On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, the County of Hawai‘i’s Disaster Recovery Division and Council District 4 hosted the second quarterly Revitalize Puna community activation with a focus on setting the table for community and County collaboration and action.

Approximately 100 people, including Puna residents and County officials, participated in a Zoom event that included updates on Kīlauea recovery infrastructure projects, updates from Resilience Capacity Areas (RCAs) and Action Teams as part of implementation of the Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan, a “resource happy hour” with local nonprofits, and a drive-thru meal kit and resource bag pickup at Maku‘u Farmer’s Market.  A total of 150 meal kits, paid for by Puna Geothermal Venture, were purchased and distributed as part of the event.

RCA co-chairs from the community and County that have formed since the initial Revitalize Puna event in June 2021 in Leilani Estates presented on their vision and the actions they will take together over the next 90 days. RCAs address resilience categories such as social, economic, cultural, natural environment, built environment, and youth. Each RCA includes Action Teams that will focus on projects to create a strong, vibrant community.

Providing updates on infrastructure investments were Zendo Kern, County Planning Director; Ikaika Rodenhurst, County Public Works Director, Maurice Messina, County Parks and Recreation Director; and Keith Okamoto, County Water Supply Manager-Chief Engineer. John Andoh, Mass Transit Administrator, also provided updates on bus service in Puna.

Through a combination of Federal and State funding, the County is receiving $82 million for road projects, $40 million for water projects, and $4.9 million for parks projects.

For roads, the County has identified restoration of Highway 137, Lighthouse Road, upper Pohoiki Road, and realignment of lower Pohoiki Road as projects to be funded. Additionally, about 1,000 feet of Leilani Avenue from Pohoiki Road to Kahukai Street is planned for restoration to provide access to homes in a kipuka. The Department of Water Supply has identified restoration of a waterline down Pohoiki Road to Isaac Hale Beach Park as a recovery project and is identifying alternate projects to be spent in Puna with the assistance.

A virtual public meeting will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. on October, 28, 2021 to receive input on proposed projects. Registration information will soon be announced. Proposed Parks projects identified with the recovery funds include: $2.86 million for Isaac Hale Beach Park, $1.76 million for department equipment, and $350,000 for other Puna parks projects.

Participants also learned about efforts to develop an asset and vulnerability map for Puna and were asked to complete a Community Readiness Inventory survey, sign up for Resilience Action Teams, reaffirm/refine guiding principles in the Resilience Action Playbook, and give feedback on infrastructure investments. Puna residents are invited to give their input by completing these surveys and forms at recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/revitalizepuna.