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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.025 2022-2024 P/LAAG Dili t69 Comm.8% From: inabapacific , y Sent: Sunday, June 2, 2024 10:34 PM To: Council Testimony c ",' Subject: For 6/4/2024 Legislative Approvals Acquisitions Committee !LA,' c "= [Oppose Kona Three,LLC's Change of Zone Amendment Application(PL-REZ-2022-000033) and support the Culral Resources Commission's recommendation that due to the historic and cultural significance of the property,the ppertie preserved in perpetuity.]. ***Apologies in advance for the length of this writing.There are several issues that I believe have not been brought front and center to you in the past as this has been in committees and other forms for years as well jumping over some important checkpoints. I hope that you will read and consider what I have shared below as well as take the time to review the full footage of the Cultural Resources Commission meeting on this matter, link has been included.*** Greetings and Aloha members of the Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee of the Hawai'i County Council, I am writing today to express my strong objection to any development or permit re-establishment or extensions for KV3, now known as Kona Three, LLC. After having attended numerous meetings in various venues and forums with various governmental organizations related to this matter, I cannot say more strongly this should not go forward.This has been a multi-year effort by these developers/KV3/Kona Three, LCC, etc.,to monetize an investment made for property bought very cheaply several years ago with perhaps a presumptive promise that these permits might be risen from the dead to maximize a profit goal.Any development, alteration, construction or building on this land has many complicating concerns that can greatly and adversely affect the surrounding areas and West Hawai'i and Community writ large. To date, over the past several years this issue has been brought up to the PONC, Leeward Planning, Cultural Resources Commission, State Land Use Board, and other committees and forums. So far it seems no one has said let's move forward and make this happen except for the developers and anyone that is consultant or has been a consultant for them in the past, has been or is now being paid by them. There are multitude of issues to be considered here.This land is a necessary open space in an already dense and congested area, both in terms of residences and traffic.There also significant issues with waterways on the property that should not to ever be altered. We cannot just be oblivious to potential flood and adjacent land damage and concerns.We also have learned and the CRC observed along with other experts the archaeological and cultural significance of the land far beyond the very small portions that the developers, KV3 has acknowledged. There are grave concerns about the impact on infrastructure given the strain already obvious in our West Hawai'i services and infrastructure.These include the normal things like water taps,wastewater connections that should be prioritized for other neighborhoods that are looking to convert from cesspool to connected lines, roadways are significant because of the congestion and dangerous positioning of 1 Comm.t Ref.To: Ref.Date r.Zier 1 some of the through streets through residential areas as well as connecting streets both on Lako and Puapua'anui. Speaking for the safety in Pualani Estates,we have already had many accidents on Puapua'anui and are working actively to get measures to remediate the concerns of speed, blind spots, heavy traffic, and other issues coming on and off of that roadway.There is no way that putting hundreds if not a thousand plus more cars into this area will be perceived as positive.All of West Hawaii will suffer for such a decision.Additionally, connecting through residential areas or even through a connecting point onto the main highway is going to be both dangerous as well as adding to the already congested bottlenecks we have in the area. Waterways, if molested or altered from their current path,will surely cause issues with our current floodplains,waterways and other issues makai and adjacent to the properties at issue. I think we all know how bad the flooding gets down by Kona Outdoor Circle as well as all along Kuakini with water that flows from this area.We need to continue to protect these areas including the very important Kealakowa'a Heiau that understandably sits just below the developers' acquired agricultural land, i.e., they are logically assumed as related cultural features to the holua, paths, walls, and other significant artifacts on the proposed development land due to their historical pre-contact era relationship and significance. Having been to many meetings and made many public comments addressing concerns and having talked to local historians. It is very clear that this property has cultural and archaeological significance. I defer to the experts on that, several have testified as to the importance of these lands in various forms and committees.To that end I would ask anyone making a decision on what to do with this property take the time to view, in its entirety,the whole discussion related to KV3 with the Cultural Resources Commission. Here is a link to view this: County of Hawaii Cultural Resources Commission Meeting-July 12, 2023 County of Hawaii Cultural Resources Commission Meeting -July 12, 2023 The information from the Cultural Resources Commission was requested by the Leeward Planning Commission during the last meeting discussing this topic. Leeward planning seemed disinclined to move forward but did provide the opportunity for the CRC to review the issue.The community was under the belief and still is that there is a lot to be saved here in this open space.That is why we took it to the PONC and continue efforts to preserve this open space not only as a habitat for the endangered species that reside on it or hunt on it but also to preserve the cultural and archaeological significance of the property. Altering or changing the lay of the land here or abusing by destroying these key areas which are significant will never be something we could recover. There are just always more questions than answers when we approach possible development on this property.When there is a tornado of questions and piles of paper that come back in response to fairly simple questions, one always has to ask why?A pile of papers does not an answer make.Just like a tornado which picks up everything and throws it at you, it is not designed for ease or comprehension, i.e., 2 more confusion does not a make for good decision making and sometimes creates a form of mis- direction. Note that in these past forums including any past councils, administrations, etc. no one has said let's move forward with this development on these lands.Would this County Council or this subcommittee want their legacy to have been the advancer, approver, or facilitator of these efforts with so much at risk? What we do and what you do here matters. It truly does. My maternal family and my husband's family have both been here for many generations.We feel a special kinship and relationship to this Island, to these lands,to these ahupua'a. It isn't a casual thing, it's important.We wish everyone that came to our Island/s held our lands with some respectful, honoring level of caretaking, of malama aina, acknowledging always our place here among the other gifts we've been given in this place at this time. It is our sacred duty and our kuleana to bring voice to the voiceless and to the land and speak for the concerns that could impact our communities adversely for generations to come. My husband and I have hanai family in the Iroquois Nation, specifically Mohawk tribes. The Iroquois felt like it was always important when we make decisions to think down the road Seven Generations and not be centered on what would profit today or what solves only today's problem but creates countless problems or loss for the future. It seems like a good lesson and important page to take from our native brothers and sisters. If we have a longer view and look down Seven Generations, developing this land cannot be the answer for our future kama'aina for their use or for respect and honor of those that came before us. Over the past many decades when these efforts bent toward erasing this open space and it's caretaking nature of our community,flora fauna,wildlife and frankly breath between all these busy congested spaces,the developers progress and agenda has been understandably stalled. One might ask themselves why is that? If it was easy, made sense, was pono, was respectful of the land,the culture, and the future of our home-our Island, wouldn't it have been easier than it has been? Wouldn't it have had approval or even celebration by someone in some committee or in the community sometime over the past many many years? Perhaps the land is speaking and we have but to hear what it is saying.When the aina speaks is it saying, "Aole"? I and many others think that is the word the land is sharing and this is the reason the challenges are so many.As true kama'aina and even as newcomers, if we listen we will hear, kokua and malama aina. I truly believe if we do that Seven Generations down the road whether they thank us or not there will be a heart of appreciation at least for the care we take today. If we lean in all the more to our state motto, I think it holds us in good stead. If we lean in a little closer to the land as it speaks:our spirit of aloha aina, malama aina, and our kuleana as caretakers will help sustain our island home has a place we all can celebrate and protect.This land is important, shall we not protect it and listen to what it's already told us? Respectfully submitted, Renee L Inaba inabapacific@aol.com 75-6109 Paulehia Street 3 Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 4