HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.554 2024-2026From: Emily Kahookaulana-sulprizio
Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 12:07 PM oC-)
To: Council Testimony o
Cc: Kimball, Heather; Kagiwada, Jennifer, Onishi, Dennis; {
Ashley.Kierkiweicz@hawaiicounty.gov, Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Hustace, Jatnes;c:)�
michelle.galima@hawaiicounty.gov, Villegas, Rebecca; Inaba, Holeka mac;
Subject: Strong Support of Resolution 234-25 r
O
Aloha to whom this may concern,
'O wau'o Lena Kahookaulana-Sulprizio-Kahawai. I am 13 years old, I was born and raised in Puna and
Hilo on the Big Island. I attend Ka'Umeke Kaeo PCS and 1 am in the 8th grade. I am writing this letter
today because I am a young Native Hawaiian who has been born and rasiedin Hawai'i, I attend a
Hawaiian immersion school, and my'ohana has strong ties to the'aina were they still currently reside in
Mokuhulu, Kalapana and Ho'olehua on Moloka'i. All my life I have learned about the place's I have come
from, where my ancestors came from, what is right and what's wrong, left from right and so on. All my life
driving over Saddle road I thought the military trucks were cool and the helicopters were so fun to look at.
But now that im 13 and I have a better understanding of what's happening in/on Pohakuloa.
I just dont understand it. Every single day the military is DESECRATING our land. They are bombing our
land for their benefit. How is any of this pono? Our'Aina has been around for this long because us Native
Hawaiians know how to take care and malama the aina. We take care of our land so the land can take
care of us. Without this land we wouldn't have Hawai'L Without this land we woutdnt be here today trying
to fight for it. It is 2025 and the military is still trespassing and still getting away with murder. Your killing
our Eco system's, your harming our native animals, species, insects and plants that grow specifically in
that region. Our water table is sitting under all of this bombing and no one care's?. Its been so long, why
does the bombing keep happening? Kids all over and kids of all ages are showing up, Showing up
because our parents showed up and their parents and so on. Without us showing up what would our land
Look like? Who would protect our land from the very people who stole it? What would Hawai'i look like
today? I could be learning about different things in Kula and at home but im more worried that this place,
Pohakuloa wont be here when its my time to have kids. I am hoping that this generation, the generation
that I am being raised in we don't stop fighting for what is right and for what used to be ours. Mahalo for
taking time out of your day to read my letter. I am so hopeful that the right decision will be made. Please
keep listening to the youth and the next generation.
Mahalo,
Lena Kaho'okaulana-Sulprizio-Kahawai
Comm. N J
Ref. To:
2025
Ref. Date -