Leadership for Hawaii County

As Your Councilman Joe Made Things Happen

Joe worked cooperatively with the Council, Mayor, and county staff to enable benefits to his District and to the Island of Hawaii. The following are just a few of the issues Joe supported and provided leadership to enact.

2002 – 2004 Major Accomplishments Include:

Encouraged State and County Administration to prioritize design and construction of West Side roads
Supported land swap for new Police station in South Kona
Supported acquisition of land to complete Mamaholoa Hwy bypass
Authorized bond to provide $35M to Alii Bypass, $1.24M for Waikoloa Ho’oko Street Park, $.5M for Pahoa Village Resource Park and the planning for the proposed Captain Cook (South Kona) Police Station.
Worked to develop countywide recycling programs to reduce landfill
Provided $2M for West Hawaii Civic Center
Increased landfill tipping fees to encourage recycling
Passed strictest “anti-smoking” law in Hawaii.
Supported Resolutions for low cost senior rental housing in Hilo and Kona
Supported resolution to establish locally elected school boards
Provided $6M to improve Kuakini Highway from Palani Road to Hualalai Road.
Provided funding for water system improvements in Kona Coastview and Wonderview Subdivisions
Increased property tax “Home Owners Exemption” for local residents
Provided $3.7M of funding for South Kona Police Station

1996 – 1998 Accomplishments

General Community

Providing $30,000 for the Walua Trail for new bridge
Partially funding the Holualoa Heritage Corridor effort
Keauhou mauka trash transfer station construction completed
$22,500 for Waiaha and surrounding area flood plane study
Fire hydrants in Napo’opo’o with Councilman Santangelo
Street lighting for Keopuka Road and Nahi Nahi Loop
$10,000 to Research and Development for local benefit
$22,000 to West Hawaii Veteran’s Cemetery
Supported new developments and funding proposed for senior citizens

Parks & Recreation

Provided more than $20,000 in funding for Greenwell Park Tots Playground
$35,000 for Kamakana Playground and Higashihara Park
West Hawaii lifeguards received over $15,000 in funding for rescue equipment, supplies, and a new facility at Kahaluu

Police Department

$4,000 to Captain Cook station for a new Xerox machine
$6,000 to Kealakehe station for computers
$8,683 to Community Policing and sports equipment for police youth programs

Fire Department

$9,150 to Keauhou & Captain Cook stations for equipment & supplies

Activities Which Were Undertaken

Introduced Bill to amend our Sign Ordinance
Working with Mayor & Public Works to open Lako Street as a mauka-makai connector
Working on the waste & recycling problems
Working with the administrative staff to seek effective ways to provide for enforcement of our county laws
Working on a plan for interactive video conferencing to permit your participation in government without coming to Hilo