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<br /> property, however (at NO cost to the county) and rules of use would be up to <br /> <br /> the county. <br /> I don't know one individual who does not support keeping a county park at <br /> Punalu'u. It is not surprising that Sea Mountain supports this. It is in some <br /> ways more surprising that Ka'u Preservation supports this. The posters, web <br /> sites etc. is full of pleas to save the turtles, but the current and proposed uses <br /> as a county park are very incompatible with this goal. If the turtles were that <br /> endangered and important this beach should be closed. The boat ramp <br /> should be closed. The pollution of the sands and water by cigarette butts, <br /> food, trash, oil from boats, suntan oil, gasoline, light pollution from campers <br /> and cars would never be approved in a sanctuary fro turtles. <br /> If a satisfactory county park were created/preserved would the Sea Mountain <br /> <br /> Development benefit Ka'u? Absolutely. The support for the "stop <br /> development" position is principally Ka'u Preservation with Mr. Jacobson as <br /> <br /> their principal mouthpiece. At the talk story event on July 5`h he indicated <br /> that the response to Mr. Yagong's "ballots" was eight to one for "saving <br /> Punalu'u" whereas the West Hawaii Today reported it as almost even. <br /> What would be some benefits of the Sea Mountain proposal? <br /> 1.The county park would be improved and preserved at NO cost to the <br /> county <br /> 2. There would be an economic boost to the Ka'u community, both through <br /> <br /> the construction, the jobs created at the resort, the ripple effect jobs in the <br /> community, and the enhancement of opportunities for local farmers to <br /> <br /> provide fresh produce, a place to showcase Ka'u coffee, a place for local <br /> fishermen to sell their catch. <br /> 3. There are at least two large components of the Ka'u community that <br /> <br /> would benefit greatly from these jobs: The Filipino community and the <br /> Marshallese community. These communities have in common a <br /> considerable proportion of individuals with limited English speaking skills <br /> and a considerable proportion who already have experience working in the <br /> Kona resorts. These two community components have been largely not <br /> heard from. There is a very large and very rapidly growing Marshallese <br /> community in Ocean View. Sea Mountain would provide an excellent <br /> opportunity for this group and help them improve their living conditions. It <br /> <br />