HomeMy WebLinkAboutBostock, Grace
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:grace bostock <gracebostock808@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, October 19, 2026 3:18 PM
To:Onishi, Dennis; Hustace, James; Villegas, Rebecca; Kimball, Heather; Kanealii-
Kleinfelder, Matt; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Inaba, Holeka; Galimba, Michelle M.; Kagiwada,
Jennifer; Council Testimony
Subject:Testimony Opposing Bills 186 and 187
Attachments:IMG_0211.png
Aloha Council Members,
My name is Grace Bostock, I am 23 years old, native Hawaiian, born and raised in Hawaii, and I am
submitting my testimony in opposition of the bills 186 and 187, which aim to greenlight the Waikoloa
Greens (more accurately, "Waikoloa Greed") project. I am appalled at the actions of Council members
James Hustace, Dennis Onishi, and Michelle Galimba in their decision to support such an under-
researched, and potentially detrimental development.
James - You were my substitute teacher in high school. I voted for you in the first election that I was
eligible to. Your failure to protect and care for Waimea is striking, and leads me to believe you are not
"helping and supporting the community at large" as you claim to on your website. What part of the
Waikoloa Greens Project not having completed an environmental assessment indicates to you the
assured safety of this development? I urge you to reassess your support for this project, and truly
consider the damage that the diverted water, and lack of alternate wildfire evacuation route can and will
cause for our community.
Dennis - as the chair of the committee of environmental management, your support of bills 186 and 187
stand in direct opposition to nearly each of the pillars of protection you claim to uphold for the
community. Supporting "sustainable development" is stated as a goal of yours on the Hawaii county
website. Part of sustainable development is being clear with your community. No environmental
assessments have been done regarding these bills that address our concerns. I assume your avoidance
in ordering an environmental impact report has to do with the fact that under HEPA, (the Hawaii
Environmental Protection Agency) it Is most likely that the Waikoloa Greens Project will be deemed an
unacceptable project. Please, do not abuse your position as a trusted representative by misleading your
constituents into a development that will detrimentally affect the ability of future generations to
experience the Big Island you claimed you'd protect.
Michelle - Like you, I used to live on the North shore of Oahu. But was pushed out due to excessive
tourism, and overdevelopment. How dare you bring the same threats to Big Island? Further, how do you
claim to support Hawaii Agriculture, when bills 186 and 187 plan to use the Waimea Aquifer water,
which, in its limited supply, has been egregiously taken advantage of as a water source for more and
more of the island? With the Ouli Farms development already diverting necessary resources from
existing local farmers, there is no way the Waikoloa Greens Project will help local farmers. Please heed
your own morals, and reestablish your faith in the people, over profit.
The attached image is a screenshot from the Waimea Community Association website. These water
restriction notices in effect are proof that the Waimea aquifer is not a sustainable water resource for
upcoming developments in Waikoloa. We are already low on our most valuable resource.
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I will be offering my testimony at the Council Meeting on Wednesday. In essence, my qualm is with the
seeming lack of respect for the community by way of approval of these bills. Bills 186 and 187 are as of
yet under-researched, and I will continue to fight against their approval for as long as community and
environmental standards have not been met.
As for Council members Heather Kimball, Jennifer Kagiwada, Rebecca Villegas, Matt Kaneali'i-
Kleinfelder, and Holeka Inaba; thank you for your commitment to protecting Hawaii, and its residents. I
would be proud to have voted for you, as you are proof of a functional government working in the best
interest of its citizens, your reasonable doubt about the impacts of this project accurately reflect the
greater public's concerns.
Sincerely,
Grace Bostock
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