2008-01-11 TMAUNAKEA - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

And then I said, well, then maybe I’ll have to go to Maumae Beach, so they gave me a parking sticker to go to Maumae Beach. And on the way going to Maumae Beach, I just kind of drove down to the normal Hapuna Beach, I mean normal Mauna Kea parking to validate the situation and, in fact, there were only like four or five stalls taken. There was like 20-something open. So then I went ahead and went to Maumae Beach; and when I got home, I called up the hotel and asked for the head of security and told him the particular situation. And they were very helpful and asked me if I could describe who was the attendant up front; and I described the attendant and they said thank you for you commentary, we have had a complaint about that attendant and we’re going to take care of that issue for you. And then since then I’ve never seen that attendant there and I’ve never had any further problems. So I do feel like they take it seriously and maybe have corrected already the problem that’s referred to here. WATANABE: Oh, thank you. Well, it worked out in your favor. It seems you do take it seriously. Do we have any further questions for the applicant? So I take it then you are comfortable with all of the conditions, even inclusive of the revised Condition 3? MAPES: Yes, we are. WATANABE: Okay, thank you. You may be seated then. We do have three individuals who have signed up for public testimony. So Elmer Gorospe; oh, boy, Greg -, I don’t want to take a chance at murdering your last name; David Kimo Frankel. Okay, will each of you raise your right hand, please, so I can swear you in. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth now before the Planning Commission? TESTIFIERS: I do. WATANABE: Thank you. And why don’t we start on this side with David; and would you kindly state your name and address for the record. FRANKEL: You have our written testimony. My name is David Frankel. I’m here on behalf of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation representing Kalana Blakemore. My address is on the little slip of paper as well as on our testimony. We’re here today to ask the Planning Commission require a total of 50 public parking places that provide convenient access to the beach, as well as to ask you to prohibit the hotel from using the pass system. Kaunaoa Beach has been widely recognized as one of the very best beaches in the world. It’s a public beach. It is not owned by the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel or whatever name they’re going by today. Nevertheless hotel furniture as well as guests occupy the vast majority of the beach, to the exclusion of native Hawaiians and other residents. Residents desiring to visit the beach are routinely turned away at the gate to the resort after 9 a.m. because the beach parking lot is full. There’s no question that more each parking is needed. Native Hawaiians and other members of the public are also turned away even when the beach parking spaces are not full. For years the Mauna Kea Beach Resort has impeded Ms. Blakemore’s access to the beach, citing a variety of excuses. They’ve said parking passes haven’t been printed yet; sharks from a beached whale from a couple of weeks ago closed the beach even when Hapuna was opened. Only the first 30 cars per day are allowed down there. EXHIBIT B 7