2024-03-05 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Dr. Ku Kahakalau Opposition Testimony

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Allowing development to occur at Punalu'u will irreversibly impact the fragile and pristine ecosystem of Punalu'u Bay, its black sand beach, as well as NTnole Cove and the alkaline ponds in the area. Specifically development will disturb the habitats of endemic birds, like the koloa duck, which is known to nest there, as well as the pueo, or Hawaiian owl, the 'io, or Hawaiian hawk, as well as the 'ope'ape'a, or Hawaiian hoary bat, all observed regularly at Punalu'u. In addition, it will also affect the rare orange-black Hawaiian damselfly, whose breeding grounds are the coastal ponds of Punalu'u. Rare native plant species that will also be negatively impacted by the development include the critically endangered native loulu palm, the pua kala, or native poppy, as well as the ma'o or native cotton, all part of Punalu'u's fauna ecosystem. Punalu'u is also of historic significance, as an important wahi pana, with multiple heiau and other archeological sites, caves, pre-contact burials sites etc., which all need protection from over-use by outsiders, especially tourists who are unaware of their significance, and as a result frequently end up damaging and/or destroying valuable cultural and historic sites, polluting these areas with rubbish and desecrating sacred areas with their human waste. There is no doubt that the proposed development will increase the number of people using Punalu'u, which will also increase the incidents of illegal taking of sand, as well as the culturally important 'ili'ili hanau. With large tour buses and hundreds of other tourists visiting this small black-sand beach on a daily basis, Punalu'u is already overcrowded. And that is perhaps my most important point. Research shows that if tourist use exceeds the carrying capacity of beaches like Punalu'u it will impact the coastal ecosystem. As a result, voting for an increased use of Punalu'u by approving this SMA permit, is in direct violation of the state policy cited above. As a native Hawaiian family whose ancestral bones rest in Ka'u, as well as Ka'u landowners, we urge that you DO NOT approve the SMA permit, which will allow developers with no knowledge or relation to Punalu'u to profit from this special wahi pana, while significantly increasing the risk of irreversible losses to Punalu'u's natural environment, its marine life, fauna and flora, as well as the desecration of the many cultural and historic resources still found there today. Please deny Ms. Liu's application. Me ka pono, i Ku Kahakalau Executive Director, Ku-A-Kanaka LLC (808) 937-6854 ku@kuakanaka.com