FOK Written Testimony on Transferring Park to City

Aloha Friends,

Friends of Kewalos has submitted written testimony is full support of the HCDA Parks transfer to the City and County of Honolulu.  Public hearing is on Wednesday, 5/2 @ 9:00 am at HCDA.

Please read our testimony:

Hawaii Community Development Authority                           April 30, 2018 John Whalen, Chairperson Mary Pat Waterhouse, Vice Chairperson Shirley Swinney, Secretary Board Members

Written Testimony in SUPPORT of the Land Transfer of the HCDA Parks to the City and County of Honolulu. Aloha,

Friends of Kewalos are in support of the Land Transfer of the HCDA Parks to the City and County of Honolulu for the following reasons:

1. HCDA does not have the resources and expertise to maintain the Parks like the City does and must contract it out for a cost of $1 million dollars a year. The transfer will eliminate this cost.

2. The State and City will no longer have to deal with multi-jurisdictional land ownership issues to deal with the homeless situation at the parks. This will enable the City to handle it in a more efficient and cost effective manner.

In closing, Friends of Kewalos hopes that the transfer will not impact the park users and we will continue to enjoy the area like we do today, with the open access, free parking, and non commercialization to preserve the peaceful character, all the things we cherish. We look forward to working with the City to make the Parks as best as they can be. We take great pride in our park and invite you to our 12th Annual Kewalo Basin Park Clean Up/ Fundraiser on June 2, 2018 to see first hand what we are all about…

Aloha Pumehana, Ron Iwami President, Friends of Kewalos

To Protect, Preserve, and Malama Kewalo Basin Park and the surrounding shoreline and ocean to ensure that the recreational user will continue to have access and the ability to enjoy the area for future generations to come. www.kewalo.org

Mahalo, Friends of Kewalos PROTECT, PRESERVE, MALAMA