My priorities are established by the constituents I hope to represent. Getting folks together to talk about their concerns and suggested solutions is where priority setting begins. This list started with a FB post by Ikaika Marzo last year asking folks to list their top 3 priorities in Puna. Someone else suggested adding solutions. The 433 responses were run through AI to summarize and produced the following list.  Although some issues are best addressed at the State level, this list provides lots of things to work on at the County level.

TOP COMMUNITY PROBLEMS IN PUNA

1. Traffic & Infrastructure (Single Access Road: Hwy 130)

We need alternative roads in an out of both Puna Makai and Puna Mauka. A study for best routes was recently funded through a combination of County and State funding. My goal would be to ensure the study is completed professionally and identifies doable routes.  The options will be evaluated by the public.  Then comes the challenge of funding that infrastructure!  I’ve been working towards a solution on this issue for 20 years and am ready to jump in and get it moving.  Funding is also needed to build the 20-acre County Park in HPP for which a Master Plan and environmental studies have been done.

2. Crime, Drugs, and Lack of Law Enforcement

For Puna, this often comes downs to inadequate police presence given the size of the district and poor road conditions.  The council doesn’t control hiring but does control budgeting so more funding for personnel and needed equipment is needed.  Through my involvement with Neighborhood Watch, police need a simple ordinance to enforce noise complaints similar to the boom box ordinance.  This is one of the most common calls to dispatch and often escalates into assault. I plan to work closely with our HPD to make positive changes is a priority.

3. Lack of Medical Facilities & Emergency Services

We have limited medical services in Puna which need to be expanded. The new Benioff medical center in Keaau is supposed to open in 2028 which will help. I previously worked on getting a 2nd ambulance for Puna by working with the State legislature.  Something desperately needed – a dialysis center in Puna!!

4. Affordable Housing, Homelessness, and Building Code Issues

Continue working to streamline or reform building codes, especially for Lava Zones 1 & 2. Using Habitat for Humanity-style models will achieve more affordable housing. Important to ensure squatting laws are enforced while expanding homeless outreach and shelters.

5. Lack of Economic Opportunities & Local Business Support

We need more jobs in Puna so folks don’t have to commute to work. Ensuring good Internet coverage throughout the district is key. Another would be tax incentives for small and locally owned businesses to encourage investment.  Developing Puna-branded value-added products (meat, crafts, art, food) for local and tourist markets while encouraging vocational and entrepreneurial training for keiki and residents can be encouraged through grant programs.

6. Pohoiki Boat Ramp & Ocean Access

While recovery of the boat ramp is primarily a State issue, we need to expand safe areas for the public to access the shoreline to fish and recreate. Puna lost significant shoreline access in the 2018 LERZ eruption and we need to work with the State to create new areas for safe access to the shoreline.  An initiative started after 2018 in which I was involved was creating plans to replace Ahalanui. Yet, this initiative stalled in the current administration and needs to be re-started. Increasing safe shoreline access will be a priority for me.

7. Homeowners Insurance & Lava Zone Discrimination

This issue requires working closely with our State legislators which I’ve been actively doing the last six years.  HB 20, a bill introduced by our D4 Representative Ilagan looks likely to pass this year and will provide some financial relief for low-income households. More work is needed on this piece such as finding ways to unbundle insurance to create affordable coverage programs tailored to Puna’s risk profile.

8. Youth & Elderly Services, Education, and Cultural Programming

Puna needs more programs and facilities for both our keiki and our kupuna.  Services need to be expanded along with educational and cultural programs to improve our district without forfeiting its past history.  As stated above, we need to expand recreational sites like Ahalanui County Park that was destroyed by lava.

 Community-Wide Recommendations

We need to gather at town hall meetings and Zoom meeting to gather direct input, We need to push for localized government and work to refresh our community planning boards; integrate traditional Hawaiian knowledge in land use planning; and focus on resilience, self-sufficiency, and unity in planning for Puna’s future.  While it’s been 8 years since the 2018 Kilauea eruption, we haven’t yet fully recovered.

In summary, the issues boil down to infrastructure, enforcement, equity, and empowerment.  Let’s work together to tackle these issues and implement sustainable solutions.