Mayor Mitch Roth hosted his first town hall in a series of community engagement meetings last night at Yano Hall in South Kona. The event drew over three dozen residents in person and over a hundred more online who tuned in to receive updates from County officials and share their perspectives on their neighborhood. Mayor Roth was joined by cabinet members who provided community-specific updates and offered valuable information about their respective departments and available services.
“We are humbled by the turnout and the community’s willingness to engage in helping us forge a sustainable Hawaiʻi Island where our keiki can thrive and succeed for generations,” said Mayor Roth. “These town halls serve as a reflection point for us and a chance to make course corrections if needed. We are here to serve and eagerly anticipate hearing from all of our communities, one by one, as we continue our journey around the island.”
The event commenced promptly at 6 p.m., with approximately 35 minutes dedicated to updates from the administration, followed by a community Q&A session that dominated the meeting until 8 p.m.
Among the numerous issues raised by residents, praise for the administration’s recently completed and ongoing road paving projects resonated with many attendees, earning applause from the audience when mentioned. Other issues that generated mixed reactions from the crowd were feral cats and Short Term Vacation Rentals.
High-priority topics for both residents and the administration included the request for more Pickle Ball courts, progress on a portion of the proposed Aliʻi Highway project, connecting Lako Street to Aliʻi Drive as an additional Mauka-Makai access point, and efforts to address homelessness in and around County parks.
The administration assured residents that significant work is being done on these high-priority items. This includes allocating an additional $100,000 to the Parks budget for Pickle Ball courts and an extra $6,000 for equipment. Furthermore, the administration is engaged in discussions with a developer who is willing to assist in the Aliʻi Highway connection between Lako and Aliʻi Drive. Joint enforcement operations at County parks to address homelessness will also continue.
Other issues brought up during the meeting included concerns about dangerous sections of Mamalahoa Highway, the establishment of an Energy Advisory Committee, inquiries about Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation funds, Parks’ signage, the availability of affordable housing, and Animal Control.
The administration’s next community town hall is scheduled for June 13th at Old Airport Beach Park Pavilion from 5 to 7 p.m. All members of the community are invited to join. The meeting will be streamed live on Mayor Roth’s Facebook page (facebook.com/himayormitch) and Nā Leo TV, Channel 55. There, residents can also view last nights town hall.