2009-09-04 TPD - Laserfiche WebLink

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CHUN: Good morning. Thank you very much for attending the meeting this morning and allowing us to present our case. I am Kaliko Chun, Kailua-Kona 96745. First I would like to say that I am the party of this settlement. Our attorney, David Frankel, of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation is here with me today. I did attend both public workshops in Kona and in Hilo. And the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands did send a staff member having to do with leases and land development to the Kona meeting; and Mr. Moore beside me attended the Hilo workshop. My family and I first became aware of this aina in the late sixties, itÓs just beyond Kailua. And as we grew, we grew to know how important it is, so culturally and critically significant. And in approximately 1962 because of this an area of it was designated a National Landmark. However, the Kona community didnÓt think that was enough and sought to preserve it. The fact that there is the Honokohau Harbor there and that it is in Urban and Resort area should not let one say, well, letÓs let it go, itÓs Urban, we can add anything to it. Because the Kona community turned out in strong protest and objection to the construction of the Harbor, and they still object to it becoming a larger harbor. It has a designation of a small boat harbor. And the community that objected to it before -- which was large, many have passed on -- do not want to see it become a marina or a development, such as that proposed by the Jacoby Development which had leased it from both Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Hawaiian Home. The Department of Hawaiian Home received their, itÓs all ceded land. But in the settlement of 1990Ós the Department of Hawaiian Home got approximately 200 acres; and then the rest of the area that Jacoby leased was from DLNR, which Mr. Moore has mentioned. But IÓm here to wholeheartedly support, vehemently advocate based on my familyÓs connection and history with this aina, to advocate that this is the only way to protect the area. And to further protect it will only take even more constant vigilance by Members of this Commission and by the Leeward Commission when further interest is shown in the area for Urban expansion. But it is awfully necessary, critically necessary, to put this back into Open. And, hopefully, we can, even though the State Land Use Commission has stated that it is a significant area and it should be having, have a special zoning, as was noted by the map when the presentation that had for some reason an Urban designation. We will need to go and change that. But there are historical sites, burials, flora and fauna habitat, artifacts, burials, ocean and land, off shore and on shore geological resources, and natural systems. As was mentioned the anchialine ponds are on the southern side. Studies have been made of that area by study teams from MIT, the University of Maine and Tech (phonetic), who declared that an endangered area, the ecological systems are landlocked, they are endangered. What was not shown is the great Kaloko Fishpond, a fishpond th from the 16 century and noted for its outstanding and extraordinary engineering skills, thatÓs the 16th century. So this whole area is covered with so many sites and fragile, a fragile nature that it demands as much protection as we can, and it only starts with an Urban Expansion. I would like to, ÐThe Spirit of Ka-loko Hono-k-hauÑ, which I believe report you have there, it opens with a poem. And I would like to quote a phrase from it, ÐBound by the spirit of Honokohau to our kupuna when settled in the sacredness of the living honua, which says that this land is living within the spiritual context for us today and to our kupuna that spiritual context lives.Ñ And we can feel this connection. And when you go to the area you might say, gee, this is 9 EXHIBIT B