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Section One <br /> Summary--Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations <br /> Findings <br /> <br /> Human Oualities. The people of Pahala, Na alehu, Ocean View and <br /> surrounding settlements were found to have vitality and talent, bringing <br /> <br /> to bear enormous resourcefulness and creativity to make a life for <br /> <br /> themselves, their families and their communities. These four human <br /> qualities--vitality, talent, resourcefulness and creativity-are the core upon <br /> <br /> which the future can be built. <br /> Natural Resources and Families. People want to take care of both the <br /> natural resources and their families. They are especially concerned that <br /> their children will have options in their lives-options in Ka u. They are <br /> also concerned about the extent of long commutes to West Hawaii for <br /> those who have jobs and the exodus from the area of young people who <br /> do not have jobs. <br /> Physical, Social, and Financial Capital. The Ka'u area is rich in natural <br /> capital (physical resources) and social capital (people resources), but <br /> weak in financial capital (economic resources). Residents believe active <br /> efforts to promote economic development are necessary to foster a <br /> balance among the three capital elements for sustainable communities <br /> and resources. <br /> Conservation vs. Preservation. People reflected in their talk the concept <br /> of conservation rather than preservation. The notion that a resource <br /> would be locked up and taken away from people (preservation) was <br /> foreign to them. Instead they want a future where the people resources <br /> can interact with the natural resources-to the benefit of both. <br /> Save Both the Turtles and the People. The concern for taking care of <br /> natural resources was virtually universal, and there was full agreement <br /> about the importance of preserving access to the ocean, a local feel to the <br /> Punalu~u beach, and protection of shoreline resources. At the same time, <br /> residents don't want people to be sacrificed for environmental <br /> protection-"Sane the turtles and sane the people, too,"was a theme <br /> throughout the communities. <br /> Controlled Development. People want some form of economic <br /> development but want to be very careful about what it is. People are most <br /> concerned about the scale of development. They want "controlled <br /> 1 The Ka u Listening Project <br /> <br />