Gov. Ige to attend Hilo town hall meeting

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East Hawaii residents have a chance to discuss hot-button issues including homelessness and the Thirty Meter Telescope on Tuesday with Gov. David Ige.

East Hawaii residents have a chance to discuss hot-button issues including homelessness and the Thirty Meter Telescope on Tuesday with Gov. David Ige.

Ige will be in Hilo for the town hall “community connection” meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the UCB Building (301) at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

It’s free and open to the public.

The meeting is one of several happening at UH campuses around the state this summer.

Ige wants to meet residents — especially young people — to discuss his administration’s strategic initiatives and vet questions and concerns with the community.

“We want the voice of the people, not just those who are (older) but young people,” said Wil Okabe, East Hawaii liaison for Ige.

“We want to encourage the young people to come, too.”

Around 140 people attended a similar meeting in Kona in June, Okabe said. East Hawaii’s event might draw even more, he said, because of local interest in TMT and issues on Mauna Kea.

The meeting will include “breakout sessions” assigned to rooms as follows:

· Department of Land and Natural Resources – UCB Building (301) in Room 100.

· Agriculture/Department of Health — Campus Center Building in Room 301.

· Department of Transportation — UCB Building (301) in Room 127.

· Homelessness — Campus Center Building in Room 306.