PUNA, Hawaii – The envisioned Puna Makai Alternate Route, or PMAR, has become a political issue in the primary election.

During a recent forum featuring the Puna candidates for Hawaii State Senate, incumbent Russell Ruderman and councilman Greggor Ilagan, the subject of PMAR was debated. Sen. Ruderman is pushing for the road as an alternate route in times of emergency, and during the forum he critical of the landowner, Shipman Ltd., for opposing the idea.

Shipman president Bill Walter saw the video and wanted to share his side of the story. We sat down with Walter at his office in Keaau.