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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0460.027 2022-2024To Madam Chairperson and County Councilmembers: Aloha! My name is Dr. Tracey Wise, long time resident and Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation's (PCDC) President. We, the PCDC, represent the residents from the past, present and future that live, learn and reside within Pepe`ekeo. I am here to represent my own family and our Pepe`ekeo community's voice, who supports the resolution for purchase of (TMK 328008100) for preservation and stewardship of the shoreline area of the entire `ili of Pepe`ekeo. A little about ourselves, we are the community association that represents the voice of the residents in the boundary lines of postal zip code 96783. In our community, we have the pre-existing Kulaimano Homestead (mauka and makai subdivisions), 7 gated/ private communities, 3 subdivision phases of self-help housing program, 'Kau Hale Olu Apartments for low income families, and senior citizen apartments for the elderly and disabled. From 2003 to the present day, we have exponentially grown approximately 2- 3x our original size of 400+ households. Pending, there are also two current projects in development in our area for multi -family housing structures. Our residents are diverse in ethnicity, socio- economic status, household size, education, and so on. Our Comm. No. Ref. To - Ref. Date QCT 1 8 2023 P / cou rCA l f ?b. %5.23 COMM. 40 From: Pepe'ekeo PCDC W eP Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 9:10 AM To: Council Testimony � Subject: Wise Testimony In Support Of Res. 263- 23:: AUTHORIZES THE DIRECTQ�OF .,_, ..:.r FINANCE TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ALL OR AI PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP KEY: 2- 8- 008: 1d4 SIT--- IN THE 'ILI OF PEPE'EKEO, AHUPUA'A OF ... >F . To Madam Chairperson and County Councilmembers: Aloha! My name is Dr. Tracey Wise, long time resident and Pepe`ekeo Community Development Corporation's (PCDC) President. We, the PCDC, represent the residents from the past, present and future that live, learn and reside within Pepe`ekeo. I am here to represent my own family and our Pepe`ekeo community's voice, who supports the resolution for purchase of (TMK 328008100) for preservation and stewardship of the shoreline area of the entire `ili of Pepe`ekeo. A little about ourselves, we are the community association that represents the voice of the residents in the boundary lines of postal zip code 96783. In our community, we have the pre-existing Kulaimano Homestead (mauka and makai subdivisions), 7 gated/ private communities, 3 subdivision phases of self-help housing program, 'Kau Hale Olu Apartments for low income families, and senior citizen apartments for the elderly and disabled. From 2003 to the present day, we have exponentially grown approximately 2- 3x our original size of 400+ households. Pending, there are also two current projects in development in our area for multi -family housing structures. Our residents are diverse in ethnicity, socio- economic status, household size, education, and so on. Our Comm. No. Ref. To - Ref. Date QCT 1 8 2023 residency spans from 4 generation Pepe`ekeo resident household to those that are just visiting for a time. PCDC is a community driven association dedicated to supporting the safety, well-being and resource needs and concerns of the members residing in Pepe`ekeo. Our mission is: . To facilitate a people's voice . To identify, celebrate, and preserve the culture of Pepe `ekeo . Through what is necessary, what we want to preserve, and what needs to change . To bring awareness to and address local issues . To promote community and navigate our place in the greater ldhui In our history, PCDC was, previously known as Pepe`ekeo Community Association which assisted in development of forming "community" in this space. Our original association formed with the original members of this community. We connect to the Pepe `ekeo shoreline, foundationally. We identif_y with the shoreline area of the entire `ili of Pepe`ekeo as a life source. This shoreline for many generations represents life-giving cycle where our ancestors were born, where our loved ones were laid to rest, and where our sustenance came from. We have been taught from generation to generation how to fish and gather to provide for our family's tables and to help our neighbors survivie and thrive. Our humble beginnings etched in our mind of how our shoreline served as our own fish market and store. Today, the shoreline represents the same. We continue to utilize this shoreline to supplement our diets. Access to this shoreline is vital. With access and maintenance of water quality, it has helped us to maintain our cultural foods and practices. z There are so many stories of hope and resilience attached to this shoreline. We believe that the preservation of this shoreline and protection of its integrity will allow for our memories, knowlege, practices, and life to extend into perpetuity from generation to generation. We want to make sure that our family members to come will have the opportunity to be supported by all that this shoreline has to offer. Pepe`ekeo has been promised many times that we will have access and that things will minimally change however, this has not always been the case. With minimal oversight and management, there has been under to no maintenance of these areas. This continues to create a barrier and struggle for our residents and fisherman to walk the path to gathering their food from the ocean. Foreshawdowing the. rising cost of living and food, we cannot afford to lose this shoreline to the potential of development. Please help us to maintain forever protecting of the natural and cultural resources of this place. The County of Hawaii's consideration in purchasing this `aina under the PONC process would fulfill long-standing promises to the Pepe `ekeo `s community and its residents for this generation and those to come. Mahalo, Tracey Wise Long Time Resident & President, Pepe `ekeo Community Development Corporation (808)895-2593, pcdc96783gjzmail.com 3