Comm 26-018.2 - LOS 26-06 Kusch, Matthias

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Comm 26-018.2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IğƌĻ ƚ Ɠ \[ǒƓğ ağƉğͷźƓğƓğ STATE OF HA!LͷL STATECAPITOL 415 SOUTH BERETANIA STREET Ihbh\[ \[ Ͳ I!!LͷL ВЏБЊЌ March 3, 2026 Hawaii County PONC Commission 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1101 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 RE: Support for Shoreline Easement for Hakalauiki (Manamanas) Aloha PONC Commission, I am writing in strong support of the application to purchase the shoreline easement of Hakalauiki (TMK 2-9-002:001). As a lifelong fisherman and small farmer, I learned early that your livelihood depends on how well you care for the places that feed you. I stand with organizations working to protect shoreline access and cultural landscapes, and I proudly endorse the work of Kmaulihou, a nonprofit dedicated to coastal stewardship and responsible, community based management. During the days of the sugar plantations, access to these areas was far more open. Families fished, gathered, and spent time along the cliffs and coves, places where we learned to read the tides, harvest responsibly, and respect both land and ocean. Since the plantations closed, access has tightened little by little. What was once loosely open to local families is now increasingly restricted, and that loss is deeply felt. For those of us who depend on the ocean and the land not only for food but for identity, preserving the Hakalau shoreline is essential. These are places where kpuna walked, where generations learned to fish, and where keiki still go to feel the salt spray and understand where they come from. ΘYĻĻƦźƓŭ ƌƚĭğƌ ŅğƒźƌźĻƭ ĭƚƓƓĻĭƷĻķ Ʒƚ ƷŷĻźƩ ŷźƭƷƚƩǤ Θ9ƓƭǒƩźƓŭ ƭğŅĻ ğƓķ ƌĻgal shoreline access ΘtƩĻƭĻƩǝźƓŭ ƓğƷźǝĻ ĻĭƚƭǤƭƷĻƒƭ ğƓķ ĭǒƌƷǒƩğƌ ƭźƷĻƭ Θ!ƌƌƚǞźƓŭ ŅźƭŷźƓŭ ğƓķ ŭğƷŷĻƩźƓŭ ƷƩğķźƷźƚƓƭ Ʒƚ ĭƚƓƷźƓǒĻ Strong preservation ensures that these places remain alive for future generations not locked away behind gates or lost to private interests.