Petition To: Hawaiʻi County Council
Aloha Councilmembers,
The undersigned residents of, and visitors to, Waikōloa Village petition the County Council to ensure that a second arterial highway is open to traffic before new residents are allowed to occupy new housing planned for Waikōloa Village.
WHY THIS MATTERS:
Waikōloa Village has only one dedicated exit, Waikōloa Road, and a single-lane emergency-only route. With over 7,000 residents, this is not enough. During the 2021 Mana Road fire evacuation, residents reported waiting over an hour in traffic to exit the Village, and the fire had not even blocked the road.
The Fire Safety Research Institute has identified Waikōloa Village as having 100% higher wildfire risk than any other place in the United States. Last year, Fire Chief Todd warned that under Red Flag wind conditions, the Fire Department cannot stop fast-moving wildfires, and evacuation is the only protection.
The Mayor's proposed 2026-27 budget includes $11 million to build streets, sewers, and water lines to support 850 new housing units at Kamakoa Nui, but includes no funding for the second access road our community has needed since 2008. Without that road, thousands of new residents will be added to a community that already cannot safely evacuate during a wildfire emergency.
WE ARE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO:
Require that infrastructure investments for Kamakoa Nui housing be coordinated with the design and construction of the second access highway described in the 2008 South Kohala Community Development Plan, and that no new dwelling units be occupied until the second highway is open to traffic.