HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0047.040 2020-2022 ill 217
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December 21, 2020
To: County of Hawaii Council Members
From: Allison Yap, Hawaii resident
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Re: Proposed Bill 217
I am writing in strong opposition against proposed Bill No. 217 (draft 2), which would limit access to
Waipi'o Valley. As someone who was born and raised in Hawaii, I am dismayed and frankly
disturbed by the lack of aloha this bill represents.
The bill says that its "purpose" is "to improve safety upon that portion of Waipi'o Valley."While this is
a laudable goal, it is not clear how this bill, if passed, would indeed improve safety in any
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measurable way. Is there any data or research to support this assertion? I watched the December I
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16, 2020 Facebook Live meeting of the County of Hawaii Council working group, which discussed
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this issue, and no actual data was produced that would demonstrate that this bill would actually
improve public safety. Instead, by banning pedestrian traffic on the road, vehicular traffic may
increase, which would decrease public safety. The issue is to better manage pedestrian and
vehicular traffic, both of locals and visitors alike, so that all may enjoy the beauty of this very special
place.
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It seems clear that this bill is not really about safety, but rather is a blatant attempt to limit access to
Waipi'o Valley. Indeed, according to the language of the bill, access to the valley would only be
allowed under 3 circumstances: 1) in case of emergency, 2)to owners/lessees/residents of Waipi'o
Valley, and 3) Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.
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I believe that this bill is illegal under HRS §§ 116-4, 115-5, Revised 2010, since it seeks to limit
public access to the beach in Waipi'o Valley. At the Facebook Live meeting on December 16, 2020,
Valerie Pointdexter stated that this bill would not limit beach access in Waipi'o Valley, and that there
were other ways to access the beach. This is patently untrue. Anyone who has actually been to the
beach in Waipi'o Valley knows that there is only one way in and out of the valley and to the beach -
that is by Waipi'o Road.
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As a tax-paying resident of this state with hanai family who live in Kukuihaele, which neighbors
Waipi'o Valley, I am a frequent visitor to the area in question. Surely there are other less draconian
measures that could be employed short of banning access to the Valley? Could we not seek instead
to educate people to be respectful visitors to this sacred place instead of simply banning people?
I implore the County of Hawaii Council Members to do the right thing and not pass this ill-conceived
bill.
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Please contact me if you have any questions about my testimony. I may be reached at
rTTamziIyahoo.com or at 808-271-0727.
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Mahalo,
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Allison Yap
Comm. No. � 1
Ref. To:� 1�1+G1
Ref. ate E C 2 3 2020
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