HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0315.032 2020-2022 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
Time I0Y01 6/4. By
August 4, 2021 Date AUG 0 4 2021
Testimony of Emma Emalia Keohokalole, `Ohana Keohokalole
To: Honorable Members of the Hawai`i Island County Council
Subject: Support Resolution 161.
My name is Emma Emalia Keohokalole and I represent my kupuna, whom
you can't see but who are present and who lived on the Kiolaka'a lands, as
well as my living family, many of whom now reside on O`ahu. We believe
that our ancestral, paternal roots to Ka`u are tapu or sacred and these roots
are forever.
Our `ohana firmly believes that the approval of Resolution 161 is very
important for at least two reasons: 1) the funds will authorize the Director of
Finance to begin negotiations to further complete the acquisition process of
Kiolaka'a; and 2) the honorable task of malama `aina or stewardship of the
land can move forward. As a community of families of Ka`u, we can step
up to participate in the protection of the land from development thereby
ensuring its existence into perpetuity for all of us and our descendants.
Once again, we all have a unique opportunity today. We commend the
willingness of the the Ala Kahakai Trail Association, under the leadership of
Keoni Fox, in partnership with the Trust for Public Lands, under the
leadership of Reyna Ramolete Hayashi and all of the awesome team
members of the Stewardship Committee who have helped us reach this
milestone in the entire journey of acquiring and protecting Kiolaka`a.
Without their leadership and persistence, we would not be here today.
Mahalo to all of them!
A final thought— and most importantly, we must consider that if we are
successful in receiving your support of Resolution 161, Kiolaka`a will be all
of our legacy to our children, those who are living now and those yet
unborn.
Honorable Members of this Hawai`i County Council, mahalo for this
opportunity to testify —we ask for your favorable support of Resolution 161.
Mahalo a nui loa.
Comm. No. 'J. 2-
Ref. To: P (1Ct`
Ref. Date AUG - 4 2021