Lower Puna Rising (formerly, I Mua Lower Puna) represents citizen participation at its best! Our community group consists of citizens whose properties were impacted by the 2018 lava flow. The goal of Lower Puna Rising is to positively impact the well-being of our greater Lower Puna community and provide a collective voice. The lava flow of 2018 highlights the need for an organized community effort to develop recovery plans that ensure equity in relief and integrity and sustainability for the future of Lower Puna.

Our first mission is the full recovery of our lost infrastructure: roads, water, and electricity. Once this is accomplished, we seek to build a regenerative economy based on Puna’s unique environment and natural surroundings that contribute to progressive and healthy forms of agriculture, education, ecotourism, safe and clean renewable energy, and other sustainable business enterprises and community organizations while protecting open spaces with respect to our host culture. 

To date, we have given testimony at Council Meetings, presented multiple petitions with thousands of signatures in support of road recovery and community driven solutions to the Council. On May 10, 2019 we hosted a community meeting attended by several hundred community members, where the citizens presented to the powers, stating our collective needs and offering solutions.  We gained local and national news coverage to strengthen our voice. We have been a continual force asking tough questions about the recovery effort and holding the County accountable to their promises.

More recently, in November 2020, we held a zoom “teach-in” for Mayor Mitch Roth and the County Administration, in which fifteen local residents and organizations presented the status of recovery efforts through our eyes. 

If you are interested in joining our mailing list, please contact Diane Franciosa at d_franciosa@verizon.net.