HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0609.034 2022-2024 P /Council
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January 8, 2024 ZO211 JAN —8 Pm 3: 28
Honorable Heather Kimball
Hawai`i County Council Chair
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
RE: Testimony Requesting Bill 107 Be Amended to Exclude DHHL Trust Lands
Aloha Honorable Council Chair Kimball and Council Members,
I am writing to request that Bill 107 be amended to exclude the Department of Hawaiian Home
Lands (DHHL) trust lands from the Puna Makai Alternate Route (PMAR) study. If DHHL Trust
Lands are not excluded from the study,we ask that you do not approve Bill 107.
Our Pana`ewa and Keaukaha sister communities have already been burdened and negatively
impacted to serve the needs of other communities. DHHL beneficiaries were forced out of their
homes and relocated to build the airport. The DHHL community that remains is subjected to the
noise and pollution from the airport runway. The Hilo dump was located adjacent to our
community for 50 years and is still there. The HELCO plant and county sewage facilities are in
our community. Industrial facilities line the corridor to Keaukaha. We endure the noise from the
raceway park that is located behind our homes. Every day,we are impacted by speeding cars and
traffic using Railroad Avenue as a bypass road.
Our community has been marginalized, and like other marginalized minority communities, are
routinely treated as areas where roads and airports can be built, waste can be stored, industrial
warehouses and facilities can be concentrated, and natural resources can be destroyed. Enough is
. enough.
While we fully support the need to find a safe alternative route between Puna and Hilo for Puna
residents,this route cannot be through DHHL trust lands.
We appreciate your consideration of this request and ask that the Keaukaha Pana`ewa Farmers
Association be included in future meetings regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Maile Lu'uwai
President
Keaukaha Pana`ewa Farmers Association
Comm. N•. 14. If
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