Written testimony due noon, Monday, May 18

Public hearing: Tuesday, May 19 at 5PM

Tell the Council:
No new residents
without a second road.

Over 200 of your neighbors have already signed our petition. Now Council needs to hear from you directly. Submit testimony by noon on Monday, May 18. It takes about 3 minutes.

The 3-Minute Version

Copy the testimony below, paste it into an email, add a sentence or two in your own words, and send it. That's it.

Send to: counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov

Subject: Testimony in SUPPORT of amending Bill 136 (Kamakoa Nui appropriation)

Deadline: Noon, Monday, May 18, 2026

Testimony template
✉️ Open in email
Aloha Councilmembers, My name is [YOUR NAME] and I am a [resident of / visitor to / supporter of] Waikōloa Village. I am writing in support of amending Bill 136 to require that the engineering and design of Waikōloa's second arterial highway be completed, and construction contracts signed, before County funds are spent on housing infrastructure unrelated to the highway. Waikōloa Village has only one road in and out for nearly 7,000 residents. The County's 2008 Community Development Plan named a second highway a "very high priority." Eighteen years later, nothing has been built. The Mayor's budget now proposes $11 million to grow our Village toward 10,000 residents, with no funding and no plan for a second road. The late Fire Chief Todd warned in May 2025 that under Red Flag conditions, the only protection for residents is evacuation. We cannot responsibly add thousands of new neighbors before there is a real, contracted plan to get everyone out safely. This amendment does not stop housing. It coordinates housing with safe access, so new residents move in with a way out. Mahalo for your leadership, [Your name] [Your address or town]

3 Ways to Submit Testimony

1. Email (fastest! Takes 3 minutes)

Send written testimony to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov by noon on Monday, May 18. Use the template above or write your own. Every email goes into the permanent record.

2. Video Testimony via Zoom

Pre-register by noon on Monday, May 18 by emailing councilremotetestimony@hawaiicounty.gov or calling (808) 961-8255. You'll get login info to speak directly to Council on Tuesday, May 19 at 5PM. Up to 3 minutes of oral testimony.

3. Testify in Person (Most Impactful!)

Show up Tuesday, May 19 at 5PM at one of these locations:

  • Hilo: Hawaiʻi County Building, Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street

  • Kona: West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Building A

Details

  • Amend Bill 136 to add language to the $11 million Kamakoa Nui Housing appropriation requiring:

    1. Engineering and design of the second arterial highway must be completed, and

    2. Construction contracts must be signed

    ...before County funds can be spent on housing infrastructure unrelated to the highway.

    This does not stop housing. It makes sure new residents have a safe way out before they move in.

  • Writing your own? Pick any of these

    Even 2 or 3 sentences in your own voice carries weight. Draw from any of these:

    • Waikōloa Village has one road in and out for nearly 7,000 residents.

    • The County's 2008 Community Development Plan named a second highway a "very high priority." Nothing has been built in 18 years.

    • The Mayor's budget adds $11M to grow the Village toward 10,000+ residents with no funding for a second road.

    • The 2021 Mana Fire evacuation produced hour-long traffic delays when our population was under 7,000.

    • Fire Chief Todd warned in May 2025 that under Red Flag conditions, evacuation is the only protection.

    • Bill 136 should require completed engineering and signed construction contracts before housing infrastructure funds are spent.

  • Over 200 Waikōloa Village residents and visitors have signed asking Council to tie housing infrastructure funds to second-road progress. We're hand-delivering it with our testimony on May 19.

    Sign the Petition → https://form.jotform.com/Advocates_contact/waikoloa-second-road-petition

    Testimony + petition = a much louder voice than either alone.

Ready to submit by email?

Send your written testimony by noon on Monday, May 18.

Email Your Testimony