2008-05-22 TPUNACDP - Laserfiche WebLink

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GUMAPAC: The Kanaka Council participated in the initial meetings; then at that time we gave our manao. We had representatives that came to Puna, as well as in Kona, and we gave our input, we gave our manao at that time. And from that point in time we felt that our manao was given; and so it was not necessary to participate from that point on because that’s what was asked. Because that was going to be turned over to the Committee to organize, and with the number of people that came especially to Puna when they voted to take in some of our – if not most of – our recommendations to be included into the CDP plan; so we felt that that was good. And so as a result of that, this final draft came about. And so we read the final draft and that’s why I’m here to make sure that we get included in it. To answer your question, yes. The village concept that was presented, we presented that initially as an Ahupuaa concept. And so they’ve taken that village concept. The other thing that’s really important that I need to stress is that to me the CDP program, this program here, isn’t about money, isn’t about development. Because I’ve been hearing all these guys over here and all they are talking about is how much money they are going to be able to make; you know, well, you know my commercial development, I’m going to make sure that my commercial development gets space over here, so that I can charge $600,000 per lot. That’s not what we are all about. What we are concerned about in this CDP plan, the sustainability; we are worried about all the people that live in Puna because we talk about all of the downzoning and so forth that the Chairman had talked about and he’s concerned about the legal rights. For us, we need to start to educate our people, so that they can become self-sustaining because in the next few years – and I think you guys know it – we’re gong to be in a major hurt, and if all of people do not start to plant their own gardens, we cannot create -, we need to start to create our own barter and trade system because pretty soon the dollar is not going to be worth anything. And so as a result of that, if I grow kalo, somebody else grows banana, we can trade. This is what we’re looking at with the CDP program; other people are looking at money. We are looking at sustainability over here and ways for us to create our own alternative energy. The other question that I’d like to answer for you, Mr. Chair, where can we get the money, you know, in order to make sure that we can buy up all of these lands just in case something happens. I would like to present to you an alternative: Create our own district utility companies. Each district, especially Puna and Kau, can develop its own water company. Why do we need to have the County of Hawaii Water Department when they can’t even supply Puna? If we created our own water company, using ceded lands, of which we’ve got some of the purest water on ceded lands, to be pumped out in Puna, all of the revenues that are generating goes back into Puna, so that we can go around and buy up these lands, if we need to. Then create another 20 acres on ceded lands, and create our own alternative energy, our solar system, and we can also create wave energy. Sell it to the people in Puna, all that revenue is coming back. It isn’t going to go to HELCO, but it’s going to stay in Puna to exactly do that kind of stuff. One of the problems I have is the government guys, you should never ask them business questions; they cannot solve business questions. You’ve got to ask the businessmen to solve the questions because we have ideas we can come up with, all of the ideas and alternatives that are going to work. And all we need is for you guys to say yes. It’s real simple. WATANABE: Thank you. Mr. Woodward. EXHIBIT C 22