HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0188.007 2020-2022 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
Written and Oral Testimony for Res. 82-21: PAHOEHOE OF LA'ALOA RECEIVEDd
TMK 7-7-008:120 and 124, Land Acreage: 29.8 acres Time II:J?a.14. By
Date APR 1 9, 2021 ,
To: co unciltestimonyCa�hawaiicounty.gav
Subject: Testimony for Res. 82-21, Parcel TMK 7-7-008:120 and 124, PAHOEHOE OF
LA'ALOA
Dear County Committee, Commissioner and County Council Members,
My name is Eileen Kiyoko Morinoue Nanni, born and raised in Holualoa Village, Kona, Hawaii,
year 1946. Herewith, I present both,my written testimony and a request for oral testimony for
this parcel of land.
It has been recently brought to my attention the concern for this parcel of land being considered
for purchase by the County of Hawaii, along with 2 other parcels of land located within very
close proximity to this one, and two of which, I have submitted a written testimony and a request
for an oral testimony. This is the last land parcel of the 3.
Thank you for taking the time to read my written testimony and to put onto the schedule for April
20 2021, the request for an oral testimony.
This largest acreage of the 3 parcels I am sending testimony for, written and oral, has great
significance to the community at large, if it remains part of the natural habitat in the area. So
much of our natural habitat which we have enjoyed in our youth is rapidly being bought up by
investors, snow birds, even corporations, thus, reducing preservation of access to the shoreline
as well as the unmindful destruction of surrounding land area and ocean shoreline with trash
found in many areas.
access to the shoreline and beach
As a child and youth, I well remember , for no one owns
them, however, in the recent decades, it has become uncomfortable to enjoy these areas, let
alone, have shoreline access to them.
As part of the local community in which I was raised, we often went shoreline fishing to
supplement our food supply, as well as to enjoy partaking of the succulent marine life as part of
our meals. The shoreline and ocean were healing, and after fishing, black crab and opihi
hunting, we often took a dip in the refreshing ocean. It was an adventure for us keikis and youth.
But today, we have to take caution when we go for a shoreline outing, whether to the beach to
swim or to the shoreline to fish. Why? It is because we are afraid of contracting bacterial
infection, to be careful of any open wounds in which any bacteria from poor shoreline water
quality, and from unknown bacteria found in the shoreline tidepools or nearby areas, often
caused by pollution, and the throwing away of used products along the shoreline, or floating
garbage washed onto the shore. It's severely altered our ohana's fishing and enjoyable beach
Comm. No � 1�'
Ref.To: rG
Ref. Date APR' 2 0 2021
outings. My Hawaii experience has changed quite drastically, and this is before the Covid-19
pandemic ever existed.
That backdrop of sharing in the paragraphs above calls me to exhort your attention to
purchasing this large parcel of land in the joined pursuit of protecting this natural habitat from
being scooped up by private investors. West Hawaii, particularly, Kona has been targeted for the
commercial interest of enhancing the tourist industry, a known money-maker for the state of
Hawaii, inclusive of the County of Hawaii. However, we, the community of Kona on the west
side of Hawaii island lack land conservation, lack hiking trails, lack safe habitat to enjoy, and
where local wildlife can have the freedom to prosper rather than go into extinction, lack the
preservation of archeological structures and burial sites, and we lack the opportunity to keep
and provide more cultural educational exposure to our keikis, our community and our visitors.
Our local community needs a sense of a place of belonging, of discovering where we came
from, who we are culturally, while challenged with onslaught of the strong influence of mainland
US commercialism that is fastly invading the mindset of our people, our culture, threatening our
historical preservation, reducing our natural resources, crippling the natural ability of this
acreage to promote and filter water run off and further destroying any preservation of the quality
of life along the shorelines of Kona.
Open green space is essential to the well being of human life. We, the people of Hawaii, have
been continuously overcome by the influx of prosperous snowbirds, who own several homes,
even in different localities, while making it nearly impossible for locals to be first time home
owners. Many of these homeowners do not share a sense of place, that we do, while
simultaneously, reducing our essential sense of place.
At this juncture, I would like to bring up the other adjoining acreage for purchase, Res. 81-21,
MAGIC SANDS OF LA'ALOA, TMK 7-7-004:063,Acreage of 8.814 acres. These 2 land parcels,
if purchased together, would make an outstanding and significant impact on securing the
preservation of precious and noteworthy archeological and burial sites found on both parcels of
land,
In pursuit of the need to grow the economy of the island on the West Coast side of Hawaii, let it
be known that I am not against tourism, which has a great impact on the economic condition of
all of the island of Hawaii. I know of individuals who commute from Hilo, Honokaa, Kohala and
Waimea to work in Kona, mostly within the tourist industry. With this in mind, wouldn't it be
advantageous to welcome tourists into a safe ocean, shoreline, overall land and sea
environment so that they can enjoy themselves with minimal health risks? It is a wise decision to
protect our ecosystem, to provide green space, that will also protect water rushing from the
mountainside quickly without natural filtration in soil that does not have clay. We know that the
Big Island is the youngest island in the Hawaiian chain, and our land is porous and there are
many areas without sufficient soil.
I strongly propose the purchase of these 2 parcels of land, as well as the other 2 parcels to
which I have previously submitted written testimony for, along with a request for oral testimony
on April 20, 2021.
Thank you for your time to read my testimony and may I add one last remark; it is certain to me
that the purchase of the 4 parcels of land to which I have submitted personal testimony is sure
to become a historic marker in the annals of Hawaii County's actions of land acquisition
because it will ensure eco stability of our native land whilst preserving the legacy of Hawaiiana
to entrusted to our people by the ancestors of those who first came here to Hawaii and to the
Hawaiian Islands. Your stewardship on this committee, an extension of County of Hawaii
Council Members and the Commissioner plays a very important role in promoting the legacy of
who we are, all the while,) sensibly affording the continued wellbeing of existing local agriculture,
business, and future enterprises in our villages and greater community, by wisely promoting
economic growth without the constant threat or interruption of unpleasant disasters resulting
from preventable circumstances.
I want to thank you for your time and interest in my testimony, an appeal to purchase:
1. Res. 82-21, TMK 7-7-008:120 and 124, PAHOEHOE OF LA'ALOA, 29.8 acres
2. Res. 81-21, TMK 7-7-004:063, MAGIC SANDS OF LA'ALOA, 8.814 acres
3. Res. 80-21, TMK 7-6-014:003, KEAKEALANIWAHINE AT BANYANS (Ahupua'a of
Holualoa), 15,372 sq. ft.
4. Res. 83-21, TMK 76-004-003, KE ALA KAKOU (Holualoa Community Forest). 2.488
acres
Mahalo nui loa and warm gratitude,
Ms. E. Kiyoko Morinoue Nanni