2015-10-22 Leeward Exh A (SMA 15-060)

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their culture or even conduct their spiritual practices. There is no respect given to them because people don’t understand what respect, what type of respect is needed for this. So with that said I feel that if we open up too much access that’s unmanageable, the government is not able to help with managing these area. We deal with so many enforcement issues in our community up and down the coast around the island throughout the whole state, that if we open up too much access that’s unmanageable, then we fail to support these pu‘uhonuas, or these safe spaces. And so I urge that this committee take a look at that respect to the native cultures here in Kona, and more importantly, to create some sort of precedents for future resurgents. This is the only development that I’ve seen, and I’m sure the Planning Committee \[sic\] had some issues as well where you have to demolish a hotel and restore the cultural significance of the area. This is really huge for the history of the Hawaiian people in the islands. So I support the Kamehameha Schools plan, and with that hopefully we can move forward with manageable access, looking at manageable accesses. Mahalo. UNGER: Mahalo. Sandra Kirkpatrick, Jane Bockus, Ian Shortridge. SHORTRIDGE: Aloha. My name is Ian Kunito Hirakawa Shortridge and I live in the Ahupua‘a of Onouli. Being born and raised here on Hawai‘i Island I have observed how the presence of resort development has not been beneficial to the people of Hawai‘i, as well as perpetuating the Hawaiian culture. Today I’d like to voice my support for Kamehameha Schools’ effort to remove the last remnants of the property’s resort and to recommit to the future of Kahalu‘u Ma Kai as an educational hub for Hawai‘i Island. I support Kamehameha’s determination to create an educational experience that will touch the learners of all levels and backgrounds throughout Hawai‘i. As a recent graduate and continuing student of Hawai‘i Community College Pālamanui, Kahalu‘u Ma Kai has played a role in achieving my academic goals. Many of the required courses for my associates degree and academic subject certificate were taught at Kahalu‘u Ma Kai. These cultural-based and hands-on classes like most are a lot more effective over lectures with today’s generation. Not only has Kahalu‘u Ma Kai been a vital part of my academic success, it has also been an avenue to connect our local community to the Hawaiian culture. The last two summers I was honored to have taken part in Māmoe, a Hawaiian ceremony that acknowledges graduates. This single event allowed a range of students from preschool to college to take part of an ancient Hawaiian ceremony. Not only did the students get to experience this but their families and friends and many others who have attended. I fully trust that Kamehameha Schools and its representatives will protect and preserve any cultural resources that may be found during the hotel’s removal and the development of the new educational complex. Thank you for this opportunity to share my testimony and I hope that we can see this educational complex come to fruition for the betterment of our children, our grandchildren and all of Hawai‘i. Mahalo. BOCKUS: Aloha. My name is Jane Bockus. I’m a resident of Keauhou Mauka. My husband’s family has lived in Kahalu‘u Makai as well as Mauka for many years. I speak on behalf of the athletic community. The Keauhou Beach Resort when it was built over 50 years ago, I’m sure they were not aware of all the cultural sites that they were building on top of. And I’m very much in favor of removal of the building and restoration of those sites. As a founding member of Keauhou Canoe Club, we are very much for the educational center that it preserves and protects the area. The word “stewardship” was used, and I think that’s a wonderful word. This land does need to be preserved, protected and preserved for our future, for the future of our keiki, for the future of our residents and our community. Thank you. 19 EXHIBIT A