HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0241.029 2022-2024 p /couribI
R0. 1141-23
GOMM.�4I
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2023 1:18 PM
To: Maki Morinoue
Cc: Council Testimony
Subject: RE: Please support Res. 141-23
0
—<
N
N
l37
From: Maki Morinoue
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2023 10:54 AM
Subject: Please support Res. 141-23
Aloha members of Hawai'i County Council,
I want to say mahalo for the last support, and I am asking you to help us see this through till the end. My name
is Maki Morinoue, I am a fourth-generation Japanese American kama'aina from Holualoa. I am also a member
of the Holualoa Machi Kumiai and Pulama. This is my family's and community's historical narrative and my
personal multi-generational observation of the changes occurring in culture, weather, developments, and
increased cars and their size and speed on Mamalahoa Hwy.
My uncle Norman Sakata ensured Kona !MIN Center's purpose and gift from the five kumiai organizations to
Hawai'i County would not be forgotten by creating a permanent engraved plaque that is located at this
community center, which I include as an attachment which is valid as we advocate for a safe walking path.
Please support Res. 141-23 and consider the easement acquisition re TMK: 7-6-004:003 w/PONC
funds. This proposal Historic 88 Temples Walk and to envision this easement, and its possibilities for our
future and service multi-generational impact on our community at large.
This Conservation Easement is an important opportunity to preserve our cultural heritage and to ensure this
walking path right-of-way is secured. Without an easement, establishing a community pathway and
connecting the school to the community center is impossible. FOREVER. There are no alternate
routes.
This Res. 141-23 is vital to envision the possibilities for our future ability to make a multi-generational impact in
our community at large. /�
This easement would serve and preserve; Comm. No 14 /A
Ref.To: V L councA
1 Ref. Date MAY 1 7 2023
1. A 'historic walk' on the location where the 1925 'Shikoku 88 temples miniature pilgrimage' was
located between the monument at the highway and the northwest corner of the subject parcel.
2. Preserve our Japanese American history. The path could potentially honor the five local Japanese-
American Kumiai (associations) who in 1973 gifted to the County the land where their Holualoa
Japanese Language School was located (ca 1898) for the conditional purpose of serving as a
community space and is now known as the Kona IMIN* Community Center. *Imin means
'immigrants' in Japanese.
3. Opening up one of two remaining unprotected segments of a walking pathway connecting the
elementary school to the IMIN Center. ("The one acre school yard at Holualoa is used for organized
sports. Holualoa School and the Kona Imin Center in Holualoa also serve as community centers for
meetings, social gatherings, and recreational purposes" (Hawaii County General Plan - Recreation
12.5.7.1). Support multigenerational programming and enhance Holualoa Elementary School
through after school programming.
4. Creating Safe Routes to School and improving emergency preparedness infrastructure. (Imin Center
is a designated tsunami evacuation shelter, and the School is a designated hurricane evacuation
shelter) Connecting these two facilities via an alternate pedestrian path would leave Mamalahoa
Hwy open for cars and emergency vehicles.
It is disappointing that POlama's 2020 PONC Application, with nine County Council, votes to green light this
with a willing owner, was unsuccessful in acquiring the subject TMK as a whole parcel purchase. We are
relieved that as of 4/28/23, the owner is STILL a willing owner 8 ownership has not changed!
This third and reduced scope version of their application is a great indication of how important the value of this
path is to our multigenerational kama'aina community and businesses. Our community has seen much pain
after World War II with the order for our US Military to destroy all Japanese American Monuments along
Mamalahoa Hwy. For some reason, this Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage Monument in Holualoa village was
spared or missed. We are honored as a community from North Kona to South Kona participated in supporting
this monument's restoration, which was recently completed on 3/6/23 this year in collaboration with POlama
and Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission.
This application is an important opportunity to preserve our cultural heritage and to ensure this walking path
right-of-way is secured. Without this segment, there are no possibilities for becoming a community pathway.
There are no alternate routes.
With gratitude for this opportunity,
Maki Morinoue
Holualoa Kumiai member
POlama is Kona, VP
Maki Morinoue
Share your ALOHA
"Aloha Spirit" is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self.
Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. In the contemplation and presence of the
life force, "Aloha,"
2