2009-08-28 TDIRECTORLUPAG - Laserfiche WebLink

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and traditional and customary practices of native Hawaiians. And water, we are particularly concerned with water quality and quantity that will forever, would be altered forever by fresh and brackish groundwater withdrawals. You know, the urban expansion foreseen by the Advisory Commission 35 years ago is now underway. This proposed amendment of the General Plan provides outright protection and preservation of the last remaining undeveloped coastal lands and resources around the Park to the benefit of all the citizens of HawaiÒi and the United States. As you are all well aware, commitment of coastal lands for development has irreversible and far- reaching consequences. The National Park Service greatly appreciates your careful consideration of zoning of these sensitive and fragile lands. T supports the proposed amendment, and we respectfully urge the County of HawaiÒi to take a further step and increase the proposed area of Open designation in the General Plan to more closely reflect the current zoning of Open for makai coastal lands. Preservation of coastal open space will benefit the quality of life in the Kona community, native Hawaiian values and traditional and customary practices, and nationally significant Mahalo for the opportunity to speak to you on this important iss WATANABE: Thank you, Ms. Bell. Fellow Commissioners, do we have of Ms. Bell? Seeing none, Diane? Name and address first, please. thth AOKI: Okay. Diane Aoki, P.O. Box 991, Kealakekua 96750. I am a 4 and 5 grade teacher at Kealakehe Elementary School. And I was first introduced to this area called Alula through hula. My kumu, Keala Ching, would have us to here for hiÒuwai, a cleansing ceremony, prior to any hoÒike or at the beginning of the new year. He has written oli and hula about this place, and we have danced there to honor the area sev I was concerned when, a few years ago when that area was planned to be developed. And I did not know what I could do as a citizen, but as a teacher, I felt that I could teach my students about special places in their own community, if not in their own ahupuaÒa. So three years ago I started to bring my students to the area to study the anchialine ponds there. This year will be my fourth year. The bay itself is lovely and unique, laden with archaeological evidence of ancient HawaiÒi but undetected or unknown by untrained eyes. When I point out the stones that mark the house sites or the heiau to people who go there almost regularly but have never really seen the sites there, they are pretty much surprised. Last year when we went to do our studies there, we did, like a service project, we tried to clear out pickleweed and fish out the mosquito fish. ItÓs our goal to monumental task. But as long as I plant seeds in the kids that they can try to make a difference, they can try to make their communities a better place, then thatÓs my goal. The area is just so rich in learning experience for the kids Î not only the anchialine ponds, the tide pools, the archaeology. And we have a chance now to keep this place for our children and for the future generation, so that this kind of education can continue into the future. Anchialine ponds, as you might know that their unique ecosystems have been diminished over the years mainly due to development. And we have a very unique opportunity to preserve them for perpetuity. EXHIBIT E 4