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ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR SITE Page 4 An alternative plan for this 31-acre site has been formulated by an HPP resident who own adja- centproperty to the site in question. This plan, when brought out in committee, was downplayed in favor of Luchau's plan, in spite of~ the potential for renewable revenues that it contained (see "Plan for Re- search/Sanctuarypreparatton phase). This plan, should it be initiated, not onl}' opens doors for renewable resources within our community, it also protects this site until it can be further studied and prepared, offers new avenues of funding and grant alternatives; and could very well show to the rest of the world how very advanced and considerate development into the new Millennium could become. Luchau's plan seems based on the same st}'le of development mentioned in the Master Plan which brought about hap- hazard, "substandard" development in our subdivision in the first place. The following are updates to work in progress being taken on individually by the alternative site plan designer at her own cost. 1) ADOPT A SITE UIIII PROGRAM According to State Historian, Mark Smith, the archaeological site in question is on record as dating from the paniolo da}'s. However, when Mr. Smith was taken on a recent walk through the site by committee members, he was not told of the burial cave with bones in it that had been on the community center grounds. Neither was he apprised of new artifact evidence found in the area, nor the site this artifact was found in. Also, upon discussing the potential of the area with both Chris Reichl and Paul Mills of the UHH Anthropology Department, it was discovered that Luchau had only just now contacted Prof. Mills, yet also did not include in their conversation anything further describing the site other than minimal wall work. It is unclear at this time ho«~ much, if anything, Mr. Luchau informed Prof. Mills of the Rosendahl study. Prof. Mills, as of the Spring 1999 semester will be including this site as part of the new "Adopt a Site" program, enlisting the elpertise of island-wise, upper-division students to initiate studies of the area in compliance with pertinant laws and area conservation techniques. 2) ENDANGERED SPECIES LOWLAND SANCTUARY Certainly, the site «~ould make a beautiful park for people once the archaeological research has been completed„ but what would it do to the current inhabitants of the rainforest there under the huge banyan trees (not just "overgrown mango" as Luchau would have us believe); the actual flora, fauna and lowland animalia abundant within its protective cover ? According to the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Honolulu, inviting in the public into such an area would be tantamount to getting rid of Oahu and telling everyone there to swim for the next shore they can find. INITIATE CHANGES PROVIDE A HOME Our island endangered species are being discussed in committee and treated in a manner similar to the concept that the Panda Bears are only considered an endangered species in America. Wh}' is the Pueo only considered endangered on Oahu? How do you think they ended up being endangered? Be- cause development took away their habitats. Why are our indigenous species, so endangered and rare, protected but not their habitat, their nesting grounds? Why is it that people complain about and physi- ca11y suffer from diseases such as leptospirosis, transferred often by rats around a catchtank, and yet nobody considers that the potentially Permaculture thing to do is provide the wild creatures that feed on them a home where they feel safe so that they will, in turn, help defend our unimproved areas against intense verrnin population growth. Then, think about this: if we don't want unwanted, frightening guests in our own home, we can ask them to leave. Shouldn't we give these other-species members of our ohana the same respect and let them have a home in peace? Isn't it up to us humans then, as caretakers of the globe, to provide them a home so that they will help defend ours? They haven't the power to ask us to leave, but we could certainly invite them to stay.