01-04-2007, 03:20 AM
Aloha All,
Yes change is inevitable. Can change be directed in a positive manner and still retain some of the local flavor that we love? I believe we can try to achieve just that. Puna continues to be one of the most reasonable places to purchase land or a home in the state. As more people move here, more commercial entities will also want a piece of the action. As a resident of HPP since 1989 and a "local Hilo girl"-I have seen lots of change, some good and some not. I have lived on the mainland and chose to return my family to my home state.
Placing one more commercial building on the Highway is not safe. The police/fire station is on state land and available to the county. Yes-I would have preferred it in Pahoa town, because now Pahoa "town" will appear to extend across the highway. I watched the public meeting when Mr. Gardner requested (draft 2) his zone change. His testimony stated that when he purchased the land, he planned to live there, but when he realized that the police and fire station were going to be next door, his focus changed. It doesn't follow that our focus should change as well. It will add to the brake lights that we all see when we return to Puna from Hilo. Let's continue to encourage commercial development within "towns" and off highways. Mahalo!
Yes change is inevitable. Can change be directed in a positive manner and still retain some of the local flavor that we love? I believe we can try to achieve just that. Puna continues to be one of the most reasonable places to purchase land or a home in the state. As more people move here, more commercial entities will also want a piece of the action. As a resident of HPP since 1989 and a "local Hilo girl"-I have seen lots of change, some good and some not. I have lived on the mainland and chose to return my family to my home state.
Placing one more commercial building on the Highway is not safe. The police/fire station is on state land and available to the county. Yes-I would have preferred it in Pahoa town, because now Pahoa "town" will appear to extend across the highway. I watched the public meeting when Mr. Gardner requested (draft 2) his zone change. His testimony stated that when he purchased the land, he planned to live there, but when he realized that the police and fire station were going to be next door, his focus changed. It doesn't follow that our focus should change as well. It will add to the brake lights that we all see when we return to Puna from Hilo. Let's continue to encourage commercial development within "towns" and off highways. Mahalo!