2024-10-07 Testimony - Protect Keopuka Ohana (PL-BOA-2024-000104 & 105)

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The Variance granted relief from Sections 23-86 (requirements for dedicable streets) and 23- 95 (right-of-way improvement) of the Hawaii County Code.The Vari- ance was sought to minimize excessive grading in order to mitigate potential environ- mental hazards, and to address concerns that the grading of the steeply sloping lands within Hokuli'a, coupled with a full pavement of the right-ofway,would increase the potential for storm water runoff. Reducing the pavement by one half to two thirds was the smart thing to do, and had PKO's full support and still does. PKO, as well as the developer, are deeply invested in seeing that our flood control efforts continue to work and that historic and cultural resources such as the Ala Loa Trail are preserved and protected from damage. PKO has worked in partnership with 1250 Oceanside LLC,hand in hand, for all the years since the litigation to help ensure that the project's many historical and cul- tural sites are treated with the highest respect. Measures to preserve and protect the cultural landscape at Hokuli'a have always been foremost in our minds during the on- going development of the property. Coupe's play in this drama is totally in its own self interest,which is not surpris- ing. It seems to us that their only interest is to open up the Connector Road (Road C) to public access,creating an entrance into their future subdivision at no cost to them, saving the considerable expense of connecting to the Mamalahoa By-Pass,which they fought for nearly a decade. Speaking of self interest, let's talk about the one time since 2000 that a flooding event at Hokuli'a did cause damage. On July 17, 2021, a large rainfall event triggered flooding in the South Kona Watercourse No. 3,which is established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA). South Kona Watercourse No. 3 is located primarily in Onouli 2 Ahupua'a to the south of the Hokuli'a development. That flooding event was caused by bulldozing on the Coupe property that caused floodwaters to break through the boundary wall between the Coupe property and Hokuli'a, resulting in damage to the Ala Loa Trail that we have spent 24 years protect- ing. PKO finds the blatant, irresponsible, actions on the part of the Coupe Family Limited Partnership an appalling lack of foresight. Due to the bulldozing that took place along this ranch road sometime between July 2019 and February 2021, the floodwaters bypassed the retention basins that had been installed by Hokuli'a at great expense.These retention basins had performed as engineered until the illegal and un-permitted bulldozing of the property line. Continuing makai, the stormwater impacted a 30-meter segment of the Ala Loa Stepping Stone Trail alignment, depositing a significant amount of boulders and cob- bles on top of the ancient trail at a point where it aligns with the Old Cart Road, which is also a historic site.The runoff also scoured away some of the sediment on and adjacent to the trail alignment.