HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0284.056 2020-2022 MAULILI W. G. DICKSON
65-1234 Puu Opelu Road
Kamuela, HI 96743
June 14, 2021
I
Chair and Presiding Office Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder
Vice Chair Health L. Kimball
Committee on Finance, County Council
County of Hawai'i
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Aloha Members of the Committee on Finance:
My testimony today is in support of Resolution No. 145-21. My name is Maulili W. G. Dickson. I am
from Waimea and am a founding member of Na Kdlai Wa'a Moku O Keawe.
I am joining with the North and South Kohala communities in an effort to permanently protect Mahukona
area lands. We ask for the County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation Funds
to be used to support the purchase of these lands by Hawaii Island Land Trust(HILT)and to protect them
from resort and subdivision development.
Our Kohala agricultural lands must remain free from commercial and urban development. These Kohala
field systems lands continue to contribute to our island's food sustainability.
The historical sites continue to benefit our communities and youth through their valuable cultural
educational resources. Heiau Koa Holomoana,the navigation heiau,continues to educate our Pacific
voyagers in non-instrumental navigation and also serves as a platform for studying weather and ocean
conditions from this prime location. Development and light interference will directly affect the continued
effective usage of this unique, irreplaceable cultural site.
I request the deletion of the fourth WHEREAS clause pertaining to recreation policies in parts. I believe
that these development requirements do not apply to the intent of this land purchase resolution as the
intent is for preservation and not development.
The State and County of Hawaii must uphold its constitutional obligation as stewards of these ceded and
crown lands to protect native Hawaiian substance, cultural,and religious practices of public resources.
We trust that approval of the County public access,open space, and natural resource preservation funds
for the Mahukona land purchase be granted by this Committee on Finance.
Mahalo for allowing this testimony in support of Resolution No. 145-21.
Sincerely,
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MAULILI W. G. DICKSON
Na Kalai Wa`a-Moku O Keawe j
Vice President
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Comm. �
Ref. To-
Ref. Fete AUL - `i 2021