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November 21, 2024 <br /> County of Hawai'i <br /> Leeward Planning Commission <br /> 101 Pauahi Street <br /> Hilo, Hawaii, 96720 <br /> RE: TESTIMONY FOR NOV. 21 SPECIAL MEETING-County of Hawai'i General Plan 2045 <br /> Aloha Chair DeFranco and Commission Members, <br /> My name is Maile Lu'uwai. I am the President of the Keaukaha Pana'ewa Farmers Association. Our association <br /> represents Hawaiian homestead agricultural lessees in an area comprised of 1,615 acres in the heart of <br /> Pana'ewa, Hilo. Railroad Avenue cuts through the middle of our community. <br /> I provided public comments on the County of Hawai'i General Plan 2045 as did many community members. <br /> Kali Watson,the Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission also provided comments on the General Plan in a <br /> letter dated February 28, 2024 that was sent to Planning Director Zendo Kern. <br /> I am asking the Commission to make four recommendations regarding the General Plan that were included in <br /> Chair Watson's letter to Director Kern: <br /> 1. Include the 2002 Memorandum of Understanding between DHHL and the County in the General Plan <br /> as appendices or in a separate section of the plan. <br /> 2. Include the 2022 DHHL General Plan Update in the General Plan as an appendices or in a separate <br /> section of the plan. <br /> 3. Include in the General Plan specific policies that articulate that DHHL Plans are the authority on land <br /> use to guide land uses and projects on Hawaiian Home Lands and adjacent to Hawaiian Home Lands <br /> 4. Remove all proposed roadways through Hawaiian Homes Lands from the General Plan. The County has <br /> no authority to propose roadways over Hawaiian Home lands. I also specifically ask that the proposed <br /> roadway that runs from Pahoa to Railroad Avenue through Pana'ewa be removed. Our community and <br /> the Chair Watson has provided testimony to the County Council against a connector road from Paha to <br /> Railroad Avenue. Hawaiian Home Lands owns the land under Railroad Avenue in Pana'ewa. <br /> Your inclusion of the foregoing in your recommendations are appreciated. <br /> Mahalo, <br /> Maile Lu'uwai <br /> President <br /> Keaukaha Pana'ewa Farmers Association <br /> PO Box 6844 <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br />