The Hawaii County Council rejected accepting the PMAR study funding today 7-2 - even though the adjoining resolution
416 passed. Resolution 416 urged the DPW to not include DHHL lands in the study area. This is the e-mail I sent to county
council after finding out about the outcome of the vote:
"Aloha,
I'm very disappointed the Hawaii County Council rejected the PMAR study funding that was appropriated by the
state legislature.back in 2021. The concerns about Bill 107 should've been addressed by resolution
416, which ironically passed, urging the DPW not to include DHHL areas lands in the study area.
The testimony I read opposed to Bill 107 largely didn't want an outright rejection of the funding, but assurances
HHL areas won't be included in the study. This makes the rejection of this funding even more perplexing. As
as a result of this action, the state legislature likely won't provide funding for this study in the future and take
a long hard look at other funding requests by Hawaii County.
This shortsighted decision gives the county a black eye as far as the state legislature. They're going to ask
questions why the council rejected this appropriation - even after they passed a resolution that addressed
the concerns about accepting the funding.
The more immediate concern is the growing traffic congestion in the Puna district. This issue won't go away if the county
continues to put their head in the sand.
The residents of Puna deserve answers why seven council members rejected accepting this funding.
Sincerely,
Aaron Stene"
416 passed. Resolution 416 urged the DPW to not include DHHL lands in the study area. This is the e-mail I sent to county
council after finding out about the outcome of the vote:
"Aloha,
I'm very disappointed the Hawaii County Council rejected the PMAR study funding that was appropriated by the
state legislature.back in 2021. The concerns about Bill 107 should've been addressed by resolution
416, which ironically passed, urging the DPW not to include DHHL areas lands in the study area.
The testimony I read opposed to Bill 107 largely didn't want an outright rejection of the funding, but assurances
HHL areas won't be included in the study. This makes the rejection of this funding even more perplexing. As
as a result of this action, the state legislature likely won't provide funding for this study in the future and take
a long hard look at other funding requests by Hawaii County.
This shortsighted decision gives the county a black eye as far as the state legislature. They're going to ask
questions why the council rejected this appropriation - even after they passed a resolution that addressed
the concerns about accepting the funding.
The more immediate concern is the growing traffic congestion in the Puna district. This issue won't go away if the county
continues to put their head in the sand.
The residents of Puna deserve answers why seven council members rejected accepting this funding.
Sincerely,
Aaron Stene"