HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0126.006 2022-2024 p/Co1Lnci
Res.GI45
COMM. l
From: Barbara King
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2023 4:52 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Re: CRF Res 64-23: Requesting $5000 towards the educational-related costs for the
monument
Aloha, members of our Hawai'i County Council, =+,
My name is Barbara King of Pulama Ia Kona Heritage Council located in 'Holualoa, Hi.
I am testifying in support of receiving funding for our educational-related costs for the=
monument.
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Pulama requests $5,000 to fund the project's educational portion, including its nomination to the
Hawaii Register of Historic Places and interpretive signage at the monument. Historic Hawaii
supports this project and has awarded us a grant. Additional funds are needed. We appreciate
your time, consideration, and support of our funding request to help shape a more thoughtful
narrative in our community and future generations.
Why are we preserving this landmark monument?
On February 19th, 1942, Executive Order 9066 was issued by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt. The United States viewed anyone of Japanese ancestry as an enemy, and it
became a crime to speak Japanese, be Japanese, gather as a community, and have any
cultural practices. Over 30 monuments that used to be present along Mamalahoa Hwy
from South to North Kona were destroyed by the U.S. Military with Executive Order
9066. For some reason, this monument remains standing along Mamalahoa Hwy, and
many of the next generations do not even know it exists or the weight of its
symbolism. It sits with corroded metal about to burst and break the concrete further.
It is in the active process of being restored now, and we could use
more financial
support.
You can visit our website to see our monument progress online here.
Mahalo nui loa for your time and consideration,
Barbara King
Holualoa, Hawaii 96725
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Comm. No., b
Ref. To: ?l hA
1 Ref. nate_ MAR - 8 2023