2015-03-05 Hearing Transcript - WPC Initiated Puna Pono Alliance GAF

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Thank you very much. TRAVIS: My name's Laura Travis, and I live in Puna and have lived there for 4-1/2 years. I was a member of the Mayor's, of the Hawaii geothermal public health assessment working group and in the working group, the other members and I tried to decide how best to determine if there were health effects from geothermal development. We reviewed many studies and examined decades of geothermal development records. Because of this effort, we recommended a study to examine health effects particularly in lower Puna. You recently approved the funding of that study. Many of us on the study group were disappointed in only one aspect of our effort, and that was the studies we recommended did not examine the impact on the Native Hawaiians. Because of concern of this issue, my husband worked, and others, to set it right. They found that Dr. Edelstein had expertise examining such issues, and that he had experienced in Hawaii. My husband and those that worked with him asked Dr. Edelstein to outline a proposal that could be presented to the Windward Planning Commission. I strongly support you, the Commissioners, in funding this effort with Dr. Edelstein. Too often in working groups in our County, and in State government, we ignore the challenges faced by Native Hawaiians, and we deal with them as an afterthought. I ask today that you reverse this and approve the study, again. And I think the study can serve, can serve as a pivot for examining Native Hawaiian issues as they relate to future planning and development on this Island. Thank you. MOSES: Commissioners, any questions? Comments? If none, thank you very much. We have one more testifier, Robert Petricci. If there's one else, is there anyone else? Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawaii County Planning Commission? PETRICCL Yes. MOSES: Thank you. You may begin your presentation-- PETRICCL Thank you. MOSES: --testimony by first stating your name and place of residence and speaking directly into the microphone. PETRICCL Thank you. MOSES: Thank you. PETRICCL My name is Robert Petricci. I represent Puna Pono Alliance, and I live in Pohoiki, Pohuna [sic] Puna. Sorry. Aloha, Commissioners, and thank you for the opportunity to address you on this. I hear what Commissioner Henkel is saying, and with great regret I say that it may be better to not release the funds than to have the money go to a study that the community is not 15 EXHIBIT E