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<br /> TO: Chairperson Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd <br /> Hawaii Island County Council <br /> From: K. Angel Pilago <br /> Kona Resident <br /> Subj: Testimony in support of General Plan Amendments _ _ gy <br /> ~r'~! `a~I1.~„ <br /> Date: June 19, 200 ~e.__.._._~._~ ~r <br /> n ~ounc~l ~ - , <br /> Aloha and good evening to the County Council, to the friends and families of <br /> Kona,.. and honor and respects to our Kupuna and Kumu `Ao; Our Elders and Mentors. <br /> My name is K. Angel Pilago. A resident of Kona, and I testify to urge you to <br /> approve the General Plan Revisions and Amendments. Doing so will enable the <br /> Community and the County Administration to move forward and work together in <br /> reasonable, practical, and responsible fashion to improve the quality of life for all <br /> citizens of this island. <br /> I am Chairperson of the Kohanaiki Ohana, a community-based advocacy group. I <br /> also sit on the Boards of various organizations and commissions. As Vice-Chair of <br /> KAHEA we were signatories with President Clinton in receiving the Northwest Hawaiian <br /> Islands into Reserve status. On Hui Ho'oniho we are practitioners of traditional stone <br /> masonry and traditional burial and interment protocol. Pa Ku'i a Lua is an academy of <br /> Hawaiian martial arts, my expertise in the Pa is Tactics and Strategy. <br /> I am a crewmember and watch-captain of the voyaging canoes Hokule'a and <br /> Hawaii Loa. Councilor to the Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council. <br /> Commissioner to Department of Interior, National Park service; But, <br /> I am most proud of being a decendent of Kekuhaupio, the warrior-priest who was <br /> councilor and martial arts instructor to Kamehameha nui Paie'a, Kamehameha the <br /> Unifier. From ancient times to now, our family has always worked to make Hawaii a <br /> better place to live. <br /> A couple days ago I had a chuckle when I heard that the wrestling star...The <br /> Rock...was going to do a movie about Kamehameha. But soon those giggles turned <br /> serious when I realized that "The Rock" was right. We should all honor and respect our <br /> history,...and our values...and our future. <br /> Soon after, I revisited the General Plan and found in the Historic sites section the <br /> quote, "THE HERITAGE OF A COMMUNITY.... IS DOCUMENTED BY ITS <br /> HISTORY.... THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF SUCH DOCUMENTATION... IS <br /> CONTAINED IN THE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SITES THAT SUPPORT <br /> THE TRADITIONAL LEGACY.... <br /> ....THE IDENTITY OF A COMMUNITY EVOLVES FROM ITS PAST.... AND THE <br /> RECORD OF THAT PAST....IT PUTS US IN A BETTER POSTION TO JUDGE AND <br /> UNDERSTAND OUR CONTEMPORARY VALUES,...OUR PROGRESS, AND OUR <br /> LIFESTYLES...." <br /> Cornet. IV®. <br /> File Igo. <br /> fief. fio• <br /> Ref. [~te...,,...._~ Z <br /> <br />