COM 1051.026 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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' ANPLU PHD H,LAHI YEY=RD 803 330 1305 P.r KA'UPUL6HU ISSUE - BACKGROUtiD In 1994, the Keakealani 'Chan? came to the :Kona Hawaiian Civic Club asking for help in opposing the proposed plans for development by Kaupulehu Development. These plans included petitioning the State Land Use Commission (LUC) to reclassin, approximately 1,009 acres north of Kona Village Resort from conservation district to urban district to allow for the construction of 530 single-family residential units, and 500 rulti-family residential units. Ic would also include a 36-hole golf course (2 golf courses), a golf clubho,.se, 11 acres of commercial develoomon: and a residents club. The Keakealani family and most other families ofthe ahupua'a asked that KHCC step in because they feared they would have no voice in opposing the destruction of their 'aina, particularly ka lae mano - the salt cliffs. The KHCC Board of Directors voted to support their efforts, and a motion was made at the general membership meeting, at the urging of our kupuua, to oppose this development. The vote to oppose was unanimous and the President was instructed to attend the LUC hearing at Waik.oloa to funnily oppose the reclassification petition. At this hearing, many other Hawaiian groups came farvard to request intervenor str.t" in a contested case. Of these gr o ps, the LUC allowed only 3 intervenors. Thes, 3 were; KHCC, Ka Lahui Hawaii, and Protect Kohanaiki 'Ghana (PKO). The LUC Chnl1 Allen Hoe, asked that all 3 consolidate into 1 entity for purposes of interventin, This entity became Ka Pa'akai o ka 'aina. because all 3 organizations were nsn, , with limited funds, Nike blatsukawa and Alfred Lerma agreed to represent us with legal counsel pro-bono. Both attorneys believed that the developer did not compl with existing land use lays and that the State of Hawaii had not done their fidic_ duty to Hawaiians in protecting their unique status and cultural resources accnlr' to the Hawaii State Constitution. Ka Pa'akai 0 Ka 'Aina was granted intervenor status in a contested case than began in 1994 and lasted for 22 months. During the 22 months, the KHCC ,.vas represented by Leimana Da:late, Presider'. Hannah Springer, 1st Vice President as well as keiki o ka 'aina of Ka'upulehu. Weekly classes were held by Vatsukaws and Lorma where land use laws were dilicer. studied, as well as federal land law" Hawaii statutes, environmental laws ant particularly Hawaiian practices, both. subsistence and religious - and how they related to Ka'upulehu. All, menbcrs of tho board, as well as many general nombe, participated in this process.