District Infrastructure
Residents’ safety, health, employment and educational opportunities are affected by traffic flow through Hwy13o.
- Hwy 130 $35mil for widening
- 1.5mil for survey for Puna makai alternative to Hwy 130
- consideration of other modes of transportation ie bikeways
District Concerns
Town halls keep constituents aware of developments in the legislature. These are some topics recently discussed
- $800k for Boys and Girls club of the big island
- Minimum wage increases from $12-$18 incrementally to 2028
- Establishment of a working group to address infrastructure repair and maintenance in planned subdivisions
- Ohana zones pilot program and deeply affordable housing to help homeless individuals and families in transition to permanent housing
- making earned income credit refundable and permanent
Improved healthcare with broadband
Dozens of Puna residents gathered for a town hall meeting on the topic of telehealth and broadband connectivity. Speakers included members from the Department of Health, Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center, Hilo Medical Center, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telecom. To view the video bit.ly/punatownhall or go to naleo.tv. With COVID-19 (Coronavirus) spread, telehealth will be needed.
Hilo Medical Center -$2,000,000 for design and construction of a telehealth unit.
Keiki well being
- Keiki protection by strengthening the states oversight of the fostercare and adoption of children
- increased funding for child care supports ie family resource centers and child wellness incentives
- safe space for youth program
- $10mil Keaʻau Library
- $2.5mil Keaʻau swimming pool
Native Hawaiian concerns
HB2511
Provides $600 mil to the department of Hawaiian Home Lands for purchase of lands and units, lot development and mortgage and rent relief for native Hawaiians
Lava recovery
- Housing recovery
- Rebuild or replace infrastructure and public facilities
- Assistance to affected business owners