Project List

This project list comes directly from the community. I welcome continued input from anyone I have yet to meet as your experience, insights and concerns matter. To keep projects from drifting into silence, Guy will create public accountability by posting monthly project updates.

The mission is simple…create REAL and VISIBLE results:

1.) Create a Project List that comes directly from the community.

2.) Connect key people that have the experience, knowledge and influence to get the job done.

3.) Create public accountability by posting monthly updates that indicate:

What’s moving
What’s stalled, and Why
What’s next.

4.) Guide the project to completion and deliver REAL and VISIBLE results.

8 Major Projects

#1: Preserve and Protect the Punalu’u Coastline

Our coastline is one of Hawaiʻi’s greatest treasures — not only for its beauty, but for its cultural, environmental, and economic importance to future generations. From the Volcano shoreline to South Kona Shoreline, our shores are almost free of resort development with the exception of Punalu’u. Development should never come at the expense of losing the natural beauty, cultural identity, and fragile ecosystems that make our district special.

Quoting a statement straight from the Ka’u CDP, “Though greater economic opportunity is critical, the people of Ka'u do not want to sacrifice their other values and priorities for the sake of the economy.” If you combine this statement with the overwhelming voices that spoke at the Planning Commission Hearing, against the development of Punalu’u on March 6, 2004….my path is clear. Preserve and Protect our coastline from one end of the district to the other.

I am not against development, I am for development that prioritizes the values of the people, the ‘aina and conforms to the Ka’u CDP.

#2: Billy Kenoi Covered Play Courts in Kealakekua

The Billy Kenoi Play courts, has proven to be a huge success for the resident of Panaewa, Pahoa and Waimea. It is about time for South Kona residence to get the benefits of the Billy Kenoi Outdoor Play courts.

A play court can serve many purposes for our community:

A place for youth to play basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and other recreational activities.
A safe gathering space for families and community events.
Opportunities for kupuna to stay active and healthy.
Positive outlets for our youth through sports and mentorship.
A way to strengthen community pride and relationships.

This vision is much more than building courts. It is about investing in people, creating opportunities for our keiki, and improving the quality of life for families throughout

South Kona. Together, we can create gathering places that promote health, unity, and a stronger sense of community for generations to come.

#3: A Police Station for Ocean View

Ocean View continues to experience significant growth, and with that growth comes an increasing demand for law enforcement presence, faster response times, and stronger community safety resources. Today, approximately 87% of police calls within our district come from Ocean View — a clear indication that the community needs additional support and infrastructure.

I support the development of a fully functional police station in Ocean View that is properly equipped, professionally staffed, and designed to meet the growing public safety needs of the community.

As your representative, I will work to bring together county leadership, law enforcement, and community stakeholders to move this vision forward responsibly and effectively.

#4: Trash Bins for Miloliʻi

For the residents of Miloliʻi, the lack of nearby county trash disposal has created an ongoing hardship for families and community members who are forced to haul their daily household trash long distances to either Ocean View or South Kona.

My goal is to work collaboratively with county departments, community leaders, and residents to explore practical and sustainable solutions that best serve the community. Possible options worth exploring include:

Weekly county trash pickup service.
Securing an alternative location for county trash bins.
Restoring trash bins to the original site with proper supervision and management.
Establishing community recycling and green waste programs to reduce overall trash volume.
Creating supervised collection areas or compacting systems to improve efficiency and minimize illegal dumping.
Exploring grant opportunities and partnerships to help offset operational costs.
Organizing community stewardship and educational programs focused on cleanliness, recycling, and environmental responsibility.

By working together and thinking creatively, we can identify responsible solutions that improve daily life while protecting the beauty and environment of the Miloliʻi coastline and surrounding community.

#5: Securing a Reasonable Lease for Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach County Park

Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach County Park is more than just a park — it is part of the heart and identity of Kaʻū. For generations, it has been a gathering place where families celebrate birthdays, graduations, weddings, baby lūʻau, fishing tournaments, community meetings, and cultural events.

For many years, the county park operated under a symbolic $1 per year lease agreement that reflected the park’s importance and public value to the people of Kaʻū. Today, stalled negotiations have resulted in the County paying approximately $167,000 per year under a month-to-month agreement — creating uncertainty for both the community and the future of the park.

Currently, the county has presented an offer to Black Sand Beach, LLC for the purchase of the current County Park at Punalu’u, using PONC funding.

I believe we must work toward securing a fair, reasonable, and long-term lease agreement that protects public access, preserves community use, and respects the significance of Punaluʻu to the people of Ka’u.

The people of Kaʻū should never have to worry about losing access to a place that has meant so much to generations of residents. I will work to support thoughtful dialogue and collaborative solutions that keep Punaluʻu County Park accessible, affordable, and available for the people and future generations of our community.

Once the park is secure, I will continue to pursue protection of the entire Punalu’u coastline.

#6: Support the Pāhala Visitor Center Development

Pāhala sits along Highway 11 — the main roadway that circles Hawaiʻi Island and serves as a gateway for residents, visitors, tour companies, and travelers exploring Kaʻū and the southern part of the island. With thousands of vehicles and tour buses passing through the area, Pāhala has a tremendous opportunity to strengthen its local economy while creating services that benefit both the community and visitors alike.

The proposed Pāhala Visitor Center and Community Market Development has the potential to become an important economic and community hub for the region. Plans for the project include a fuel station, convenience store, food mart, coffee shop, bathrooms, ice house, and parking facilities designed to better serve both local residents and the growing number of visitors traveling through Kaʻū.

This development could bring several important benefits to the community, including:

Creating local jobs and business opportunities.
Increasing economic activity for nearby businesses.
Providing much-needed services for residents and travelers.
Encouraging visitors to stop, shop, eat, and spend time in Pāhala.
Supporting local agriculture, local products, and small business partnerships.
Improving convenience, badly needed bathroom stop and accessibility for tour buses and travelers.
Generating additional tax revenue that can help support community improvements.

I believe growth should be responsible, community-minded, and beneficial to local residents first. With proper planning and community input, this project has the potential to strengthen Pāhala’s economy while creating long-term opportunities for future generations.

#7: Slow vehicle turnoff between Miloliʻi and Captain Cook

One of my long-term vision projects for District 6 is improving safety and traffic flow along Highway 11 between Miloliʻi and Captain Cook. This stretch of roadway presents some very challenging driving conditions — narrow two-lane traffic, sharp curves, limited visibility, very few passing zones, and increasing traffic volume traveling between Kaʻū and Kona.

Anyone who regularly drives this route understands the frustration and danger that can occur when long lines of vehicles build behind slower-moving traffic. For many District 6 residents, this roadway is not optional — it is part of everyday life.

My vision is to work collaboratively with County and State transportation leaders to explore the creation of slow-traffic pull-off wherever roadway conditions safely permit. These pull-offs would allow slower vehicles to safely move aside, improving traffic flow and reducing dangerous passing attempts by impatient drivers.

The goals of this project are simple:

Improve roadway safety
Reduce risky passing accidents
Ease driver frustration and traffic congestion
Create smoother traffic flow
Make travel safer for residents, visitors, and emergency responders

This will not be a quick or simple project. It will require State/County coordination, planning, engineering studies, and cooperation between multiple agencies. But I believe leadership is about thinking long term and working toward solutions that improve daily life for the people we serve.

#8: A Dialysis Center for Kaʻū

Many residents of Kaʻū, especially our kūpuna and medically vulnerable patients, receiving life-saving dialysis treatment, requires exhausting travel to Hilo three times every week.

These long drives place tremendous physical, emotional, and financial strain on patients and their families. Many dialysis patients are already dealing with fatigue, weakness, and serious health conditions, yet they must spend hours on the road simply to receive essential treatment needed to survive.

I believe making this vision a reality will require strong collaboration between county leadership, state health agencies, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and private medical partners. One possible path forward could include:

Partnering with existing healthcare organizations already providing dialysis services on Hawaiʻi Island.
Identifying county or state-supported land or facilities for development.
Pursuing state and federal rural healthcare grants.
Working with healthcare systems to determine patient demand and long-term sustainability.
Building strong community advocacy to demonstrate the urgent need for services in Kaʻū.

This project will not happen overnight, but meaningful progress begins with leadership willing to start the conversation, build partnerships, and fight for underserved communities.

Dream Projects

Improving Highway 11 Safety Between Miloliʻi and Captain Cook

Anyone who regularly drives this route understands the frustration and danger that can occur when long lines of vehicles build behind slower-moving traffic. One impatient or risky pass on a blind curve can quickly become a serious accident. For many District 6 residents, this roadway is not optional — it is part of everyday life.

I often refer to our residents as “Costco Travelers,” because many families make the long drive to Kona at least once or twice a month for shopping, appointments, medical visits, sports, and essential services. Our communities deserve a safer and less stressful driving experience.

My vision is to work collaboratively with County and State transportation leaders to explore the creation of additional slow-traffic pull-off areas in both directions wherever roadway conditions safely permit. These pull-offs would allow slower vehicles to safely move aside, improving traffic flow and reducing dangerous passing attempts by impatient drivers.

The goals of this project are simple:

Improve roadway safety
Reduce risky passing accidents
Ease driver frustration and traffic congestion
Create smoother traffic flow
Make travel safer for residents, visitors, and emergency responders

Just like the hurricane shelter and gym project I had in 2008….This will not be a quick or simple project. It will require coordination, planning, engineering studies, and cooperation between multiple agencies. But I believe leadership is about thinking long term and working toward solutions that improve daily life for the people we serve.

Sometimes small infrastructure improvements can make a very big difference in safety, stress, and quality of life for our communities.

A Dialysis Center for Kaʻū

Access to healthcare should never depend on where a person lives. Yet for many residents of Kaʻū, especially our kūpuna and medically vulnerable patients, receiving life-saving dialysis treatment requires exhausting travel to Hilo three times every week.

A dialysis center in Kaʻū would dramatically improve quality of life for many local residents by:

Reducing long and stressful travel times
Improving access to consistent medical care
Helping patients remain closer to family and support systems
Reducing transportation costs and caregiver burdens
Improving health outcomes and overall well-being for kūpuna and patients
Providing greater healthcare equity for rural communities

This is not simply a healthcare issue — it is a quality-of-life issue and a fairness issue for rural residents who deserve access to essential medical services closer to home.

Partnering with existing healthcare organizations already providing dialysis services on Hawaiʻi Island
Identifying county or state-supported land or facilities for development
Pursuing state and federal rural healthcare grants
Working with healthcare systems to determine patient demand and long-term sustainability
Building strong community advocacy to demonstrate the urgent need for services in Kaʻū