COM 0349.881 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Murashige, Laura From: msunnafr@d.umn.edu on behalf of sunnafrank [msunnafr@d.umn.edu] Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 5:44 AM To: Yagong, Dominic; Ikeda, Donald; Yoshimoto, J; Higa, Stacy; Hoffmann, Pete Cc: cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us; cohinfo@co.hawaii.hi.us; counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Resolution 169-07 TO:Council Members Higa, Hoffman, Ikeda, Yagong, Yoshimotow FROM: Michael sunnafrank c RE: Resolution 169-07 N I am contacting you to express my dismay about your vote to delay Resolution 1~'-07. I previously wrote and expressed my gratitude for your courageous July vote supporting this resolution. But now find you have decided to give the developer, despite nothin"~q.new from that front, more time to attempt to ruin a very special place. I urge you to do as the vast majority of Ka'u residents wish and eventually support this resolution. 'D I own land in the Ka'u District where I plan to retire in a few years. Currently, I am a resident of Minnesota and Professor at the University of Minnesota. I recently wrote to you in support of Resolution 169-07 and again to thank you for your July vote to pass that Resolution. Given that unanimous vote I was shocked to learn that five members of the council reversed themselves, voting to delay another two months. This was done despite overwhelming support for the resolution by residents of Ka'u. The developer scores yet another victory. Yes, money is tight. Yes, it would be nice to bring jobs to Ka'u. But we are talking about a tragic and imminent threat to the people and culture of this rural area. We are talking about one of the last undeveloped easily accessible beaches in Hawaii. We are talking about a rich educational resource. we are talking about a food source for local families. We are talking so many more important things than wealth creation for a few non-local: investors and more cookie-cutter condos for vacationers and wealthy retirees who know little if anything about the local culture or history. As noted in my first letter supporting the resolution, good jobs based on eco-culture education can be brought to Ka'u. The fact it is largely undeveloped and local, primarily serving tourists as a drive-by experience, makes it a relatively rare district and one- that can support eco-culture experiences. That is what my students get there as they are welcomed with Aloha and for the first time experience a communal culture, one they come to love. Many return. In fact a group of 20 from 2001 is planning a return next May. I believe many of my students wrote in support of the resolution. That is how special this place was to them. I'd be more than willing to volunteer my expertise to help develop an eco-culture experience incorporating Punalu'u if you eventually do the right thing and,go forward with the purchase. This could produce jobs that would be sustainable and would grow in number as the word gets out. Not construction jobs that would pass as the condas are completed to be replaced by low-pay housekeeping and gardening jobs filled primarily but immigrants. Local children will grow up and have to move on since the developer has driven the price of land beyond what those low-pay jobs can pay for. Please do not turn this special place into yet another fading memory. Please do not give into the dollars, the developers and a Mayor who is more willing to. listen to non-resident wealth than the clear majority of residents of this district. In the future as 2 take up residency in Ka'u I will do all I can to unseat those who support the developer on this. In fact, I will do all I can now. Please do not add Punalu'u to the list of places and people crushed by sandalwood, cane, military, tourism and by corrupt leaders all for the sake of a buck. Mahalo for listening and your past and, hopefully, future support of 169-07 .C t%1_ Comm. No. 0 0 Michael sunnafrank Ref' To: Ju t Ref. Date