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LIFEc OF TcH~;~,AcND, <br /> (~t,c~, Jll~ant .l~,e ~a V ._l~,ci, ~ J ~l~,ci Jo~rt,a <br /> 76 North King Street, Suite 203, Honolt'akt'i;'Hawai~i 96817 <br /> Phone: (808) 533-3454 * E-Mail: henry@lifeoftheland.net <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Committee on Planning Co-Chair Councilmember Pete Hoffmann <br /> Co-Chair Councilmember K. Angel Pilago <br /> Date: April 19, 2005 <br /> Place: Councilroom <br /> Time: 1:30 pm <br /> Bill: 80 Subdivision of Land STRONG SUPPORT <br /> Aloha Co-Chairs Hoffmann, Pilago and Members of the Committee <br /> My name is Henry Curtis and I am Executive Director of Life of the Land, Hawaii's own environmental and community <br /> action group advocating for the people and the 'aina since 1970. Our mission is to preserve and protect the life of the <br /> land through sustainable land use and energy policies and by promoting open government through research, education, <br /> advocacy, and litigation. <br /> Hawaii needs to actively support agriculture. This means that farmers must have long term leases at reasonable (non- <br /> speculative) rates, access to water, financing for infrastructure, storage facilities, development of urban and farmers <br /> markets, and the clear delineation of lands dedicated to agriculture. <br /> Unfortunately, some believe that the only purpose for agricultural lands is to get tax breaks while land-banking the <br /> properties for future urbanization. Others believe that existing farm lands should be used for large private non-agricultural <br /> estates. <br /> The planned Hokulia project, developed by 1250 Oceanside Partners, would have consisted of 730 multimillion-dollar <br /> luxury homes on 1-acre lots south of Kona on what is now agriculturally zoned land above Kealakekua Bay. Judge Ibarra <br /> ruled that the Hokulia project is not permitted under the agricultural classification. <br /> There are other examples of the illegal taking of agricultural lands for non-agricultural purposes. These non-agricultural <br /> sub-divisions put strains on local resources, subvert the state land use law and make a mockery of the planning process. <br /> i he Hawaii State Constitution, Article XI, Section 1, as amended in 1978: <br /> For the benefit of present and future generations, the Slate and its political subdivisions shall conserve <br /> and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources, including land, water, air, minerals and <br /> energy sources, and shall promote the development and utilization of these resources in a manner <br /> consistent with their conservation and in furtherance of the self-sufficiencv of the State. <br /> All public natural resources are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people. <br /> <br /> Hawaii State Constitution: Article 16, Section 16: <br /> The provisions of this constitution shall be self-executing to the fullest extent that their respective <br /> natures permit. <br /> <br /> In order to truly obtain agricultural self-sufficiency, we must work together to protect existing agricultural lands. <br /> Comm. No. 2 <br /> Ref. To: Ptesect«d PL <br /> Ref. L'afe . <br /> A~~ <br /> <br />