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Rr- /Zcs. 169-07 <br /> Mahalo to the Finance Committee for coming to Ka u to hear testimony. My testimony is from a Kau residena <br /> with a long track record of community service, incVuding starting and managing a Farmers Market Internet cafe <br /> and garden of native Hawaiian plants, five years as volunteer fireman. etc. <br /> { ask the Committee to oppose this Resolution and believe that this opinion is in line with that ofthc majurny of <br /> Ka a residents. "[here are several reasons for this opinion: <br /> L Financial. "1'he County can acquire Punalu'u Beach Park [or fi~ee from Sea Mountain 5. [t will be very autl~ <br /> to acquire the large acr'cage proposed, and the cost of fixing the infrastructure is unknown. Since Punalu'u i,5 <br /> <br /> already developed and there must he a fear of lawsuits, the CounciPs acquisition $ would be better spent nn <br /> <br /> some other section of Ka u's 80 miles or so of untouched coastline. <br /> 2. Lawsuit potential: The proposal to buy a part of the property will make negotiations with the present uwncn <br /> difficult. They will need to be compensated for the loss of value of the part of their property that the Resolution <br /> M <br /> is not seeking. Sca Mountain Five will need to be compensated for their expenditures to date. Colony nne and <br /> private landowners at Punalu'u have not been consulted on the purchase of land around them and have: <br /> <br /> expressed concerns about violations of Ilawaii statutes. <br /> <br /> 3. Loss of jobs: No employer has come to Ka'u to replace the sugar plantation that closed in 1996. A resort_ <br /> though not an ideal employer, would provide around 300 jobs. Currently, some residents rise at 3 am to take the <br /> l Ieleou bus to the Kona resorts, and many more commute by car. The Council should consider it a top priority <br /> to give these commuters a better life! <br /> 4. Management Concerns: Councilman Jacobson proposes to give management of the CuimciPs Punalu u <br /> property to Ka u Preservation, a group with no track record of environmental management or other relevant <br /> experience. Councilman Jacobson's cosy relationship with Ka u Preservation worries the average Ka'u residers <br /> It would he difficult f<x any group relying on volunteers and grants to survive a future economic duwnturu. <br /> Consider the example of Ile Kula na Mea Ifuwuii, a y'oup based on a successful halau and with many years' <br /> experience oC running the }luiafest in Waiohinu. This group suddenly folded in 2003. <br /> S. Sca Mountain Five appear to be a group with demonstrated concern for the environment and the cormunity <br /> 'they can be expected to be much better environmental managers of Punalu'u than Ka a Preservation based un <br /> experience and commitment. 'they have promised a Community Benetit Package that includes funds For <br /> hospitals and schoo{s in Ka u, a{so a Hawaiian CuhuraV Center 1 believe that Sea Mountain Five can be masted <br /> t~~ preserve and nurture Punalu~u and its wildlife. Please note a tendency to demean Sca Mountain Five as <br /> °devclupcrs" but Ka a Preservation is also seeking the role of developer on the site. <br /> iN SUMMARY, [submit that Ka'u's first need is (i~r economic help in the form of a major employer. <br /> <br /> (iovernmcnts are supposed to encourage employers in economically distressed areas but Ka'u has been <br /> neglected by County, State and Federal branches. Students graduating have little choice but to leave t(~re di~,u~ict <br /> <br /> urjoin the commuters. If the County plans notjust to neglect Ka'u as in the past but to actively intervene to <br /> <br /> defer a serious employer, they should he close to a deal with some alternative employer who can bring 100 j~.~hs <br /> Otherwise committee members should vote against the resolution. <br /> Ucnnis Elwell <br /> June 1 2007 <br /> ca„t,,, r~. 3y~. <br /> Ref. To• <br /> Ref. Dote ~,~~~tt(t1 <br /> <br />