2017-05-15 Public Testimony on SMA 16-063 Contested Case

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recreation, gathering and subsistence opportunities. These areas are visibly shrinking through sea inundation and are in need of more care and buffer than they’ve received to date. How can we collectively make that happen at Kahalu‘u? Without serious long-term help, it’s clear that shrinking accessible coastal areas like this can’t withstand the burden of significantly increasing the area’s population like this development would do. We strongly feel that this development is untimely and ill-conceived. We appreciate that there are protections for some cultural sites, but it seems they’re not enough. We also question whether this proposal is a fit with the Kona Community Development Plan, which demands infrastructure concurrency, as well as other parameters of Smart Growth. Please deny this SMA permit for the long-term benefit of the majority of residents who live in and access this area including the shoreline. Mahalo. THOMAS MCKENNA WALINSKI: Good morning. Thank you for the warm welcome, Speaker. Aloha. Good morning. So much tears came out from the first speaker and everyone. I have to have my shades on, so pardon me. I’ve lived at Kahalu‘u for about 15 years and spent more time at the beach than anyone there. It’s turned into one abstract toxic waste down at this place. My only breeze comes from a dryer vent. I smell the chemicals. I can taste the chemicals in the ocean. I think we could all just stop now and leave this. There is no reason to continue on, to move forward. The water is compromised. The ocean is compromised. The life of the people is compromised. The future is not looking good. It’s not looking good now. For every reason on this list. The artifacts, I’ve seen artifacts leave Kahalu‘u, stolen from Kahalu‘u, big pieces, small pieces, all pieces, just right in the sand, easy. So where this development is proposed there is very much. I’m going to stop. The traffic, the traffic needs to stop. Thank you for bringing it up. It takes me 15 minutes to cross the road sometimes. So for every reason that’s listed, this needs to stop. I don’t know why we’re even speaking more. I’m going to stop now. Thank you for your time. Aloha. EARL DELEON: \[Began with a chant accompanied by others in audience\] E hō mai ka ‘ike mai luna mai ē. ‘O nā mea huna no‘eau o nā mele ē. E hō mai, e hō mai, e hō mai ē. E hō mai ka ‘ike mai luna mai ē. ‘O nā mea huna no‘eau o nā mele ē. E hō mai, e hō mai, e hō mai ē. E hō mai ka ‘ike mai luna mai ē. ‘O nā mea huna no‘eau o nā mele ē. E hō mai, e hō mai, e hō mai ē. Aloha mai kākou, lāhui ‘ohana, kupuna-s, keiki-s, Mr. Crudele. I open with a kāhea respecting and calling our kupuna-s, our elders, our ancestors and our ‘aumakua-s to be present here today. We are speaking of our culture, a historical remnant that goes back to time immemorial. Because of this I am moved to testify today. I’ll do my written testimony so that it’ll be comprehendible to everyone, and if I elaborate, I will. But, mahalo, ke Akua. Mahalo, Aunty Lily, who I’ve known all my life, being born and raised here. First and foremost I would like to say mahalo to ke Akua. Without our Creator there would be no creation. We are all so blessed and privileged to live in this beautiful moku‘āina we call Hawaiti. My name is Earl E. DeLeon, Keoua kalanikupuapa ‘I kalaninui Maele. My ‘ohana comes from Kealakekua and the rugged lands of Ka‘ū from the beginning of time immemorial. I am a direct seventh generation descendant of the house of Keoua. I remember as a child, Kahalu‘u beach was 6 2017-05-15 Public Testimony on SMA 16-063 Contested Case