2020-02-20 Leeward Exh B (REZ 19-238)

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once lived in this area, but no longer; high taxes force to sell or lose their land due to foreclosures. It's sad, because many were taken advantage in this process, including the Alapais. All of Alii Drive and makai mauka was important in our Hawaiian culture. The landscape mauka was for agriculture. This land has water beneath, so rooted plants thrive. I have land only three minutes away. I spend hours cutting back. I don't have to water, except for the lawn. I was told by Officer Moi; he recalls he was on special duty on this La`aloa Road and doing construction, he said he could not believe how much water was beneath while they were excavating, and he said it's far up the road, and he said twice, "far up." You can see why; it was the chosen land of the ali`i. With that being said, planting, habitation, platform, rock walls, including the Great Wall of Kuakini, Judd Trail, should have been occupied with our ancestors. And burials, they are all unmarked. At one time there were thousands who occupied this entire area, especially because of the weather, planting food, surfing, fishing and canoeing. I choose to live here, and I raised my family because it is the best place on earth. La`aloa is sacred. The mana is heavy here. I often stop at this particular land, and I pray. And I've taken Aunty Lily Ha`anio Kong—via marriage, we are related—and we pray. Spiritual occurrences have taken place, positive ones, and she told me the ancestors are calling. I respect our kupuna, and I try always to be pono. I pay attention, and I ask for guidance. I oppose this rezoning, require that this location be, have a cultural impact statement, EA, EIS. Chapter HAR 11-200.1 repealed August 9, 2019, spells all of this of the above, and I've included this on my board. CARR SMITH: Thank you very much. Questions? [None.] Thank you. You may be seated. Any other testifiers for this agenda item? VALEN[from the audience]: I didn't sign up to testify. Can I ask a question? CARR SMITH: If you'd like to come testify, you can VALEN[from the audience]: just to ask, yes. CARR SMITH: Sure. Hold on,just sit down, please. VALEN: Okay, thank you. CARR SMITH: Yes. Can you raise your right hand, please? VALEN: Yes. CARR SMITH: Okay. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Leeward Planning Commission? VALEN: I do. CARR SMITH: Okay. Please state your name and where you are from and then tell us your VALEN: My name is Gregory Valen. I have the property below this property, and I was notified of this meeting because of the close adjacency. And, obviously, we have some, you 5 EXHIBIT B