Next Town Meeting: Thursday, August 1, 2019 – Waimea School Cafeteria

WITH HURRICANE SEASON UPON US, A HURRICANE HARDENED EMERGENCY SHELTER ON WAIMEA TOWN MEETING AGENDA

WAIMEA, Hawai’i Island — With the season’s first hurricane heading this way (Hurricane Erick has been upgraded to a Category 4 but still expected to pass south of Hawai’i island though will probably bring high surf, wind and rain) and a second storm, Flossie, is brewing in the eastern Pacific and is possibly more threatening, it’s timely to think about our community’s need for a seriously “hardened” hurricane shelter.  This will be one of the primary topics at this Thursday’s Waimea Community Association Town Meeting, 5:15-7 p.m., August 1, 2019 in Waimea School Cafeteria.

As always, everyone is welcome to town meetings.

Hawai’i Island has literally only one “hardened” hurricane shelter – in Ka’u.  However, the long term plan for Waimea District Park includes a community center, so the discussion at Thursday’s Town Meeting will include exploring with Hawai’i County Parks & Recreation Director Roxcie Waltjen, Deputy Director Maurice “Mo” Messina and staff and Waimea Council members the possibility of converting this proposed facility into a hurricane hardened shelter.

Hawai’i County P&R staff were expected at last month’s Waimea town meeting had to be postponed. Now, while here, they also will review P&R programs, services, challenges and opportunities for Waimea, which is timely and relevant because the community has now settled into using the new Waimea District Gym – the “first phase of the first phase” of the long dreamed of Waimea District Park.  It’s time to talk about how it’s working, and what next, including what needs to be addressed.  P&R staff also will discuss work they have done to recover from serious vandalism at Waimea Park and other community concerns.

Since paying for all of this is a key ingredient, Hawai’i County Finance Director Deanna Sako will attend and present an overview of the recently Council-approved 2019-2020 County budget and what the community can expect.

As always, Waimea council members Val Poindexter and Dr. Tim Richards will participate as will Waimea Community Policing Officer May Lee with a community safety update.

Other brief presentations will include Hawaiian Ethos – one of the island’s two licensed cannabis growing operations located in Lalamilo Farm Lots.  Also, Paniolo Preservation Society will talk about presenting “Old Hawai’i On Horseback,” a stunning pageant about paniolo history entirely on horseback at Waiki’i Ranch on Sat., Sept. 14, 2019.

This month’s spotlighted not-for-profit will be the Waikoloa Dryland Forest Initiative.

Also as always, steaming hot Starbucks and cookies will be provided.

For more info, go to www.Facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation.