HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0047.025 2020-2022 i
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From: Sarah Pautzke j
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 4:20 PM
To: Council Testimony COUNTY CLE
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Subject: Bill 217 - Prohibiting public foot traffic down Waipi'o Road C 4 A_°I
RECEIVED
Time 4. m. By
Dear County Council Members, Date DEC 2 1 200
1 remember my first hike down Waipi'o Road and into the valley. I felt an overwhelming feeling of welcome from the
valley itself and a feeling of being home. However, I could also feel being guided to not approach the waterfalls, but
instead to wait until I was invited. Since that first traverse, I've visited to train for races, get exercise, and to bring
friends to horseback ride through Waipi'o. It is an amazingly beautiful valley that I cannot imagine being shut out of.
Every time I go, I pray for safe travels at the top, and as I Leave, I thank the valley for watching over me.
'I'lhis valley is not just sacred for the people who live there, but also for others like myself who have felt the maria of
Waipi'o Valley. Please do not close this road to public foot traffic, as put forth in Bili 217, Draft 2.
I encourage you to instead look to limiting the number of people who walk the road daily, tracking use activity, and
perhaps limiting it to Hawaii residents only. Another idea would be to also fundraise for road maintenance through an
entrance fee to tourists, as Hapuna does, given how many non-locals I have seen traversing the steep road.
Please include this testimony as part of the official record.
Mahalo for listening.
Aloha,
Sarah Pautzke
Waimea resident
Comm. No.
Ref. To:
1 Ref. gateC 2 3 2-0211