HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0563.016 2020-2022 AVY A i
From: Maki Morinoue
Sent: Tuesday,January18, 2022 10:52 AM
IOZZ JAN 18
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Written Testimony Shane Vincent
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Aloha County Council Members, Jan 18, 2022
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My name is Maki Morinoue and I am opposing Shane Vincent (communications 563) to the Leeward
Planning Commission.
I do not know Mr. Vincent and am very appreciative of his willingness to volunteer. At the same time
as a multigenerational kama'aina I question this direction as my observation shows much conflict of
interest.
I am noticing that the public and County Council is not able to see who applied for these positions to
give us more insight before the Mayor nominates a candidate. I know that a better option was/is
available and that was Ku'ulei Keakealani and it is Pulelehua Kimball who is a local girl and has her
degree in Forestry that applied for this position in 2021.
I am thankful that the County Council voted in as majority Mahina Duarte to Leeward Planning
Commission after much community push for better representation.
I do not know Shane Vincent and his company Vincent Construction Management. He seems to have
client connections that are absolutely a conflict of interest just as Zendo Kern of Zendo Kern &
Associates now known as Land Planning Hawai'i does.
I am thankful for Heather Kimball in speaking out about the Mayor's nominees and to place pressure
on him to nominate better candidates. Unfortunately Mr. Vincent as a choice, continues to be a
pattern from the Mayor and it is difficult not to notice a strategic choice to nominate candidates that
support offshore development with Zendo Kern, Shani Armbruster, Dana Asis and his current Shane
Vincent as a few examples.
I have concerns in the County Council's voting choices that continue to impact Kona residents
negatively as housing continues to rise now over 1 million dollars and business leases are too
expensive for local small business entrepreneurs. Both Mr. Vincent and Mr. Kern has many clients
along Ali'i Drive and Kona in general with 'recusing"as a means to mitigate the very conflict itself is a
sign County Council is voting in the wrong direction as a majority.
I hope we do not have all the East side candidates voting to over develop Kona eagerly for offshore
profit while ignoring the concerns the very community and legislative officers of the west area have
on this nomination and past nominations. I hope to be able to lean on all County Council members to
be able to vote with a whole island mindset.
I am asking the County Council to listen to our warnings of not being catastrophically prepared in
Kona while our climate changes and volcanic activity shifts. We had over 8 tsunami warnings over
the last 2 years with Keauhou Bay areas being most recently impacted by tsunami surges this past
Saturday, January 15th while the quietness of Kilauea raised concerns for the Mauna Loa eruption.
We failed at moving our residents up to the mountain during a tsunami evacuation a few years back,
where a community leader Simmy McMichalels and a Police Chief halted many developments along
Ali'i Drive until this tsunami evacuation and sewage issue was mitigated and given a few years to do
so. This information rests in your County Council files. This permit deadline was recently lifted and
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Zendo Kern has given automatic permission to go ahead and develop without mitigating the original
concern. Many of his clients are interconnected in these projects, as I have personally testified
against some of the developments that the community at large was not in favor of like the 5 Story
Condo on Alii Drive.
I have written to all 9 County Council members and our Mayor in the past to promote better
candidates like Mahina Duart, Ku'ulei Keakealani and Pulelehua Kimball and asked to vote in a more
well rounded representation. Someone that understands, respects and has knowledge on our culture,
cultural landscape and water patterns as well as the environmental impact.
This is where rezoning and land usage happens first and we need better representation here before it
goes to the County Council for final Vote.
Mr Vincent chose not to attend his committee hearing which was one of only two opportunities for the
public and their elected representatives to get to know him better.
Due to his ties in the community and his business I find this applicant not the right person to obtain
the power to vote on the future of our landscape.
Our surf spots and fishing holes are contaminated and I go to the beach with disinfectants and ear
drops...because we experienced infections due to contaminated water and sand. It was never like this
when I was growing up. What are we doing and where are we going?
The mayor must consider putting forward nominees who do not have any conflicts of interest,
whether actual or perceived. Land use decisions are extremely important for our future generation
and it begins with Mayor Roth making more responsible choices for nominations to our planning
commissions and understanding what diversity means to avoid another Dana Asis situation.
Please vote NO on Shane Vincent, Communications 563. We do not need more developers.
Mahalo
Maki Morinoue
County District 7
Holualoa
96725
Maki Morinoue
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