HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.001 2022-2024 :p /Caunc i
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To: Members of the County Council NB AUG Li AN 9: Lj 5
From: Jesse & Kimberly Kaho'onei
Re: Support for Res. 215-23, Agenda for August 15th, 2023
TRANSFERRING/APPROPRIATING AN APPROPRIATION OUT AND FROM A DESIGNATED
FUND ACCOUNT AND CREDITING SAME TO A DESIGNATED FUND ACCOUNT TO
PROVIDE A GRANT TO HULIAUAPA'A FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF THE WAHI KUPUNA
KAHALU'U FIELD SYSTEM.
Aloha Chair Kimball, Vice Chair Inaba, and members of the County Council,
We are providing written testimony in support of Resolution 215-23 in regards to providing
Contingency Relief Grant Funding to Huliauapa'a, to support efforts at Kahalu'u Kuahewa. Our
names are Jesse Kekoa Kaho'onei and Kimberly Kaho'onei, stewards of Kahalu'u Kuahewa.
First, we want to mahalo all of you for this opportunity to potentially expand our capacity with
these funds. These funds will allow us to further advance in restoring and maintaining our
project site, a portion of a 354-acre preserved site of Kona's Traditional Agricultural Field
System. With the help of steady groups and community members, we have been able to slowly
restore this field system overgrown with invasive species, and replace them with Native
Hawaiian plants and food crops, which are distributed to our community throughout the year. We
hope to continue our efforts of clearing out invasive species to make room for our native plants
and food crops to grow. We also hope to create more educational and community outreach
materials, as well as be able to provide lua (bathrooms) services so that we can have these
resources available for our school and community groups. Again, mahalo for considering this
opportunity that allows us to continue to grow in our stewardship and our ability to further
support our vision of revitalizing this space and reconnecting kanaka to 'aina. We mahalo you
for the amazing work that you have done for our community and look forward to continue seeing
you make changes to support our community. Mahalo.
Me ka ha'aha'a,
Jesse Kekoa Kaho'onei
Comm. No.
Ref.To: 4 C MN I
Ref. Date AUG 1 6 2023
Kimberly Kaho`onei