2006-07-10 Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Minutes (Kona Mtg)

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Aileen Alvarez stated it was a quarter acre a piece because the cave runs underneath two lots. Mr. Alvarez then stated that Mr. Rapozo owns both lots and is willing to sell both at one time and that he did the surveying to check where the caves are and they discovered the cave is on TMK No. 1 -6- 090:079; 10 feet away from both boundary lines. Mr. Rapozo wanted to see which property the whole cave rests under but discovered that the cave lies under both properties because its size. Commissioner Garovoy stated that the Land Trust has done and is presently doing is when they can't find monies to assist right away, they go out to the community and identify wealthy individuals to temporarily loan the monies to purchase and continue to reimburse them over time. Mr. Alvarez said that they were looking into that but he was not agreeing to take anything until he gets the full amount. Chair Replogle then stated that when they do get something, to record it so when they go to County Council or OHA for funding, they could say that they have a specific amount of money already. Chair Replogle asked who would eventually end up controlling the land. Mr. Alvarez stated that since he is not a 501 C3, he spoke with Mike of the Big Island Land Trust, who is a 501 C3 non - profit organization and Mike is looking into it. Deputy Corporation Counsel Amy Self stated that it could possibly be the Office of Hawaiian Affairs even if the County provides the monies, it could go under their name. Mr. Alvarez stated that he just wants it to be conserved. Deputy Corporation Counsel Amy Self then stated that the issue with the County is liability. 2. Aileen Alvarez Ms. Alvarez spoke of her great grandparents and grandmother who spoke fluent Hawaiian. Her grandmother "hanai" her when she was two years old. Growing up her grandmother was ashamed to be Hawaiian because every time she spoke fluent Hawaiian at school, they would hit her with a stick. As an adult, her grandmother was ashamed to be a Hawaiian because of all of what they did to the Hawaiian people. Today as a Kanakamaole, Ms. Alvarez said that she would explain to her grandmother to not be ashamed and that they can succeed in some things and this is one of them that they are fighting for. Ms. Alvarez stated that there are many other Hawaiian communities seeking to protect and preserve the Hawaiian culture and their way of life from being desecrated. Ms. Alvarez stated that this ancient Hawaiian burial has re- instilled how important her culture is to her because it's right next to her home. She feels strongly about protecting this burial site. It's her ohana and ancient in