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Makaila Testimony <br /> RE: Black Sand Beach LLC Application for an SMA <br /> Windward Planning Commission <br /> March 7, 2024 <br /> Aloha nui Commissioners, <br /> I first mahalo each of you for taking on this kuleana as a Planning Commissioner for Windward <br /> Hawaii. I know that this is on your personal time, and that you are not compensated for your time <br /> at the Planning Commission meetings, nor for your time to prepare for the Planning Commission <br /> meetings. I am grateful to you for your service. <br /> Secondly, I mahalo you folks for your time and consideration of this testimony that I have prepared <br /> and submitted for your review. I submit testimony today as a kanaka Hawaii with kupuna who are <br /> buried in Punalu`u, and other ahupua`a throughout Ka`u. By trade, I also am a trained professional <br /> planner who received my graduate degree from UH Manoa in urban &regional planning, and am <br /> intimately familiar with the preparation of SMA permit applications, environmental disclosure <br /> documents, cultural impacts assessments, etc. I have read all491 pages of this application and I <br /> base my testimony on my personal and professional knowledge and experience. Your decision <br /> today will have huge and long-lasting impacts on the people of Ka`u,the lineal and cultural <br /> descendants of Wailau and Punalu`u, and most importantly the pristine `aina which is the subject <br /> of this application. <br /> I am hopeful that this testimony, and the others you receive,will compel you to see the situation as <br /> I do, and to vote against granting an SMA permit.Therefore, I ask that you vote Vole to granting this <br /> permit. I will articulate a variety of reasons, but for brevity I would like to begin with one major <br /> reason: according to HRS Chapter 205-26(2)(a),this application must demonstrate that the <br /> development will not have any substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect,except <br /> as such adverse effect is minimized to the extent practicable and clearly outweighed by <br /> public health, safety, or compelling public interests.This application does not,and therefore <br /> you must NOT grant this permit. <br /> This application clearly shows that this project will have clear and measurable adverse impacts <br /> and that there is no clear public health, safety or otherwise compelling public interest that this <br /> project fulfills.You will hear the overwhelming majority of the testimony of the people of Ka`u telling <br /> you folks that they do not find this proposed project to be of benefit to the public interests of Ka`u. <br /> Retail, a handful of low-level service jobs and more housing for non-residents does not serve the <br /> public interest. Because of this, according to the guidelines articulated in HRS Chapter 205 <br /> specific to Special Management Areas,you cannot in good conscience grant this permit. <br /> On the County of Hawaii Planning Department website, regarding Special Management Areas,the <br /> County says this: (https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/resources/special-management-area- <br /> sma) <br /> The Special Management Area, or SMA, is the area of the island that is in close proximity to <br /> the shoreline. In establishing the SMA in 1975, the Hawaii state legislature found that <br /> Page 1 of 4 <br />