HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0315.011 2020-2022 i
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From: Pelehonuamea Harman
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 10:20 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Letter of SUPPORT Resolution 161-21
July 19, 2021
Chair Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder,Vice Chair Kimball, and Members of the Finance Committee,
Hawaii County Council
counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov
Re: SUPPORT for RES 161-21:Authorizes the Director of Finance to enter into negotiations for the acquisition
of lands and/or conservation easements for all or a portion of the properties identified as Tax Map Keys 9-4-
001:008, 009, 016,,017,and 023, situated in the Ahupua`a of Kiolaka'a and Wai`oma'o, District of Ka`u, utilizing
the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund (POMC).
Aloha Committee Members,
My name is Pelehonuamea Suganuma Harman. I am a teacher at Ke Kula `o Nawahiokalani`opu`u, a native
Hawaiian, a lineal descendant of KaTu, and a resident of Puna, Hawaii. My great-grandmother, Mary Kawena
Pukui was born and raised in Ka`u. She and the rest of our kupuna worked tirelessly to save our traditional
knowledge, our language, our way of life and our `aina. She did so with no regard for fame or
acknowledgement and despite opposition, sometimes,from our own people who didn't want her to document
our `olelo or mo`olelo.They would ask: Why are you doing this?
Her answer was always the same: I am doing it for my mo`opuna,but also for yours.
It is in this same spirit that I want to whole-heartedly SUPPORT Resolution 161-21 put forward by
Councilwoman David regarding the utilization of PONC funding for the acquisition of Kiolaka`a by the Ala
Kahakai Trail Association (ATA) to ensure that this `aina is protected for my mo`opuna and for yours. The `aina
is our ali`i, our chief. It has been here from the beginning of time and will be here long after we return to the po
to be with our kupuna. The merits of this grant proposal stand on its own. The AKTA has gone above and
beyond to reach out to the community. I have faith that they will continue to work with kupuna, makua, `opio,
and Ka`u based organizations to make sure to responsibly protect and steward our precious open spaces for
our community.
In closing I applaud this committee for the very important kuleana that you all shoulder and I mahalo you for
the knowledge and expertise you bring to the Hawaii County Council. I urge you to support this resolution
because the preservation of our land and natural resources is what is at stake and it is our collective kuleana to
protect these things.
Me ka `oia`i`o a me ka ha`aha`a,
Pelehonuamea Harman
Comm. No.
Ref. To:�IFG ---
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