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18 Apri12005 <br /> Aloha Honorable Harry Kim and Members of the County Council for the Island of Hawaii, <br /> I understand that there are a few bills being considered this week that relate to land use, relating <br /> to subdivisions and open space, public access and natural resources. <br /> Just a moment ago, I emerged from the Geography of Hawai' i class that I teach at Hawai' i <br /> Community College, and, coincidentally, we were discussing some of these very issues today. <br /> From our class discussion, it is definitely my impression that this group of about twenty-five <br /> relatively young folks (my students) were collectively concerned about land use decisions that <br /> are being made in the Hawaiian Islands, in general; the students actually advocated some degree <br /> of land reform. They seemed apprehensive about the `suburbanization' of Hawaii and the often- <br /> associated spreading of subdivisions, and expressed the need to preserve threatened natural <br /> landscapes, (as well as ensure that Native Hawaiians are linked with lands that are suitable and in <br /> proper supply -which the students found is presently not the case). They also suggested that <br /> making land affordable and accessible to local residents should become more of a priority for <br /> those authorities and representatives who have some control over land use in Hawai i. <br /> My own opinion -one that I've come to through my sort of `geographic' lens, as well as <br /> personal perspective - is that it is vital that `open spaces' and natural resources be preserved to <br /> the maximum extent. And I am very happy to hear that there is a proposal to use 2% of property <br /> taxes towards that end. I support such a measure wholeheartedly, and would be amenable to an <br /> even higher percentage. <br /> In addition, I am alarmed about the trend that has allowed some agricultural lands to become <br /> open to speculation for subdivision, as in the case of Hokuli'a in Kona Hema. I hope that the <br /> council passes a bill that would effectively prevent this sort of scenario from taking place. If <br /> rezoning of such lands is found to be necessary, then it must do so in public view, with full <br /> community input, in a procedure that reflects honesty and open-ness. Once again, judging from <br /> my students' comments in the recent past, there is much disapproval and outright anger over the <br /> <br /> way over the Hokuli'a fiasco. I am not alone in feeling that this misuse of land represented a <br /> <br /> travesty of cultural, environmental and even socio-economic justice. <br /> Please consider my comments when you cast votes on these very important bills; they-iya11 h ~ a <br /> <br /> critical impact on the future of this island. ~ - <br /> Mahalo, <br /> <br /> Drew Kapp <br /> <br /> dkapp~u)hawaii.cdu <br /> <br /> PO Box 1192 <br /> <br /> Volcano, Hawaii 96785 <br /> (808) 938-3328 <br /> Comm. No, ~g'Z'~ <br /> Ref. To: Pr _ <br /> Ref. Uate _AFx- <br /> <br />