HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0430.001 2022-2024P Counci l
To: Members of the County Council 1913 SEP 19 All 110' 17
From: Jesse & Kimberly Kaho'onei
Re: Support of Res. 244-23, Agenda for September 20th, 2023
Villegas CRF, $6K to Huliauapa'a for revitalization of 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 244-23 in regards to
providing Contingency Relief 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 receive
additional funding to expand our capacity for our project, focused within a 354 -acre
preserved site of Kona's Traditional Agricultural Field System. These funds will continue
to allow us to further advance our project site that aren't covered by previous
contingency funds. 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. These funds will allow us to purchase appropriate
equipment to work around and preserve these intact features of the Kona Field System,
without disrupting its integrity. We hope to continue our efforts of clearing out invasive
species to make room for our native plants and food crops to grow. 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 the positive changes you make to support our community. Mahalo.
Me ka ha'aha'a,
A-440"" a,
Jesse Kekoa Kaho'onei
Kimberly Kaho'onei
Comm. N •
Ref. Toll
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