2015-09-17 Leeward Exh B (SMA 15-060)

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multifaceted, as I’ve been a learner of the space as a voyager of Makali‘i. I have raised my children on these grounds. I have taught students of their history while standing amongst the brilliance of their kūpuna, and participated in ceremonies of my family and the families of Kahalu‘u on Hāpaiali‘i Heiau, as we observed the same movement of the sun and the establishment of our seasons as did our kūpuna. Today I speak to you as an instructor of the Hawai‘i Life Styles at the Hawai‘i Community College Pālamanui. For the past three years I have conducted several classes from the grounds of Kahalu‘u. In collaboration with the fabulous and extremely knowledgeable team and staff of Kamehameha Schools under the direction of Mahealani Pai, we have housed Hawai‘i culture specific educational experiences in curriculum comprising of over 50 college-hour credits and well over 200 college students. As a college instructor of the ‘ike, or knowledge, of my kūpuna, the native people of this land, I create a classroom environment based upon scholarship, academic integrity and respect. Kahalu‘u Ma Kai has fulfilled these objectives and more, as it has become a true piko, or sacred center, in connection of my classes to the larger community. This is because of the incredible mana, geographical and celestial significance of these coastal sites well recognized by generations before us, reminding us today of our obligation to uphold and preserve the culture integrity of this space. The Hawai‘i Community College also holds its annual Māweke Graduation Ceremony on Hāpaiali‘i Heiau where graduates from the college and throughout the community come together, along with their supportive networks and systems, in honor of the completion of their academic journey through the observation of the setting of the sun and the early hours of the evening. It is at this time when this ceremonial space, within this ceremonial space, that graduates are able to foresee and focus on, in and on their next steps, their future endeavors and their commitment to their community. The space of Hāpaiali‘i provides for that, and the security of the site and nearby areas allow for such ceremonies of intention to take place. Educational programing and ceremonial functions are located on the northern end of Kahalu‘u Ma Kai; therefore, a safety buffer zone is absolutely necessary. I humbly ask that an educational and safety buffer zone be established on the northern half of the property where the majority of cultural resources are concentrated and where alter educational program will continue to take place. I ask the Hawai‘i County Leeward Planning Commission to approve Kamehameha Schools’ application for an SMA permit to remove the former Keauhou Beach Hotel and redevelop an educational facility for the perpetuation of our culture and traditional practices. I say this on behalf of Hawai‘i Community College Pālamanui, our Director Marty Fletcher, as well as I Ola Hāloa Hawai‘i Life Styles Program, our Director Kekuhi Keali‘ikanaka‘oleoha‘ililani. Aloha. ROSE: Aloha. I am here to tell you guys, well, to say that we went to Kahalu‘u and we stayed there overnight, because we stayed up at, while we worked up at Maluaka with Uncle Keone and Uncle Mahealani, and we heard some ‘ōlelo, well, listened to some ‘ōlelo about the place, and then we were told about the educational facility that they want to build, and how there is going to be a pathway that they want to make, and how they want to practice cultural things on the land, but having the pathway is like letting a whole bunch of tourists come through and watch what you are doing and taking pictures of you like they are at a museum. But what we do in the Hawaiian culture, you don’t just stand around and watch somebody and take pictures of them while they are doing some type of cultural practice. Well, that’s for any type of culture; you don’t want anyone to just watch you and take pictures of you, because that’s not right. You either, it’s either you join in and help instead of you watch them. Because we deal with that in Puna when we work in our fishponds; because our school is very next to Ahalanui Park, there’s people coming and when we are cleaning all the fishponds, they’ll come and take pictures of us. And we have to go out to them and tell them to delete them because it’s not right. And that’s it. Thank you. 21 EXHIBIT B