contractors can't make money if the budget isn't spent.