James Weatherford for Hawaii County Council District 5

The Puna Community Development Plan has presented for the community’s consideration the following two mutually-exclusive ‘choices’ regarding investment of financial and political resources.

(1) Twentieth Century Suburban Sprawl.

Invest in widening of Highway 130 to increase capacity for car travel between Puna and Hilo. The effect will be to perpetuate Puna’s status as a ‘bedroom community,’ with residents reliant on travel beyond the District to access most government, commercial, and social services, as well as for employment, arts, and entertainment. Daily lives of Puna residents will be ever more oriented outside the District, and less toward their community and each other.

There are multiple examples across the USA going back at least 20 years or more where highways have been widened for the purpose of increasing capacity for car travel between a ‘bedroom community’ and a distant center. Typically, after no more than 10, and as little as 5, years, the capacity of additional lanes is exceeded and congestion has returned. In a phrase, “Widening a highway to relieve congestion is like loosening your belt to reduce your weight!”

(2) Twenty-First Century Community Building.

Invest in development of infrastructure and services necessary for village and town centers in Puna. The effect will be to empower the Puna community to be more self-reliant. Puna residents will access most public, commercial, and social services within Puna; doing so by driving short distances or not driving at all.

Makuu Market, which began in 2001 opening one day per week with minimal infrastructure, is now a phenomenal success and proof positive that a community gathering place can increase local economic activity and social interaction within, and to the benefit of, the Puna community.

Entrepreneurs are building custom and business relationships in fresh food production, prepared food service, creative and healing arts, and more. There is a substantial and flourishing market for re-using resources (household goods, tools, clothing, books, etc).

The social interactions as well as the market transactions on one day per week for 5 years at Makuu Market have helped build 7-days-a-week community relationships and social support networks across the entire District.

As a Puna resident, my ‘choice’ is Twenty-First Century Community Building.

Furthermore, there is abundant evidence collected throughout the PCDP process that this same ‘choice’ is overwhelmingly preferred by the broader community.