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One of the reasons I started this blog was to make some noise about the problems facing the Puna District and to help bring ideas and possible solutions to the table. Among the most effective solutions is for residents to begin actively taking matters into their own hands.

Recently a group of local residents hoping to boost Puna's fortunes by holding the County's feet to the fires of its obligations to Puna has organized and will be meeting 2-5 p.m. this Saturday (March 1) at the Pahoa Community Center. Pahoa resident Rob Tucker, who moderates the Punaweb forum, is organizing the Friends of Puna's Future and inviting everyone to the meeting.

Initially the group is eying ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act)-accessible sidewalks for Pahoa Village. County officials were quite proud of the work that was done recently to provide better access for disabled people on sidewalks in downtown Hilo, while ADA needs of Pahoa village, where sidewalks don't even exist in much of the area, are often ignored.

Part of FoPF's effort will be to raise funds for legal expenses that might arise if necessary to focus the County's attention on Puna's needs, many of which are spelled out in the Puna Community Development Plan that is being wrapped up for presentation to the county Planning Department today, said PCDP Chairman John Olson.

Olson and the many volunteers who worked on the CDP deserve tremendous credit for their hard work and long hours in producing the document. But it may take a group like Tucker's to see the ultimate results. As seen recently with the state's reaction to pressure from the Councilwoman Emily Naeole and the bloggers here about the poor state park maintenance in Puna, it takes extraordinary effort to get even the smallest things done with government. Other possible FoPF projects include natural resource protection and improved postal service, but the floor will be open to discussion and suggestions.

"Bring friends and associates who are interested in Puna's future," Tucker said. Coffee and pupus will be provided. Potluck desserts or pupus also are welcome."

I plan to be there with my small contribution to help get the ball rolling. And while I've got the checkbook out, I'm also sending what I can afford to Dan Domizio to help get a desperately needed urgent care medical facility operating in Pahoa. Send those contributions to: Treasurer -- PCMC (Pahoa Community Medial Clinic), c/o Richard Bidleman, 13-1264 Malama St., Pahoa HI 96778. Every bit helps.

It's all of these kinds of resident-driven grassroots projects and initiatives and more that we will need in Puna to power ourselves out of the doldrums of county and state government planning and into the winds of progress for our community.

For more info on the Friends of Puna's future, call Rob Tucker, 965-1555.