HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0126.009 2022-2024 P/Couoc4
Res,0-1-25
COMM. 12(
From: Shawn Sato
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2023 10:53 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Pulama la Kona Heritage CouncilI
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Aloha, members of our Hawaii County Council, -: ,
My name is Shawn Sato, and I am a member of POlama Ia Kona Heritage Council locd ir �t
Holualoa, Hi. s
I am testifying in support of receiving funding for our educational-related costs for the
monument.
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,
Shawn Sato
77-341 Ainanani Dr
Kailua Kona Hi 96740
Sent from my iPhone-Please excuse any typos.
Comm. No. `TO
Ref. To: P l USunu 1
1 Ref. Date MAR - 8 2023