HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0313.026 2024-2026P /PCPWW
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July 7, 2025
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TO: County of Hawaii Council
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Hawai'i County Building
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25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
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Email: councilremotetestimony@hawaiicounty.gov
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FROM: Rachel Kaiama
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Resident of Waimea, County of Hawaii
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Email: rkaiamahawaii@gmail.com
MEETING: July 9, 2025 at 9:30 am Kona Council Chambers, West Hawai'i Civic Center, 74-
5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A
RE: Written testimony in oposition of to BILL 60 AMENDS CHAPTER 25, ARTICLE 1, ARTICLE 2,
ARTICLE 4, ARTICLE 5, AND ARTICLE 7, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS
AMENDED), RELATING TO ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS FOR MEETING FACILITIES,
CHURCHES, TEMPLES, SYNAGOGUES, AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGS (Planning Director Initiated)
My name is Rachel Kaiama, a resident of Waimea, County of Hawaii. I am writing to express my
strong opposition to BILL 60, which proposes amendments to the Hawai'i County Code relating
to zoning district regulations for meeting facilities, churches, temples, synagogues, and
community buildings. The proposed amendment will negatively impact the purpose of the
House of Worship, including churches, temples, and synagogues. I find the committee's
reasoning and rationale to amend the bill one of prejudice against our culture of religion and
our practices including our desire to meet in small groups in our homes to gather for prayer,
worship and fellowship outside and inclusive of our normal day of worship at the temple. Our
practices to gather is like other family and group gatherings and should not be treated any
differently or fined fees or requiring permits as gatherings purposes are for friends, family and
new, and old seekers of truth, basically opened to the entire community, to meet, practice their
faith and to worship. Putting us in the same category of events and activities, and having
restrictions on how and where we worship daily, weekly or on Sundays absolutely will restrict
the people of Hawaii from exercising their First Amendment Right to freely exercise our religion
and the right of the people to peacefully assemble.
Historically, members of the community were given 24 hour access to Hale Pule, in times of
national crisis and local catastrophic events to gather and to pray. The amendment will limit
family and community access to the House of Pule and thwart the Church's spiritual kuleana to
pray and provide continuous support for our families and community.
Comm. N b.
Ref. To: '-
Ref. Date I UUL — 9 2025
I urge the Council to reject BILL 60 in its amended form and instead prioritize planning
processes that honor the voices of our faith -based and spiritual communities.
Mahalo