HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.154 2024-2026August 14, 2025
Cindy Freitas
County Council
Meeting on August 19, 2025 @ 11:00a.m.
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RE: Kona Civic Center, Building A
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Resolution 234 25
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IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 234 25
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He Mele komo a he mele aloha no na kupuna o ke au i hala Aloha mai kakou.
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Aloha,
My name is Cindy Freitas and I'm a Native Hawaiian descended of the native inhabitants of Hawai'i
prior to 1778 and born and raised in Hawai'i.
I am also a practitioner who still practice the cultural traditional customary practices that was instill in
me by my grandparents at a young age from mauka (MOUNTAIN TO SEA) to makai in many areas.
The presence and confirmed use of toxic substances such as white phosphorus and depleted uranium at
PTA have led to significant concerns among residents, Native Hawaiian communities, scientists, and
health professionals. These substances are known to have long-lasting impacts on soil, water, and air
quality, as well as on human and ecological health. The lack of transparency and adequate cleanup
efforts compounds these concerns and perpetuates a history of environmental injustice.
Pohakuloa is not just a military site —it is a sacred and ecologically sensitive area with cultural
significance to the Native Hawaiian people. Continued contamination violates not only our
responsibility to care for our `aina (land), but also undermines the trust and well-being of local
communities.
Resolution 234-25 represents a crucial step toward accountability, transparency, and environmental
protection. It calls attention to the urgent need for comprehensive environmental assessments,
remediation, and greater oversight of military operations in Hawaii.
The Ka Pa`akai framework, established by the Hawaii Supreme Court, mandates that government
agencies identify traditional and customary practices in affected areas, determine their impact, and
ensure sufficient protections. By not conducting this legally required analysis, the military has
bypassed critical cultural due diligence and failed to uphold the state's obligations under Article XII,
Section 7 of the Hawaii State Constitution.
PTA sits on lands that are not only ecologically sensitive but culturally sacred. Native Hawaiians have
ancestral ties to this `aina, and their right to engage in cultural and religious practices must be respected.
The absence of a Ka Pa`akai analysis reflects a broader pattern of disregard for Native rights and the
principles of pono (righteousness) and malama `aina (stewardship). Comm. No 1
Ref. To:
Ref. Date A G 2025
Resolution 234-25 seeks to correct this neglect and hold responsible parties accountable for decades of
harm. I urge you to support this resolution, initiate the proper cultural impact assessments, and demand
meaningful consultation with Kanaka Maoli communities.
We must ensure that cultural rights are not treated as optional or symbolic, but as living, enforceable
laws that safeguard Hawai`i's unique heritage for future generations.
I urge the Council to adopt this resolution and stand in solidarity with the communities most impacted
by contamination at PTA. Let us reaffirm our collective commitment to protect Hawai`i's people,
environment, and future generations.
Mahalo,
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