HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0520.021 2022-2024 P/aunctl
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Sent: Monday, December 04, 2023 9:38 AM
To: Kupuna Moopuna; Kimball, Heather; Evans, Cynthia F.W.; Inaba, Holeka; Kanealii-
Kleinfelder, Matt;Villegas, Rebecca; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Galimba, Michelle M.;
Kierkiewicz, Ashley
Cc: Council Testimony
Subject: RE: Council Testimony 12.6.2023 - BILL 87 - OPPOSITION
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From: Kupuna Moopuna
Sent: Monday, December 4, 2023 9:35 AM
To:Council Remote Testimony<councilremotetestimony@hawaiicounty.gov>; Kimball, Heather
<Heather.Kimball@ hawaiicounty.gov>; Evans, Cynthia F.W. <Cindy.Evans@hawaiicounty.gov>; Inaba, Holeka
<Holeka.lnaba@hawaiicounty.gov>; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt<Matt.Kanealii-Kleinfelder@hawaiicounty.gov>;Villegas,
Rebecca <Rebecca.Villegas@hawaiicounty.gov>; Kagiwada,Jennifer<Jennifer.Kagiwada@hawaiicounty.gov>;Galimba,
Michelle M. <Michelle.Galimba@hawaiicounty.gov>; Kierkiewicz,Ashley<Ashley.Kierkiewicz@hawaiicounty.gov>
Cc: Kupuna Moopuna<Kupuna4moopuna@gmail.com>
Subject:Council Testimony 12.6.2023-BILL 87-OPPOSITION
Kupuna for the Mo'opuna
committed to the well-being of Hawai'i for the next generations to come
Opposition to Bill 87- NO to Change of Zone Request
Aloha, rr
Comm. No V ZO• ttI;�--
Ref. To: I1V% t
1 Ref. Date brEC s 5 2023
We, Kupuna for the Mo'opuna, a hui of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act beneficiary
kupuna farmers from Pana`ewa, Hawaii, submit this testimony in OPPOSITION TO BILL
87.
NO to "Change of Zone Request From Resort Hotel to Limited Industrial" on Kalaniana'ole
Avenue. NO to "best and highest" use being the sound bite for continuing to
disproportionately burden the Keaukaha community with environmental injustices.
Kalaniana'ole Avenue, the only roadway lifeline in and out of Keaukaha, is already
cluttered with safety hazards. Bill 87 would add yet another,car lot in this vulnerable
coastal community surrounded by industrial dangers that compromise the health and
well-being of Keaukaha, a community terribly riddled with environmental risks. "It's
already cluttered, one more won't matter" mentality must stop. No to Bill 87. Our
overburdened Keaukaha community deserve one last space of open beauty as they enter
and leave their homes.
Bill 87 would be another piecemeal blight thrust upon Keaukaha. There is no thoughtful,
comprehensive, long-range development plan for this susceptible area. Specifically, there
is no adopted South Hilo Community Development Plan (CDP) enabled in the County Code
that serves as a forum for our Keaukaha community's input into land use and any other
matters that will guide the General Plan. Without a South Hilo CDP guiding the General
Plan, piecemeal practices like Bill 87 will continue to burden and clutter Keaukaha.
For years, we have engaged Hawaii County administrations, planning departments, and
council member with the same message: We in the native Hawaiian development-
targeted communities of Keaukaha and Pana'ewa deserve fair treatment and
meaningful involvement with a South Hilo Community Develpment Plan enabled in
the County Code that is included in the Hawaii County General Plan 2045. South
Hilo is the only district without a Community Development Plan enabled in the
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County Code. South Hilo is the only district not considered in the General Plan. Why
are we being discriminated against?
In spite of our efforts over the years, our voices continue to be ignored. Most recently, the
disregard by planning director Zendo Kern of our email dated October 11, 2023 (cc Mayor
Roth and others) over concerns with the General Plan 2045 disregarding Keaukaha and
Pana`ewa was not even given a courtesy "acknowledgement of receipt" by Zendo Kern.
Aue!
The voices of native Hawaiians matter. The communities of native Hawaiians matter. We
deserve equal and fair treatment. Stop environmental injustices. No to Bill 87.
Mahalo.
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