Highway 130 and PMAR meeting TONIGHT!

[senkahele]

Aloha,

When I was appointed to replace Senator Kokubun as the Senator for Senatorial District 2, I outlined my top priorities that I would pursue at all levels of Government. In the Puna district, Highway 130 and the PMAR were identified as my top legislative priority. Having drove the Puna Highway for many years I knew that it was important to bring the individuals that are now in the Executive leadership to Puna to view Highway 130 first hand and hear directly from the residents of Puna their concerns and frustrations. When DOT first asked me to set up a meeting they wanted it held in Hilo, but I pushed for the meeting to be held halfway between Hilo and Puna so we agreed to set it up in Kea'au. Tonight at the Kea'au Elementary Cafeteria you all have that opportunity. I will be hosting and moderating a “Infrastructure and Transportation Town Hall Meeting” that will be held from 5:30-7:30PM. Mr. Glen Okimoto, State Director of the Department of Transportation as well as other top level State DOT officials and Hawai’i County Department of Public Work’s officials will be attending and participating in the forum. Top items that will be discussed and progress reports given will be on State Highway 130, Hilo Harbor Expansion, Hilo Airport Cargo Facility and the Puna-Makai Alternate Route. You will be able to ask your questions directly to the #1 man in the State in charge of Transportation, Mr. Glen Okimoto.

This is your opportunity, I hope to see you there.

September 22nd 2011, 5:30-7:30PM Kea’au Elementary Cafeteria
16-680 Kea’au-Pahoa Road, Kea’au

Hauoli Ka Mana'o,

Senator Gil Kahele
Ka'u, Puna, Hilo

[Carey]

Senator Kahele,
Thank you for arranging the PMAR & Transportation meeting.

I would like to know if you will be working with Glen Okimoto & the DOT staff to obtain the answers to the audience questions on the status of the 130 projects (including clarification of the dates of the Ainaloa & Old Government Rd exchanges -pgs 10 & 11-, the bid & start date order of the phases, the scope of each of the phases & the Kahakai intersection questions.

Also helpful would be more information on the status of the Army Corps work on the breakwater project (I was surprised that the DOT folks at the meeting did not have that, as there were meetings on the modeling in Hilo last year...)

In general, I felt that the state folks were under-prepared for this meeting, & I do feel that they should have brought the 130 research materials, if they did not know the material enough to answer questions, rather than have an audience member supply it to them

It probably would be a good idea to send the answers to the unanswered questions in emails, as you do have the lists of the attendees.

Thank you again for bringing this panel together.

[senkahele]

The Senate
STATE CAPITOL HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813
September 23, 2011

To the Participants of the Infrastructure and Transportation Townhall Meeting,

I wanted to express my heartfelt Mahalo to you all for participating in the Infrastructure and Transportation Townhall Meeting that I hosted on September 22 at Kea‘au Elementary. I realize your time is precious, and I am grateful that you were able to take part in the forum with the State Department of Transportation (DOT), the Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works, and legislators covering the projects that affect our community.

I am also appreciative of the State and the County officials who gave of their time to update our community on current and future projects. In line with the Governor's vision, Director Glenn Okimoto and key senior staff are making an effort to reach out to the public and increase transparency in to our State Departments.

I do share in the frustrations expressed by participants at the forum on September 22, particularly in regards to the projects revolving around Highway 130. This is a necessary project that addresses a problem that has been plaguing the Puna community for years. With one of the highest growth rates within the State of Hawai‘i, the Puna community is poised to become one of the largest districts on the Big Island and infrastructure and transportation upgrades need to increase in parallel with this high rate of growth.

I want to assure you that I will do everything within my power to facilitate all aspects of the projects surrounding Highway 130. This is a top priority for me and I will be working closely with DOT officials ensuring that tangible progress is being made and that the shovels are in the ground as soon as possible.

I welcome any enquiries you may have on this or other projects in our community, and again, I thank you for your active participation in the civic process.

Hau‘oli Ka Mana‘o,

Gilbert Kahele
Hawai‘i State Senator, District 2
Hilo, Puna, Ka‘#363;

415 S. Beretania St., #208
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
TEL: 808.586.6760
FAX: 808.586.6689
From the Big Island, toll free 974-4000 ext. 66760
senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov