HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0314.030 2020-2022 1 I
August 15 2021
Subject: Written Testimony for Opposing Bill 52 and 53
Dear County of Hawaii Council Members, County Commissioner and County Committee,
Aloha,
My name is Kiyoko (Morinoue) Nanni. I was born and raised in Holualoa, Kona, HI (District 8).
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I'm currently 74 years of age.
I am a 3rd generation community member of Holualoa, Kona, a child of Kona coffee farmers,
proud of our heritage and decades of living in rural Holualoa, on the mountain slope of Mt. 3
Hualalai..
On Aug 1 2021, 1 submitted a written testimony contesting the passing of Bill 52 and Bill 53, and
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I also made oral testimony on Aug 3, 2021 at the online Hawaii County Council Meeting.
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Again, I present written testimony, in opposition of both Bill 52 and B53, into this one document,
as both bills pertain to the lot purchased by Tim and Kay Ward, who, in both bills are aiming for
rezoning from Agriculture to Urban status (Bill 52) and land development of the 3.99 acreage
(Bill 53) they purchased a year and a half ago, per their statement at the July 28,
2021 County Council Committee, which was also attended by Land Planning committee
member, Jeff Darryl, by John Pipin and the applicants of Bill 52 and 53, Tim and Kay Ward at
this online meeting, chaired by Council Member, Ashley Kierkiewicz. i
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Item 1, Bill 52
1 strongly oppose the bill's purpose to change the status of the 3.99 acreage from agriculture to
urban status for the following reasons:
• Keep ag land as ag land, preserve more open spaces for better future usage.
• Give a bigger voice to the local people of Hawaii, born and raised here and not to off
island land owners who are most often, part-time residents with intentions far less ideal
towards the local island community, who are very hard-pressed to own or rent a home.
• The 3.99 acre lot purchased by the Wards, as other pieces of land in this location is on
sloping downward land and I feel the raking and scraping away of the flora, fauna, trees
and shrubs on it will escalate flowing water damage from heavy rainfall mauka of the lot,
which often travels rapidly all the way down towards the coastline, and negatively affect
our aquifer (ground water) system with adverse results to our already fragile ecosystem.
Additionally:
❑ The Wards knew that this 3.99 acre property is zoned Ag. They were not bereft of this
knowledge, and I would safely assume that they also knew about the archaeological site
on this acreage.
❑ With this knowledge, they still submitted a change of zone from Ag to Urban and
submitted Bill 53, which is to build 6 "affordable" homes on a subdivide of 6 lots,
including an insertion of an Ohana unit, thinking that they would be able to get enough
"political" backers to support them
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Comm. No. _
Ref. Toe YMPLAWAI
Ref. Date AUG 1 8 2
❑ I further object to Bill 52 because so much of our ag land is being rezoned by outsiders
whose sole intention is to profit from the urban development they pursue, without the
least concern for our local people and our land, both of which are desperately in need of
protection from unscrupulous off islanders buying our land here, building homes that
only other off islanders can afford to purchase, often in cash! This is not pond to island
people, as well as the disrespect for the artifacts that exist on this plot of land.
❑ Although there have been, over the decades, many malahini individuals who have
purchased land here, I know there are those of them who participate in our local
community and give back to our people and our land. However, the Wards, as far as I
can tell, do not fall into this category. For instance, the cave on this property is quite
huge, and not "just a tiny cave" as was put forth by the Wards , and by that
condescending description, it shows such disrespect for this archaeological site, so
important to our people. 1 must tell you, this kind of attitude does not sit well with me.
❑ 1 oppose the rezoning because we need to keep our natural resources and all
archeological sites found on any land to be recognized as our heritage to be passed on
to future generations to keep Hawaiiana alive and thriving. It would be more sensible for
the Wards to devise a new economic plan for this acreage,which would benefit Hawaii by
keeping the property as Ag land, develop an agricultural endeavor, with respect given to
the archaeological site, and giving jobs to the local people. There are more creative
ways to use the land than urban development, that would generate income.
Item 2, Bill 53
Simply put, I strongly oppose this bill which provisions are set to divide the one lot into 6 lots, for
the purpose of providing `affordable housing, which incidentally was not clearly defined by
applicant Kay Ward when asked on July 298, 2021, by Council member, Holeka Inaba and
further questioned by Council Member Rebecca Villegas and concurred by Council Member
Aaron Chung.
Before listing the definitive reasons why I oppose Bill 53, 1 want to make a statement here, that I
want Bill 53 killed, in other words, no subdividing the property, but if I need to list reasons, here
are some of the ones I shared in the previous written testimony:
• In listening to every individual at the July 28 2021 Hawaii County Council meeting, it is
my feeling and observance of the discussions regarding both bills, and the body
language of Sohn Pippin, Jeff Darryl and especially Kay Ward, that it remains unlikely
that a good result will materialize, should a motion carry forward to subdivide this
property.
• I am concerned with the un-affordable housing market for local people in Kona, which
seems only affordable to outsiders, so many who purchase land sight unseen and in
cash. Council members, Land Planning Commission members, what about our own
people, who can't meet the loan requirements to purchase a home and which they often
see have been snatched away by a cash purchase.
• At the May 20 Leeward Planning Commission meeting, Kay Ward was quoted in West
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Hawaii Today Newspaper to say, "We want to be good neighbors and good stewards".
And yet, at the July 28 2021 Council meeting, Council member Holeka Inaba mentioned
that the average hard working person here is not able to get a place in Hawaii and we
need to be mindful of that as we all have value and love to own land, most people here
cannot afford it. So, when the opportunity presents itself, like this, I think we can have
fruitful discussion and I'll be asking for this postponement.
• The fact that Council Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz mentioned at this same meeting at
closure that she was glad Jeff Darryl brought up our role which is to make a
determination on what is or isn't the proper use on the matter before Council and wants
to make certain this is continuously guiding our work and often times what infrastructure
assets exists or don't really begin to hone in what is prescribed what is doable on the
property. She also voiced to Planning Commission, Jeff, if we could begin to build into
these ordinances some sort of accountability around filing of annual reports or something
of that nature because oftentimes we pass these ordinances and don't know what
happens unless there is a request that is coming back before this body such as a time
extension or a rezone. She wants to request that this be part of the discussion,
potentially that Mr. Inaba will be having with the applicant. This is a new level of
transparency I highly recommend, as well.
• Questionable and disdainful to me is the unclear answer given by Jeff Darryl to Council
member Holeka Inaba when he was questioned about Leeward Planning Commission
Director, Zendo Kerns' connection with this project, being that he has a relationship with
the applicants. Jeff Darryl's response was very revealing in unseemly professional
relationships that can adversely affect the outcome of Bill 53, particularly if both Council
and Planning Commission's deep understanding of their kuleana to the people of Hawaii
is to be of public service for the good of the people, and not to swerve to the
machinations of off island people seeking to make a profit, and may even turn around
and sell off some of the 6 lots within a short time to other off islanders, the only ones who
can afford the climbing cost of housing in Kona.
• Lastly I have this to add. I want to mention and praise the brave words from Council
member, Rebecca Villegas, who eloquently said to a response to someone who said to
her, "Hey, so you're in politics, and I like to say, no, I'm in public service. Rebecca went
on to say the definition of politics is actually the science of government, but we have
accidentally gotten to this point where the term politics becomes a disclaimer for the
shucking and jiving and the backroom deals so we'll ignore that and we'll give you this or
how about the other, but when we look at the overall broad spectrum of the needs of the
community (I myself, reiterate community) to me it doesn't necessarily mean
perpetuating this capitalist society. . . we live in a free country, this could be contested
whether .hmm.. Hawaii, I'm going to digress here, I just find some real concerns on the
issues related to this property, to the purchase, to it, in 1 year or 10 years of any amount
of time just turning into another big investment, where somebody comes in, you know,
subdivides, build 6 homes, umm, the avoidance of utilizing and creating 7 lots to use all
7 water credits in order to not having to put in the infrastructure required with 6 versus 7,
concerns me. WELL THIS CONCERNS ME, TOO.
Additionally, I want to add:
❑ My concern is twofold. 1) Manipulation - these backroom deals and discussions for the
sake of profit making, goes against the principle of serving the people of Hawaii. Each
person who holds an office in our government must have the concern of the people of
Hawaii at the core of their dedication to the position they were elected to or appointed to.
Do we want our Hawaiian Islands to be further manipulated for profit, to the defamation
of our historical sites, our culture, our arts, music and language, which seems again to
be tossed aside. Where is our pride of Hawaii?
2) High standard - Malama pono and aina pono. How about not making it easy for
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mainland developers, like Tim and Kay Ward, to get away with the disrespect of our 3
land, our culture, because, as I understand it, there is no record at the Bureau of 3
Conveyances of any preservation plan for this archaeological site on the property.
Therefore, if Council approves Bill 52 and 53, it will set a precedent to all off island
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developers that it is not so difficult to get what you want and how you want it. We also
need to have proper surveys done on land with historic sites and have it recorded and
on file at the Bureau of Conveyances.
❑ We need to make certain that all mainland developers are held to a higher standard and
responsibility to the land and culture of Hawaii. We have lost much too much in the past,
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and if this pattern continues, we will not be taking care of our people, and the people of
Hawaii will no longer be our people!
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Respectfully,
Kiyoko (Morinoue) Nanni