Comm No 0021.150 - Testimony - CA-7 - PONC fund and Maintenance fund

Home

Mara Keliikuli 8th Grade Sl udeni Volcano School oQ`ArILs 4? sciences volcano, Q pQ 96785 Regarding: The 2% land nand program February 04, 20118 Charter Commission Q p do, Q p Q 9672o Aloha Kakou e Hawaii Charter Commission, My name is Mara Keli`ikuli, my parents are Junior & Sheyenne Keli`ikuli, we live in the area of Ola`a, Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. I'm in 8th grade and go to school at VSAS. I'm happy, that I get to talk about this amazing place that we call Kawa, we go there, to malama the `aina. Kawa is a special place to me because it gives me some time to relax with my friends, and reflect on me while also helping to save our rare, endangered, and also native environment. When I first visited Kawa, it was very new to me. It was a beautiful place with a wonderful new experience. Not familiar with my surroundings, I felt out of place. With open hearts and guidance from Kuma James Akau, Uncle Duane, Aunty Clarissa Pua, and Uncle Kaui Felder it has changed my perspective on things. I look forward to going there, to take care of my land. This is such a wonderful, and gorgeous place, and deserves to be taken care of. Kawa is a Wahi Pana, "A Legendary Place", that in the process, can be better improved with the help from future generations. The thrill I get, going down to Kawa is an experience that teaches me, so much about this amazing place. Nothing that you can learn at an ordinary public school. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'm so glad that I get to be a party of it. Being able to have a part in the restoration of Kawa is an amazing feeling that can only make me love this place even more. Kawa is a very important place to many people, including myself. Within my short time of visiting I have learned so much. not just about the place but about myself. While there I am able to reflect on myself, and I can see a part of myself there. To the people that are taking care and helping with the restoration, Kawa is more that just a job. There is a strong connection that can compare to nothing else, if this is taken away it would be as if someone was taking away a part of yourself. Kawa is special, like nothing else I've ever seen, and it is something that I look forward to seeing in the future. Since going to Kawa my perspective on things have changed completely. Someone I know even said, "You know, since going to this place you have changed a little. Comm. No. 21.150