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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0136.038 2022-2024 P/Public, N& irin sit! bI _ COMH.1% Pulama la Kona HERITAGE COUNCIL Preserve,protect,and enhance the special qualities of historic Kona County of Hawai'i Council Subject:Testimony OPPOSTION to Budget item#27—Lako Street Extension project rosic.) w ©co) May 12, 2023 Council Chair Kimball and Members of the Council, U+ a Thank you for this opportunity to testify. I am Antu Harvey and am testifying on behalf of Pulama iã Kona Heritage Council. We OPPOSE—including in this budget-$1,500,000 toward extending Lako Street(from the w __ Lutheran Church to Ali'i Drive) Please do not allocate any funding for a Lako Street extension to Ali'i Drive. This is an unacceptable road location.There are probably other more suitable options within already-developed areas(e.g. Royal Poinciana Dr—and at the same time fix the Kuakini Hwy /Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy junction). The sacredness and archaeological,cultural, historical significance hasn't changed since the last round to attempt this in 2020 when a bill was introduced to amend the budget by adding$1M toward a Lako extension.There was strong objection,and the bill was dropped. All involved acknowledged that a Lako Street extension would desecrate what was a primary royal center for the Ali'i, as documented by the United States Department of the Interior and residents alike. Per the National Register of Historic Places, "Oral traditions suggest that the HOlualoa royal center was constructed as early as A.D. 1300... Kamehameha I is said to have learned to surf and canoe in the waters of HOlualoa Bay..."; This Holualoa royal center during its period of significance was not bounded by perimeter of the TMK parcels included in the National Historic Register nomination.The center extended across this entire area, including the parcels through which this road would bulldoze. We are a Kona heritage nonprofit of 30 years.We led the project to create the the State of Hawai'i's first Scenic Byway,the Mamalahoa Kona Heritage Corridor.Our mission is to"preserve, protect and enhance the intrinsic qualities of Kona".We support better multi-modal mauka makai connectors. But,we will strongly oppose extending Lako as the route. We are in disbelief this location is even being considered. Mahalo nui for this opportunity to share our mana'o,and for your dedication and service to protect and enhance our Hawai'i for a better future. On behalf of the Board of Directors and myself, Antu Harvey, Executive Director Pulama is Kona HERITAGE COUNCIL PO Box 768 I Holualoa, HI 96725 Website:https://www.pulama.org/ Comm. N,. PAPA Ref. To: Pt council-- Ref. Date MAY 1 6 2(123