HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0595.018 2020-2022 COUNTYCLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
VE
1m If, a
Date FE B
Aloha e Hawaii Planning Committee Members,
I am writing a letter in STRONG OPPOSITION to Bill 112 and Bill 115. As a Hawaii Island
resident and representative of my community through my work in the protection of our cherished
natural and cultural resources, I recognize the importance of moving forward as a community while
maintaining the biological-cultural integrity of our home. The Kumu Hou project at Waik6loa is
seeking to rezone nearly 180 acres of land in the Waikoloa Resort area to allow for the development
of 900 additional time share units.While the developers state they have secured water rights and
plans for waste-water treatment, the development of these additional units will surely contribute to
the problem of overused and undermaintained infrastructure in Hawaii County. It can certainly be
inferred that these time share tilts will increase the strain on the local and indigenous Hawaii Island
community by encouraging additional visitors to our home. These visitors do not contribute to the
long-term health and sustainability of this island and will only add to the problems we currently face
today.
Moreover, here in Hawaii County and across the state,we continue to see developments be
approved based on the promise of affordable housing and potential job creation. In the case of Kumu
Hou,while the master project's affordable housing requirement was supposedly met over 40 years
ago via a land donation,we continue to find ourselves in a housing crisis where local families need
truly affordable housing with an option to purchase.As a Native Hawaiian resident,I myself have yet
to remove myself from the cycle of living from paycheck to paycheck while paying for someone
else's mortgage(i.e.renting),yet I would consider myself fairly well-off by most standards.
Ultimately, Kumu Hou must be held to the highest standard to justify why this re-zoning
should be approved, other than the jobs it might create and the addition of only 140"affordable"
units that are rent-only. According to the South Kohala CDP General Policy future developments
should:
• Provide affordable and workforce housing resources for low and moderate-income
individuals, families, and for those residents of South Kohala with special needs.
• Respect the culture, character,beauty, and history of our State's island communities
• Strike a balance between economic, social and cominimity, and environmental priorities
• Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of fature generations to meet
their own needs.
Unfortunately,in the case of Kumu Hou, the project focuses on growth in tourism and the economic
gain of developers, all at the continued expense of our local community and the infrastructure we rely
on. How can we continue to focus on the growth of external entities while our own community needs
us?Please consider our current heeds as well as the needs of future generations and do what is right,
VOTE "NO" ON BILL-112 AND BILL 115.
Mahalo piha,
La Crivello
H6kiuh`a Park&Cultural Sites Association
Hawaii Island Burial Council—Large Land Owner Representative
(808)386-0423
Ref. To. 2022
Ref. Date ru-v In