2024-03-01 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Amy Jo Krommes Testimony

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Concerns with Punalu'u Village on Hawksbill Turtles Of major concern is the increase in light resulting from the increase of people usage, car traffic, and stationary lights. Any lights after dark during Hawksbill Turtle nesting season (May through December) will have a negative effect on the mother turtle approaching the beach to nest and the hatchlings going to the ocean. Punalu'u Village plans (Proposed Village Restoration) indicate an open market, public restroom, Fish Market and Seafood Restaurant, (restoration of the old restaurant and museum site). All these new and restored activities are very close to the predominant turtle nesting habitat around the lifeguard station. Will these buildings be dark at night? Will there be any additional outdoor lighting? Will parking areas be blocked and closed at night? In this area down cast or shaded lights will not be adequate due to their reflection on the pond and ocean. The proposed Colony 2 of 63 Condominiums may have light effects on another important turtle nesting area known as Kaloa. If the overall, additional buildings and streetlights do not use Wildlife Mitigated lighting systems, they may cast light pollution with a negative effect on an extremely important nesting beach three miles away. The proposed village restoration will also have a negative effect on other coastal wildlife. In 2023, Monk Seals rested on Punalu'u beach twice. On July 9, 2022, I, and a representative of Hawaii Island Hawksbill Project, met with Eva Liu, property owner, to discuss the important nesting habitat of Hawksbill Turtles. We urged her not to restore the Restaurant area that was destroyed by the 1975 Tsunami. Since 1975, that area has been relatively quiet, with the lack of light allowing some return of Hawksbill turtles and monk seals. The last planning, permitting, and zoning for the Punalu'u Village area was more than 50 years ago. Please consider this information of critically endangered species using this habitat. Please also consider the tsunami zone and protecting the coastal area. Please do not grant a permit for building in this important wildlife and coastal area.