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ROJAS: — and foremost. Mahalo. <br /> VITOUSEK: Mahalo. Thank you for your time. <br /> HATA: Next up, we have Kiara Lorenzo Rodrigues testifying on Items 5 and 6. <br /> LORENZO RODRIGUES: "—" can you folks hear me well? <br /> VITOUSEK: Yes, we can. <br /> HATA: Yes, we can hear you. <br /> LORENZO RODRIGUES: Okay, for the record, my name is Kiara Keleluka'ana Lorenzo <br /> Rodgrigues. Born in Waimea. My Ahupua`a is Hamakua. My awawa or valley is Waipi`o <br /> Valley. First of all, I'd like to just state off my second great grandmother, her name is Vigilia <br /> Kamakanakoolau Makuakane was actually born and raised on these shores. Sorry. I want to <br /> also talk about the fact that her mother Elizabeth Keawekeulu Kahoopii was also raised in these <br /> shores. For me is a direct impact on my culture and my genealogy. I was raised hearing the <br /> stories of my grandmother going out to these areas and picking limu, of picking `a`ama, of <br /> picking `opihi, of picking "—". These are the general wealth, the generational wealth that my <br /> kupuna has passed down to me. But today, I have to testify against this development. <br /> I want to also talk about the cultural significance of this `aina. We know, in the time of <br /> Umialiloa which is one of the greatest, greatest, greatest ali`i to come out of Moku O Keawe. He <br /> was of the great ali`i of Waipi`o but he also had a heiau over in these areas in Kahalu`u to <br /> Keauhou and these districts were loaded with heiau. Unfortunately, through over the years <br /> we've seen how much desecration to these `aina's. You have to also understand that the iwi <br /> kupuna that are buried there. They have to mean something, they mean everything to us, and I <br /> hope you folks do your due diligence and I hope you guys do your research and understand the <br /> great significance of this wahi pana. <br /> I also want to ensure that you guys understand that his son the great, the, sorry, the great, where <br /> is his name "—" also dwelled at Kahalu`u. "— "was building and dedicating several heiau's, <br /> ceremonial sites and all these had to do with Lono, which is our god of fertility and agriculture. <br /> So, we understand that these places are great areas where we can grow our natural substance and <br /> our foods. I also have to just for my last couple of seconds just thank all the very the mana- <br /> wahine that spoke before me and it's amazing to see allies that our people have because our <br /> voice has not been heard for far too long. And I'm so happy that the people who also call <br /> Hawaii their home are standing up and standing in solidarity with us because it's about time. <br /> Our children, the next 7 to 25 generations should be allowed to access these areas. My son, he's <br /> only three, I could only imagine how much has changed since my grandmother had walked those <br /> lands and gathered its food. My son deserves that same chance, and his children deserve that <br /> same chance as all people of Hawaii do. Even the people who are not have the koko, they have <br /> the opportunity to feed themselves. Heaven forbids if anything was to happen, like that first lady <br /> 6 <br /> EXHIBIT A <br />