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Dr. Gina McGuire <br /> PO Box 247 <br /> Mountain View HI 96771 <br /> (808-896-6253) <br /> gina.mcguire@dri.edu <br /> Aloha nui, <br /> I would like to provide testimony in regards to the proposed Special Management Area permit <br /> (PL-SMA-2023-000046) for development of the Black Sand Beach LLC residential and <br /> commercial community. <br /> I am providing expertise in my capacity as specialist in the intersections of coastal and <br /> community health in Hawaii (focus of my PhD) from both ecological and cultural lens. I <br /> provide this expertise as an individual, un-connected to an organization. I have worked as an <br /> ethnographer and GIS analyst for cultural assessments and as a research ecologist here in <br /> Hawaii for the last five years and am a lifelong resident of Hawaii Island. This proposal is not <br /> in alignment with several county and state policies and is not in the best interest of community <br /> and ecological heatth. <br /> Incompatibility of SMA with Existing Ka`u CDP <br /> The current Ka`u Community Development Plan' asks for "a community-based approach to <br /> redeveloping Punalu`u" (pg. 85), one that encourages the development of a "visitor industry that <br /> is in harmony with the character of the area and environmental and social goals of residents" <br /> (Policy 147, GP 2.3(c), 14.7.5.9.2(a)). Examples given include facilities that offer educational <br /> experiences and recreational activities (Policy 148, GP 14.7.3(h)) and the "development of small <br /> family: or "bed and breakfast" type visitor accommodations (Policy 149, GP 14.7.5.9.2(b)). A <br /> main goal is to increase the number and diversity of income sources for residents (objective 11) <br /> in ways that "complement Ka`ifs ecology and culture" and support "Ka`u-appropriate growth" <br /> (objective 12). Based on these community-self determined and County-backed policies and <br /> objectives, Black Sand Beach, LLC is not the appropriate entity to develop at Punalu`u. Their <br /> vision to emplace 225 residential and short stay units (unclear ratio of residential to short stay <br /> units provided), village and wellness center(pool and tennis courts),retail uses, and <br /> rehabilitation of the golf course (closed in 2019 due to hazardous volcanic-driven air quality <br /> conditions), ARE NOT in alignment with documented community goals, vision, or needs. <br /> Coastal Impact <br /> The SMA repeatedly cites its distance from the shoreline as a mitigation for many of the <br /> perceived ecological impacts on the nearshore and coastal ecosystem. However, demonstrated <br /> ridge-to-reef and immediately-adjacent-coastal-development-linked impacts are well <br /> documented and backed with scientific evidence, especially here in Hawai`i2. <br /> 'Ka`u Community Development Plan.2017.Ordinance No.2017-66. <br /> https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/home/showdocument?id=304234&t=6377999140513 70000 <br /> 2 Carlson,R.R.,Foo, S.A.,and Asner,G.P.2019.Land use impacts on coral health:a ridge-to-reef perspective. <br /> Frontiers in Marine Science 6.DOI: 10.3389/f nars.2019.00562. <br /> Foo, S.A.and Asner,G.2020.Impacts of remotely sensed environmental drivers on coral outplant survival. <br /> Restoration Ecology.DOI:10.1111/rec.13309 <br />