HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0314.008 2020-2022 1
EJ-1k. Funakoshi
73-1-192)Ilnunoe Streete Kaihta-Kona,1-11967-100 Phone:808-281-7563
E-Mail: efimalcos<t�hotina 1.cozr7
Date: ugitst 1, 2021
Aloha Hawaii County Council,
My name is Erik Funakoshi and I oppose Bill 52 and Bill 53. I'm a firefighter and live on a bordering
property. Thank you for taking the time to read this written testimony.
Land Planning Hawaii and the County Planning Department have both referenced that rezoning this lot
from Ag to Urban and then from Ag-5 (A-5a) to Residential (RS-22) is in line with the Kona Community
Development Plan. If you read the 269 page plan that was created in 2008, the first guiding_principle
of this plan is to protect and preserve open space, natural beauty, agricultural lands, cultural and
environmental resources. All of these principles pertain to the preservation of this property.
The access to the Ward property is through Kona Acres Subdivision and is in line with it from Mauka to
Makai. Kona Acres subdivision has been acre Ag lots since the 1970s allowing for small scale farms.
The "Federal Agriculture Census data from 2017" shows that most Hawaii Farms are on small patches
of land from 1-9 acres much like this one. There were 2,621 listed small farms on Hawaii island in
2017. The agricultural footprint has dramatically decreased in the past century according to the
"Statewide Agricultural Use Baseline 2015" This is why need to keep the remaining Ag lands and allow
local farmers the opportunity to produce food.
Hawaii is approximately 2,506 miles from the continental United States. We import about 85-90% of
our food. Climate change, this pandemic, and other global events are highlighting the importance of
local food production and sustainability. We are now facing a second round of the pandemic, we
encounter Hurricane season every year, and are susceptible to tsunamis. Hawaii is very vulnerable to
all of these things which will impact shipping and our food supply.
We are lucky that supply and imports have improved since the last peak of the Covid outbreaks. Who
would we have turned to if they didn't get better? We would have turned to the local farmers and food
producers. That's why we need to start to take the necessary steps to ultimately reach our goal of food self-
sustainability. Rezoning Ag lands to residential will not help this issue of sustainability just for a mainland
developer to make a profit.
This area is viable agricultural land so we need to work to protect it.We have to look at Ag land and local
food production like the police or fire department. You might not need them today or tomorrow, but
you're grateful they are around when you do or someone you know does.
Many people talk about making Hawaii more self-sustainable. We need to think about Hawaii and the
culture we are leaving for our Keiki and future generations. Please keep this property Agricultural land.
Mahalo for your time and consideration!
Erik Funakoshi 1
Com . No
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