HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0164.012 2024-2026Hawai'iCounty Council
Email: counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov
Re: Testimony in Support ofResolution #95for Purchase Kawainui N1akai
Aloha members ufthe Nowai'iCounty Council:
Kua'5ina Ulu 'Auamo (KUA) strongly supports the effort to acquire and preserve two shoreline lots
abutting Kawainui stream. This purchase would stop development and provides an opportunity for
cooperative stewardship between communities at Pepe'ekeo, Onomea and Papa'ikou.
Kua'5ina Ulu 'Auamo means "grassroots growing through shared responsibility," our acronym
KUA means backbone. KUA works to empower communities to improve their quality of life through caring
for their environmental heritage together. We employ a commu n ity-d riven approach that currently
supports a network of more than 40 m5lama '5ina (care for that which feeds) community groups
collectively referred to as E Alu PQ (moving forward together), over 40 fishpond restoration projects and
practitioners called the Hui N15|amaLoku|'a(HN1L|; the group that cares for fimhpondo).and the Umu
(eeaweed)Hui made upof|imu|oea(experte)all from across the state.
A primary function ofKUAincludes development ofthe'auwui'astream ofresources tools,
bridges and networks that help to cultivate and take our communities' work to greater levels. The support
of, development and use of government land protection and acquisition programs are one of these kinds
of resources and pathways. Indeed, members of the networks we serve have either acquired or partnered
with others to care for their special places.
Kovvanuistream isunimportant gathering areafor8}enodhHUmoommundy.khaobeenfnro
thousand years. Without swift action, this property could be purchased and blocked off to the community,
severing longstanding relationships. The State of Hawai'i Legacy Lands program has matched funding for
purchase at $1,000,000 and has rated the application as very strong. It is paramount that the County
acquires this property before someone else does.
Members ofthe community, including many individual leaders and organizations like the
Makahanaloa Fishing Association are involved or associated with our networks. We have familiarity with
their leadership, their values, vision, and support for proactive community -place -based natural resource
management as a practice. We believe this is the kind of effort our government institutions should
empower, resource and support inbetter caring for our environment.
We urge the County Council to approve this resolution to enter negotiations to purchase lower
Kawainui as a unique and beautiful estuary with strong community involvement. To date there have been
NO PONC purchases of '51na in the whole moku of Hilo and we would like to see that trend changed.
Please help preserve Kawainui for the generations to come as a piko (a center) for our community.
Moha|onuifor this opportunity hotestify.
PQpDkahiihobmuaehdokanaka
(Let us unite to better the human condition)
Kevin K.J. Chang
Executive Director --'' To -A
47-200` |HE'EROADC/OK[YPKCUECTKANFOHE,H|96744 1 808.672.2545 koscs hazaii~"#