-
- WEEKLY REPORT - JANUARY 17, 2001
- Visit the Hawaii County Website: www.Hawaii-County.com
- Hawaii County Information & Complaints: cohinfo@interpac.net
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-
- WEEKLY REPORT
-
- New name - flexible distribution date - hopefully
useful stuff.
-
- In this periodic report we hope to highlight issues
and
- activities around the island. We hope you find it
useful. If
- you know of others that may benefit from this memo,
please let
- us know of their names and e-mail addresses and we
are happy to
- include them. If you wish to be removed from
this
- distribution, 'Reply' and let us know -- we will
immediately
- remove your name from the distribution.
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-
- APOLOGIES IF I OFFENDED ANYONE
-
- It seems some find fault in the method of inclusion
in this
- distribution. If I offended anyone, I am sorry. In
my
- enthusiasm to expand communication with the
community, I added
- some names to the distribution without their prior
consent. In
- addition, some of you are here because a friend
forwarded your
- name. As always, if you want off the list, I will
immediately
- remove your name --- without hesitation or
judgment.
-
- The intent of this report is to provide information
about what
- is happening on the Big Island. We are trying to open
and
- extend lines of communication between County
government and the
- people we serve. We are trying to be helpful.
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-
- QUAINT FISHING VILLAGE ... OR ... TACKY TOURIST
TOWN?
- --- THE MESSAGES WE SEND ---
-
- Kailua-Kona ....What was once the pride of the
neighbor islands
- is now criticized by travel writers as a place to
avoid.
-
- A friend and I recently walked the village, from
Huggo's to the
- King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. Fortunately, the
sunset
- and boats in the harbor periodically drew our
attention away
- from the proliferation of clutter in the town.
-
- It seems merchants feel banners and sandwich boards
are the
- keys to success. Many of the "quaint" buildings are
now "old"
- and in serious need of attention, some beyond the
state that
- minor maintenance and fresh paint can sufficiently
address.
-
- Is Kailua-Kona's situation unique? No .... it is not
alone.
- And, we are not picking on Kailua-Kona by its
reference
- here --- we use it only as an example. We suspect
similar
- situations exist in virtually all communities on the
island.
-
- Think of your own town, be it Hawi, Waimea, Honoka'a,
Pahoa,
- Hilo, Volcano, Naalehu, Kealakekua, Kainaliu ... Does
your town
- convey the message you want about how your home is
identified?
-
- Is all lost? .... Absolutely not.
- Is there hope? .... Absolutely.
-
- I believe in the principle: "If you do things the
same way, you
- will get the same outcomes. If you want a different
outcome,
- you have to change what you are doing."
-
- Let's change how we do things.
-
- We need to start somewhere .... Let's start with our
signs.
-
- Signs convey Messages .... Let's send the message
that not only
- is the success of each business in our community
important, but
- the collective well-being and quality of life in our
community
- are equally important .... Let's send the message
that we care.
-
- Let's work with our local merchants, property
managers and
- owners to help them see: More and/or bigger signs are
not
- necessarily better; Sidewalk obstacle courses do not
encourage
- stopping and shopping; and, How we look and feel as a
community
- impacts each business's bottom line.
-
- The sign ordinance (Chapter 3 in the Hawaii County
Code:
- www.hawaii-county.com/countycode/haw03tx.html)
is lengthy
- and somewhat cumbersome the way it is written, but
the rights
- are pretty simple: A typical business is permitted
one sign.
- Variations apply in certain circumstances and we
understand the
- County Council is considering changes in the
code.
-
- Is sign control the sole responsibility of
government? I don't
- think so. If we look to government as the only means
of
- control, things will not change. That is how this
issue has
- been approached in the past. If we want a different
end,
- we need to implement a different means.
-
- Remember, this is not "business's" or "government's"
problem.
- It is OUR problem .... and each of us is part of the
solution.
-
- Let's change how we do things.
-
- We are starting a process in Kailua-Kona and Waimea
where many
- have expressed concern about how their towns look and
feel.
- County government, community group representatives
(Outdoor
- Circle, Chamber of Commerce, Community Association,
etc.,)
- property owners, property managers and business
owners are
- meeting to address the messages we send with our
signs.
-
- The process requires each participant's commitment of
time and
- cooperative effort. Our approach is collaborative
rather than
- confrontational and we meet in small, workable-size
groups
- We agree to avoid name-calling, finger-pointing,
blame and
- other ineffective distractions.
-
- While the initial focus is on commercial
signage...this is not
- just about signs. This is about who we are as a
community and
- how we convey this to ourselves and others.
-
- This is our home ... let's work together.
- Let's change how we do things.
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-
- KONA -- COMING ROAD WORK NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION
-
- The long needed Traffic Signal at Queen Kaahumanu and
Hina Lani
- (near Costco) is scheduled to start construction
February 2001.
-
- Unrelated, but in the vicinity .... channelized
intersection
- improvements (turning pockets -
acceleration/deceleration
- lanes) to the Kaloko-Honokohau National Park to
start
- construction in February 2001.
-
- While this is good news, traffic congestion will get
worse
- (during construction) before it gets better. Expect
delays.
-
- Mahalo to State Department of Transportation for
moving ahead
- with these much needed projects.
-
- Be Cautious ... Be Patient ... Be Kind.
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-
- COUNTY WEBSITE GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
-
- Those of you that tried to visit
www.Hawaii-County.com in
- recent days saw that the site was moaning and
groaning, and
- painfully slow. Access terminated over the
weekend.
-
- I spoke with the County webmaster and am happy to
report that
- www.Hawaii-County.com
is on the road to recovery and will soon
- be back to normal. Please, no flowers ... just visit
the site.
- (Lots available now .... more and better things to
come.).
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-
- HAWAII COUNTY PUBLIC NOTICES
-
- This site lists Public Hearings (i.e. Commission
Hearings:
- Planning, Liquor, etc.,) Bills/Ordinances Passed and
Public
- Notices (Applications to the Planning Director - Plan
Approval,
- Variances, Additional Farm Dwellings, Ohana, etc.,)
etc.
- This site is frequently updated, so please regularly
return to
- it for the latest announcements.
-
- Hawaii County Public Notices
- http://www.midweek.com/hscpn/Hawaii/index.html
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-
- E-MAIL FEEDBACK TO HAWAII COUNTY DEPARTMENTS
-
- Need information or want to contact us? Use the
following link
- to send E-Mail messages to various Hawaii County
Departments.
- (A drop-down menu to various County Departments and
Agencies is
- provided for your convenience.)
-
- Feedback - Send E-Mail to County Departments
- http://www.hawaii-county.com/feedback.htm
-
- Direct E-Mail to Hawaii County Information and
Complaints:
- cohinfo@interpac.net
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-
- HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA AND ACTION
-
- The following link takes you to the various Hawaii
County
- Council Agendas and summaries of actions taken by
the
- Committees or by the full Council.
-
- County Council Agenda and Action
- http://www.hawaii-county.com/council/council.htm
- (then click on the 2000-2002 Session and specific
date for
- Council and/or Committee activities)
-
- Next Council Committee meeting, Tuesday, January
23
- Next Full Council meeting, Wednesday, January
24.
- Click here for the Council schedule:
- http://www.hawaii-county.com/cgi-bin/webcal/webcal.pl
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-
- COMMUNITY CALENDARS OF EVENTS
-
- For community events please use the web-based
calendar links.
- Add your own events to the respective calendars so
others can
- get the word and not conflict with your plans.
-
- Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau Calendar
- (Statewide - choose your island)
- http://calendar.gohawaii.com/
- Hawaii.com Calendar
- (Statewide - choose your island)
- http://www.hawaii.com/events/
- Kamuela.com Calendar
- http://kamuela.com/calendar/default.asp
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-
- Peter T. Young, Deputy Managing Director
- County of Hawaii, Office of the Mayor
-
- Hanama Place, Suite 103
- 75-5706 Kuakini Highway
- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
- E-Mail: cohdmd@interpac.net
- Telephone: (808) 329-5226
- Facsimile: (808) 326-5663
- Visit the Hawaii County Website www.Hawaii-County.com
- Hawaii County Information & Complaints: cohinfo@interpac.net
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