2024-04-11 Punalu'u Leinaala Enos OP

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Aloha Windward Planning Commissioners, April 11, 2024 My name is Leina'ala Enos and I represent myself and live in Wai'ohinu, Ka'u. I was born and raised on Oahu and married a great guy from Ka'u. He brought our family here because he wanted our keiki to be raised in Ka'u where he was born and raised and not on Oahu where it was too developed with more to come! He knew that Ka'u would be a place we could learn how to appreciate, as the country it is and his birth place where the values, history and culture would be present and alive. That was in 1971, 53 years ago. It took me 3 to 5 years to appreciate living here and then become an active and supportive community advocate in my work as well as my private life. I am asking the Windward Planning Commission to deny the application for a Special Management Area Use Permit from the Black Sands Beach LLC (BSB LLC) and their request to waive a need for a certified shoreline survey. I strongly support correspondences that have been submitted addressing this application from Lillie Makaila, dated March 7, 2024; from Center for Biological Diversity dated March 4, 2024; from Elsa Kalani Dedman dated February 4, 2023; and from Guy Enriques dated August 24, 2023 and therefore will not repeat the many reasons stated in these documents to deny this application. I also strongly support the many testimonies against approval given at your last public hearing held on March 7, 2024 from many residents from Ka'u and elsewhere asking you to deny this application. Although this application from BSB LLC is very thorough and actually quite impressive, I would question how their statements and commitments will be monitored and by whom?Also, why such large homes that really don't fit into our beloved Punalu'u or anywhere in Ka'u, plus not affordable to many Hawaii residents who want to continue to live in Hawaii? Please don't make a decision that will ruin our beautiful, rich, ecological, historical and cultural legacy of Punalu'u! Again, I kindly ask you to deny this application. Support our community as they want to be more involved and be an integral part of any and all development that is proposed in the future per our solid Ka'u CDP document. Keep Ka'u Country! We need to have you folks allow us to grow in a direction that we all will participate in knowing that this commitment will be for our keiki and their keiki to come. We also must always honor our kupuna in all we do. Again supportive of our Ka'u CDP! Most importantly, those who want to develop Ka'u need to gain the trust of our community. They need to show our community that they can "walk the talk"! I truly believe that this applicant has not done this to the best of their ability. Our Ka'u community trusts that you will keep Ka'u Country! Help our Ka'u community not lose its identity! Our Hawaii Island, Moku 'O Keawe does not need another Kailua Kona or Waikoloa! This is one of the last few districts that is untouched by that kind of development. Your challenge is to think out of the box and dare to be supportive to all those sharing their mana'o especially to our people of Ka'u! Mahalo nui Ioa for taking the time to hear me out. 1, like others, know and trust that you all will diligently research, read and listen to all with no bias. Also, please remember that your decision in this matter is so very important for us in Ka'u and for all Hawaii Nei! O wau no me ka ha'aha'a, Leina'ala B. Enos 95-6016 Mamalahoa Hwy. P.O. Box 52 Na'alehu, Hawaii 96772