With our State’s next legislative session quickly approaching, I was mauling over ideas of projects that reflects the needs in Puna. Since there is so much talk about Linda Lingle “stimulating” the economy by “investing” in infrastructure and job creating projects, I focused on ideas that would meet that criteria. Another primary criterion was improving the quality of life for Puna’s residents for both the short term and long term(i.e., workforce development). If you have some ideas to add to this list or comments about ideas below, please post them!
Summary
The proposed projects below address the areas of community recreation, fitness, social services, transportation infrastructure, education, and government services.
Pahoa Village Center
The creation of a Pahoa Village Center would greatly benefit the residents of Puna and produce a positive family environment that promotes healthy citizenry, family recreation, and an alternative to deviant behavior for youth. This Pahoa Village Center could be located on the premises of the current Pahoa Recreation Center, and offer a broader level of services than the existing site, such as a Fitness Center, Performing Arts Auditorium, and a Day Care Center.
The Fitness Center would be a valuable asset to the community because it would contribute to the preventative care of Puna’s residents and, in the long term, reduce the strain on Hawai’i’s overextended health care system. It would also provide a safe environment for cardiovascular activity such as a walking or jogging, as many of Puna’s roads lack adequate sidewalk coverage and street lights.
A Performing Arts Auditorium would create a venue for civic events and performing arts. The schools throughout Puna would benefit by fostering educational programs and/or curriculums that make use this center as well as attracting high-quality artists to the district for performances.
According to Pahoa High School’s School Profile, 82% of all families within the Pahoa school complex qualify as low-income, with many of them being single parent homes. A day care center that is non-subsidized and ran at-cost would benefit this segment of the population and allow single parents to return to work faster as well as providing constructive early childhood development.
Transportation Infrastructure
A general consensus throughout Puna is that transportation is one of the district’s most pressing issues. The Highway 130 Advisory Tasks for has identified several short-term improvements such as striping, left-turn acceleration pockets, bus stops, traffic signals, and pedestrian crosswalks however, funding has not yet been secured.
Another much-needed project that was identified in the 2003 Regional Circulation Plan and again in the Puna Community Development Plan is a Puna Makai Alternate Route. Although this project would cross many jurisdictional boundaries such as state, county, and private lands, the unbridled growth within Puna has created a situation that merits such a project.
These two projects alone would create years of employment opportunities, and at the same time provide invaluable upgrades to Puna’s transportation infrastructure.
Pahoa Sattelite Public Access Room
The Public Access Room is a division of the Legislative Reference Bureau at the Hawai’i State Legislature and serves citizens by providing services, facilities, and equipment to enhance their ability to participate in the legislative process. The Pahoa Sattelite Public Access Room would be equipped with computer terminals for accessing all types of legislative information and office staff to assist members of the public in legislative affairs. Additional capabilities would include a web cam terminal to record video testimony and live streams from legislative sessions. This project would create two full-time, or several part-time positions and be an invalueble asset that creates a closer bond between citizens and their lawmakers.
Pahoa Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Middle College Program
A Pahoa Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Middle College Program would be an alternative high school program for juniors and seniors. Students who participate would also earn college credit as well as be provided with transition services into their STEM career pathway. In the Puna district, 70% of the students who obtain their four year college degree are the first in their family to do so. The intent this program would be to increase the high-tech workforce in the Puna district by enabling the next generation of students to work hands on in these areas and assist in the transition to a local four year colleges such as the University of Hawai’i, at Hilo. This is the first step towards creating sustainable science and technology jobs in Puna.
Conclusion
Completion of these projects would help develop Puna’s job force, infrastructure, and benefit everyone within Puna. The Pahoa Village Center would offer much needed recreation and social services. Completion and funding of transportation projects would help alleviate the overextended infrastructure within Puna. A Pahoa Sattelite Public Access Room would enhance communication between citizens and lawmakers. Finally, the development of a Pahoa STEM Middle College program would help ensure that our next generation workforce is better qualified and more competitive than ever before.
