2022-04-21 Leeward Exh B (Public Testimony re Items 2&3 Hawaii One1 Investors REZ&SMA)

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VITOUSEK: Mahalo. Continuing on we have Sharon Willeford. Sharon would you please state your name and town you live in. WILLEFORD: Aloha, I'm Sharon Willeford. I live in Kaloko, Kailua-Kona. I was a longtime resident in Keauhou which I consider to be sacred land. All of the `aina is sacred here and it's being sold off to foreign investors, developers, newcomers without consideration for the local people. Many of us are struggling and I don't know what went on behind closed doors during Covid but looks like permits have been given out like candy and we need to think about the future. I was a teacher at Kahakai, and we never had a tsunami drill. Once a year we'd walk down to the church on the ocean for other emergency preparation and it's just endangering the children and the whole community. I think I had witnessed that my son told us last time that the coastline from Keauhou Bay is pretty much a dead zone. We have allowed this abuse and use of our land and our ocean, and we need to protect everything we have left. Some countries are disallowing foreign investors from purchasing land and homes in their land and we at least need to tax the newcomers highly so some of us can still find places to live and afford to live here. We should be focusing on growing food, keeping ag land going, helping each other and the new rich people coming in do not understand aloha. They just do not have the spirit and we need to watch carefully what's going on. I agree with everything that Simmy and the other testifiers have said, and I oppose number 2 and 3, no more extensions. Let's try to make this Kona town a beautiful place that people can come and visit and not another Oahu which is the intention by maps and other things that we've discovered of the new developers that are coming here. I saw that many permits were given out like candy during Covid, and we see the development starting all along Alii Drive and everywhere and we appreciate if you guys would realize yet you're ruining our life and the potential for this place to be nurturing for everyone that lives here. Mahalo. VITOUSEK: Mahalo. Our next testifier is Malia Kipapa. Malia, good to see you KIPAPA: Aloha— VITOUSEK: Please state your name and the town you live in and proceed with your testimony. KIPAPA: Mahalo. Kalamai, there's people doing the landscape in the background, so if it's loud kala mai. VITOUSEK: We can hear you just fine. KIPAPA: Aloha Leeward Planning Commission members, my name is Malia Kipapa. I'm a Kona resident and lineal descendant specifically to the `aina of Pahoehoe in North Kona. I wish to express my strong opposition to agenda item number 2 and number 3. Specifically, the request for an extension of the SMA Use permit. My personal opinion if the applicant can't complete the SMA requirements within this window and time period of the SMA. This permit is 11 EXHIBIT B