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TRAVIS: Yes sir. I—it’s difficult for me as a, as a recent immigrant to Hawai‛i—it’s difficult
<br />for me to understand the depth of that, and that’s why I think it’s important to look at it. My own
<br />opinion is, is if one looks at Hawaiian history, taking away the Hawaiian culture has had a very
<br />serious effect on Hawaiian health.
<br />
<br />HEAUKULANI: Well, just to add my point. No one ever took that away from us. It’s alive and
<br />well, but I appreciate your concern.
<br />
<br />TRAVIS: Yes sir.
<br />
<br />HEAUKULANI: And I appreciate your being here sir. Thank you.
<br />
<br />MIYASATO: Commissioners, any further questions? No? Thank you.
<br />
<br />ALBERTINI: My name is Jim Albertini. I live in Kurtistown, P.O. Box 489, been a resident
<br />there for over 35 years, and I’ve been deeply involved in the geothermal issues since the
<br />beginning stages of the HGP-A, and I worked very closely with Palikapu Dedman and others in
<br />the Pele Defense Fund. Our farm, Malu ‛Aina was the hub of the Big Island Rainforest Action
<br />Group, and I brought a collector item here today. It’s a Time Magazine, Earth Day of 1990, with
<br />Hawai‛i picture of Puna on the cover, Geothermal Moratorium Now. This was about the arrests,
<br />one of the largest civil, civil disobedience actions in the history of Hawai‛i. I think on a single
<br />day up there in the rainforest we had 2,000 people in non-violent protest, and about 160 people
<br />taken into police custody. And—25 years. And, the film that was very powerful was called
<br />“Pele’s Appeal” about Pele and from the Native Hawaiian perspective that mobilized a lot of
<br />people here. And, yet, here we are today, 25 years later, talking about the need for a
<br />psychological social study to be done on the effects to Native Hawaiians of drilling into what we
<br />all know as in Hawaiian culture, the deity, Pele, the Goddess Pele.
<br />
<br />So, I really urge you to support this study. It’s long overdue. I think the Planning Commission
<br />could ask the Mayor to seek co-funding from OHA since they’re getting what, 30 percent, and
<br />the State—
<br />
<br />FUJIYOSHI: Twenty percent?
<br />
<br />ALBERTINI: Oh, 20 percent, and the State’s getting 50 percent. So the County shouldn’t have
<br />to bear the entire cost of it all. Those who are getting royalties from geothermal should share the
<br />burden. But, I think it’s long overdue, and as a—it’s the right thing to do, to begin to really look
<br />at the impacts and to respect the host culture, the native people of this place we call home. So, I
<br />appreciate your aloha on this.
<br />
<br />MIYASATO: Any questions, Commissioners? If not, thank you. You may all have a seat.
<br />Okay, we’ll go into our public testimony. Some of you have already come up, but if you have
<br />something in addition, you will have three minutes. Could I have Cory Harden? Mr. Albertini,
<br />if you have anything further, you have three minutes. If not—also, Mr. Travis. If not, Laura
<br />Tranie [sic]—
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<br />EXHIBIT D
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