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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0460.001 2022-2024p / LAAL C", y�o October 2nd, 2023 7023 OCT - 3 AN 9: 32 County of Hawaii County Council Re: Testimony in Support of Resolution to purchase (TMK 328008100) or the entire shoreline of the `ili of Pepe`ekeo by the County through the PONC process. I am writing to provide support for the resolution for purchase of (TMK 328008100) for preservation and stewardship of the shoreline area of the entire `ili of Pepe`ekeo. My `ohana have lived in the neighboring ahupua`a of Kaupakuea for almost 20 years. We fish the waters of Pepe`ekeo and worship at it's sacred places. However in those 20 years I`ve seen the access to this shoreline continually degrade despite the promise made to the community in 2003 for vehicular fishing access and despite the acceptance of public access easements by the County in 2011. Currently only about 20% of the shoreline is maintained in a "mowable, walkable condition" as required in the SMA permit that granted subdivision of this property. Much of the shoreline is impassible. The one vehicular access to the shoreline that was retained has been gated and blocked for 4 years now despite protest from the community. 1 of 2 perpendicular pedestrian accesses to the shoreline is blocked. Numerous trees have been illegally cut or poisoned, which results in landslides and impacts our gathering zones. Cattle grazing right up to the edge of the pali has promoted the growth of a host of invasive species and added nutrient inputs to our reefs. Despite all these problems, this environmental, cultural, and social mismanagement of the shoreline of Pepe`ekeo can be reversed if this `aina is purchased through the PONC process. The Fishing Access Committee (FAC) of the Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation (PCDC) has stewarded access to the shoreline just north of Pepe`ekeo since the end of the plantation. This effort was buoyed by the founding of Makahanaloa Fishing Association (MFA) in 2019. These organizations seek to preserve access to fishing grounds and enable our local families to feed themselves. It`s through this effort that they nominated this shoreline to be protected. This community envisions a vibrant shoreline that is managed as a shared resource. Residents would be able to walk the paths again along a pali that embodies it's historical name of Kukuilaumania, the many spreading kukui trees. Lawai`a (fishers) would be able to harvest it's waters and manage their resources to provide lawa i`a or enough fish for the community to sustain itself. Stream restoration of Lonoka`eho and Waima`au`au would allow those rivers to feed our reefs free of contaminants buried in the refuse of the plantations. Makahanaloa Fishing Association and the PCDC FAC have hosted many aloha `aina events to date to further this effort and revive our traditional names and practices. The management of this area could not fall to a better community-based effort of old and new residents. The abundance of this storied place is reflected in William Ellis's description when he circumnavigated the island in 1823 prior to the institution of large scale sugar. "The light and fertile soil is formed by decomposing lava, with a considerable portion of vegetable mould. The whole is covered with luxuriant vegetation, and the greater part of it formed into plantations, where plantains, bananas, sugar -cane, taro, potatoes and melons, come Comm. NR. Ref. To: NI Ref. Date to the greatest perfection. Groves of cocoa -nut and bread -fruit trees are seen in every direction, loaded with fruit, or clothed with luxuriant foliage. (Ellis in Handy and Handy 1972:53). We, the over 150 `ohana from the PCDC and Makahanaloa Fishing Association, would like to see the return of this `aina momona (abundant land) to our shoreline. There have been NO purchases under the PONC in the district of Hilo. Zero. Hilo did not retain the cultural resources or the traditional access via the ala kahakai and alanui due to the land management practices of the plantations and the difficulty in mapping the terrain in Hilo Paliku. We did not lose our people though. We still have our lawai`a, our mahi`ai, our makua, and kupuna. It is our time to have this funding go towards protecting these community resources along Hilo Paliku. The attached petition shows the community's voice in support of this purchase. Please protect this `aina under the County of Hawaii PONC process and ensure that the shoreline of Pepe`ekeo remains a vibrant community resource in perpetuity. Mahalo, Blake McNaughton President, Makahanaloa Fishing Association Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation Fishing Access Co -Chair 808-756-1054 makahanaloafishing@gmail.com Petition in Support of County Purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase by the County through the PONC process and Subsequent Stewardship by the Fishing Access Committee of Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation I, the undersigned, support the County of Hawaii's purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase and perservation of this shoreline area through the PONC process and funding. This shoreline is critical to the vitality and nourishment of the Pepe`ekeo Community. Furthermore we support the stewardship of these lands by the Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation (PCDC). The PCDC has committed to developing a Community Management Plan in partnership with Pepe`ekeo community groups, descendants, and stakeholders. Protecting this `aina under the County of Hawaii PONC process would finally fulfill the Pepe`ekeo community's long standing goal of protecting this shoreline in perpetuity. Name (First, Last) Date Zipcode Contact # Email 1 I9 Z < bcvvv PL� GIJ�s �a1 �Z� ��(�-i8 3 -z59y K� 3 �S VLR�AT-`1uRrl� LLI ,S � -2--7/z3 %-7 C,c- CH -1 4-�-t 705 z-4 L GF L F R E D �A6 L 4.o,v,4 r. t LI4444�r t '0(3 II c `Ib 4 144, j-,4 :k", Petition in Support of County Purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase by the County through the PONC process and Subsequent Stewardship by the Fishing Access Committee of Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation 1, the undersigned, support the County of Hawaii's purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase and perservation of this shoreline area through the PONC process and funding. This shoreline is critical to the vitality and nourishment of the Pepe`ekeo Community. Furthermore we support the stewardship of these lands by the Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation (PCDC). The PCDC has committed to developing a Community Management Plan in partnership with Pepe`ekeo community groups, descendants, and stakeholders. Protecting this `aina under the County of Hawaii PONC process would finally fulfill the Pepe`ekeo community's long standing goal of protecting this shoreline in perpetuity. Name (First, Last) Date Zipcode Contact # FEmail (-Cm)o-ut �-M,VcLw�Ay �-Oc)ICOV1I RvM r'F5 (012 3 � �o�? � � "0, - 54 � LO G ' ars L V 0/23 711,123 q6�7 r o 7-217 16762 r, e6;¢7v� Iam oc��f��u 9rnzi . ��i5vw Cs Crv-id / �'. � o. Z� ��7 � ✓ 27?-�i�l � I� � I�e�10 w��l ��- a', ICc�ic� 'a��.-- V1 0 Petition in Support of County Purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase by the County through the PONC process and Subsequent Stewardship by the Fishing Access Committee of Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation I, the undersigned, support the County of Hawaii's purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase and perservation of this shoreline area through the PONC process and funding. This shoreline is critical to the vitality and nourishment of the Pepe`ekeo Community. Furthermore we support the stewardship of these lands by the Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation (PCDC). The PCDC has committed to developing a Community Management Plan in partnership with Pepe`ekeo community groups, descendants, and stakeholders. Protecting this `aina under the County of Hawaii PONC process would finally fulfill the Pepe`ekeo community's long standing goal of protecting this shoreline in perpetuity. Name (First, Last) Date Zipcode Contact # Email t -t l Q V aV0,CCD `t X23 �612U C :R)?7X6212 t-lL ��10f �z3 Petition in Support of County Purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase by the County through the PONC process and Subsequent Stewardship by the Fishing Access Committee of Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation I. the undersigned, support the County of Hawaii's purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase and perservation of this shoreline area through the PONC process and funding. This shoreline is critical to the vitality and nourishment of the Pepe`ekeo Community. Furthermore we support the stewardship of these lands by the Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation (PCDC). The PCDC has committed to developing a Community Management Plan in partnership with Pepe`ekeo community groups, descendants, and stakeholders. Protecting this `aina under the County of Hawaii PONC process would finally fulfill the Pepe`ekeo community's long standing goal of protecting this shoreline in perpetuity. Name (First, Last) Date Zipcode Contact # Email 3/10 7,41-730Tss bu)my Rd Y5TO 1J rA(l pL iho 4isZL& O 00 clei ��1� °�l ►�1 �� ci Y3 c� SN -� 4 3 �u o4 dck,eIit6,� sY-Y A9 .. no, Petition in Support of County Purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase by the County through the PONC process and Subsequent Stewardship by the Fishing Access Committee of Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation I, the undersigned, support the County of Hawaii's purchase of TMK 328008100 (Gault's Gulch) for purchase and perservation of this shoreline area through the PONC process and funding. This shoreline is critical to the vitality and nourishment of the Pepe`ekeo Community. Furthermore we support the stewardship of these lands by the Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation (PCDC). The PCDC has committed to developing a Community Management Plan in partnership with Pepe`ekeo community groups, descendants, and stakeholders. Protecting this `aina under the County of Hawaii PONC process would finally fulfill the Pepe`ekeo community's long standing goal of protecting this shoreline in perpetuity. Name (First, Last) Date Zipcode Contact # Email at ooC `r+ K�rneA S ��Iti� ��g► �- -g�s� IMrrleA 94) nnaitorr► 6D /sT/Ait/ �A�77rvEZ Z7/z3 96783 9�/7t7 5,6 q55 ° L o U anile ya es 1, c � O p �'US�, V�✓a5s� S' �7�3 3 7 gz ��27��3 9 (, / S-3 9093 G 3 ��/ �'Cn�l� � 3EU��`i`7 a esL 6 cr,'IGai y77 iG G 1� b13C� BSc 8-�I�4-39