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Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura From: Saari, Susan L. [SSaari@smdc.org] ~ irk t§ Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 1:15 PM Sul- To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Resolution 169-07 ;;i Deaz City Council Members Higa, Hoffman, Ikeda, Yagong, Yoshimotow, I wrote one of the 530 e-mails/letters out of the total 650, 5 to 1 in favor of supporting Resolution 169-07 (copy @ bottom). I must say I was thrilled and ecstatic that you as "Hawaiian County Councilors" voted unanimously to enter into negotiations to purchase Punalu'u and surrounding aeeas from the developer in order to preserve it. I do apologize for not sending you a great big Mahalo!!! As you did a "Fine" Job, and I was remise for not telling you sooner. Now I see our work here is not quite finished... As I mentioned in my fvst letter, I visited Hawaii with a class where I was introduced to many of the local people and their ' families, cultural landmazks, breathtaking beaches and historical sites, not to mention the many local homes who took our class in and treated us like family. I saw developed areas of Oahu as well as on the Big Island, but came to appreciate the undeveloped Kau district, particularly Punaluu and the local life. There is already more than enough development. I came during high season yet stayed in hotels in developed aeeas that were only a third full . Meanwhile, newer hotels were being built just down the road, ones that will only! be a third full in another twenty yeazs as development gobbles up what is left of the ocean front, ruining it for the locals and education-oriented alike. I know you will cazefully consider the tremendous impact of your decision. Your support of Resolution 169-07 will positively affect the future generations of the local Hawaiian people in addition to retaining Hawaiian's extraordinazv culture and history. We all have something at stake here. There aze many creative ideas that can be brought to the table to bring in additional funds if that is what is needed and still leave the option in the future to build or sell out. A great responsibility is entrusted th your hands and, as such, you must choose wisely to preserve this wonderful area in order to benefit many as opposed to a few. Sincerely, Susan Saari My original a-mail below; To Whom it may concern, On June 4th over 400 Ka' u Residents on the island of Hawaii came to a historic public hearing and the vast majority voiced their support of Hawaii County Resolution 169-07 that will protect critical habitat and sacred sites at Punalu' u one of the last beaches in Hawaii not developed into a massive luxury housing development and resort. I support the people of Ka'u and Hawai i who have asked the county council to save this important open space that provides families in Ka'u with income, an invaluable, sustainable food source and an important and vital family recreation azea that is the only public beach pazk in Ka'u. This is my testimony in support of resolution 169-07. I am a former University of Minnesota, Duluth student who took an "Communication &Inter-Cultural" class spending 18 I ~~c3rrm. tea. 3Nq.fsg'I Ref. To: 7/26/2007 Ref. Date titt n~,_.,.n 2U„~07__