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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0019.000 2000-2002 Jeannette L. Cole aka J.C. "Aunt} Jcnn}" Shinpaw HCIZ 1 Box 16 Iicaau, HI 96719 I)ccembcr 7, 198 - Hon. Gov. Benjamin Ii. Ca}~etano coo Governor's Liaison Office, Hilo f Hilo, Hawaii 967'_'0 y Dear Sir, I am writing you regarding a situation which is unfolding before me both to inform } ou of a greater picture taking place which may concern you as well as to seek your approval and dynamic backing of a "'l'ake care of the Aina" project ++'hich seems as ne++• and inno+-ati+•c to me as the :'~-plus program started out being, just a fe++ }ears ago. llecenily, this Letter to the Lditor ++•as printed iu llilo's ""Tribune Herald." It ++•as follo+ced by a fe++ others speaking out for the Overpass in ficaau. To me, an engineering ignorant, an overpass makes no sense in either an earthquake zone or nest to a school zone. And yet these individuals, particularly 'dlr. John Luchau, arc very publicly outspoken for this type of concrete development which he especially deems necessar} by weight of public demand, as he sees it. .,t the same time, I am having a ver}' opposite perspective of ~Ir. Luchau and his co-horts. "To make a long stor}• short, (and as you will find upon revie++•ing the enclosed documents), John Luchau seems to be in the process of doing exactl}~ what he is accusing you of doing, onl} so much more ++'orse. 't'here is an area, namely a 31-acre unimproved expanse owned b}' the Paradise Park Hui Hanalike, lo- cated in the center of Hawaiian Paradise Park, which has remained undeveloped and unroaded. Ethnobotanical beauty, archaeological significance and habitat to many indigenous species of animalia according to reports and evidence are abundant within this area. The 1997 Master Plan for the subdivision currently on file with the County Planning llept., indicates that this area ma}' be of prehistoric or historic significance archaeologicall}~ and ethnobo- tanicall}', and that further research and inventor}' should carefully be done. It is assumed that property owner input and outside expertise +vere acquired at the time the Master Plan +vas made for the land usage. "The area in question is also adjacent to one of my properties within this subdivision where I have a house with possible extensions of this archaeological site on the property. "Phis also allo++•s me a firsthand familiarity with the site in question, as well as completing a }-ear-long familiarization with the nesting habits of the endangered species which dw•e,ll there: the Hawk, the 1'ueo (Ow•1), and the Hoary Bat, among others. I am in the process of becoming increasingly active on the Hui Hanalike here. Frankl}~, sir, I remember receiving news releases from }'our office when you were still Lt. Governor and you +vere in the process of initiating the A-Plus program. 1~1}~ married name then was "1'anagihara", with the t1HH Vulcan News. Now, so man} }'ears later 1 see a ne+v/renewed need to ha+•e a community concern for our sanctuary sites protected in much the w-a}' }~ou sought to protect our good children against the fears of latchkey living. 1 hope you will review these documents with as much anticipation and support as I once viewed those news releases. 'Thank you so ver}~ much. Aloha. Jeannette L. Cole ram ~ lrile ~ta.,._.,., _ _ _ . fief, lo: v~i.~~~ o ~ Jeannette L. Cole HCR 1 Boy 5? 16 Keaau, HI 96749 {8Q8) 982-8?66 Nancy' Cabral Da}'-Lum Hilo, HI 967?O Dear Nancy, I am for«•arding the enclosed to you for your information and re~~ie«~. 1 do not kno«• at this time «•hat type of relationship John Luchau may ha~•e «•ith your office or «~hat perspecti~•e the recei~~ership has on this situation, ho«•e~•er,1 feel it is pertinant in understanding the ongoing nature of the crux of the suit in question. There is no question in my mind that there is a definite misuse of po~~•er in the Park Committee, and that the attitude being so blatantly displayed there is simply a sho«' of the type of po~a•er stuggle rather than property o«•ner healthy dialogue that probably ~~as the basis of the la«-suit in the first place. Of course there are rampant rumours about Luchau, ho«~e~~er after hearing the kind of sp}' tactics and control mechanisms he has allegedl}' used in the past, 1 am certain that he is heading the Hui into more trouble and financial losses than ma}• be considered at the first. Frankly, 1 think if the guy is so de~~elopment hungry and ~~•ants to do it his o«-n «~a}'> then he should focus more on his o«~n ?U acres in Eden Roc than on Hui community property. Thank }~ou for your time and attention to this matter. Jeannette L. Cole cc: Bruce Yoshida, Esq. Hon. Judge Riki Mae Amano . Jeannette L. Cole HCR 1 Boy 5? 16 Keaau, HI 9Ei749 (808) 98?-8?Eic~ December 6, 1998 President, Paradise Park Hui Hanalike Ha«~aiian Paradise Park Keaau, HI 96749 Dear President: Everyday I Look out m}' kitchen ~;~indon•, as I prepare m}• home for ~~•ork, school, animal tending, etc. and I am grateful to be allowed to gaze upon the 31-acre unimproved expanse of ethnobo- tanicaJ beaut}• and archaeological significance adjacent to one of m}' preperties, on which I live, in Ha- waiian Paradise Park. Having lived on this island for more than half m}~ life, m}' children fourth genera- tion here, I feel ~•e are so luck}• to be able to vie~~• the Hawaiian Hawk diving for its pre}' and taking it to its nest nearby, to view the two owl species which also nest here, and to be able to hear the endangered bat quietly clicking its «~ay thru the forest on a quiet, clear night. HPP is a subdivision slated to have more than "30,00 residents in the nett }'ears," according to the current Master Pian. Haring such a lowland area of native rainforest sheltering possible prehistoric ruins desen•ing of further research and im•entor}' (Rosendahl, 1985), as «ell as the obsen•ed nesting areas of native species of our sh}•, feathered ohana members is trul}' a rarity. Their presence was also upheld in the Master Plan. How to combine all these factors, in compl}•ing «ith the Master Plan, seems to be what should be occurring in the Park committee which is currently meeting at Malamalama school. Instead it seems the Park Committee of the Paradise Park Hui Hanalike, headed b}• John Luchau, has decided on their own, that the Master Plan should be ignored in all these aspects and then some. Everyday there is a burden of concern by a growing number of property owners that this 31- acre site, designated in the original Master Plan as being an "ethnobotanical garden and archaeological site {not park, rivo very different words, according to a dictionary of the English language), is now being reslated/redesigned b}' a committee whose chairperson's number one dream for the place is pave a ?-mile long 5-toot wide asphalt path in an oval configuration across each of the currentl}• individually subdi- vided lots of this parcel not more than 100 feet or so from the back door of each property o«•ner adjacent to that area. In addition, he fully expects to receive a federal grant in order to do so. This aspiration of Luchau's seems to conflict "•ith those portions of the Master Plan quoted, in addition to conflicting with the original Master Plan to have pedestrian walkways and bike paths dedi- cated on the perimeter and on railroad avenues only (which makes sense as far as road maintenance costs would be concerned). Currently, if they can be considered walkways, the}' are definitely substandard appearing and in using as well. Bike paths and pedestrian walkwa}'s should be considered first where there is a histor}' of people getting killed on the roads in childplay or commuting. Certainly, the 31-acre site would make a beautiful park for people, but what «•ould it do to the current inhabitants of the rainforest there under the huge ban}'an trees; the actual flora, fauna and lowland animalia abundant within its pro- tective cover as well as the ruins contained therein and straggling across private property as well? Ac- cording to the Federal Fish and Wildlife Sen•ice Special Agent in Honolulu, inviting in the public into such an area would be tantamount to getting rid of Oahu and telling everyone there to swim for the nest shore the}' can find. Page I have personall}• attended four of the meetings of this Park Committee, and m}~ business partner attended one ~~•ith me as ~~•eli. We have both voiced our professional opinions (he with years Real Estate experience and I with ?2 }'ears Accounting experience) rejecting Luchau's design for this area. However, in spite of the innumerable contradictions and flaws pointed out to Luchau, particularly the blatant financial fiasco this project would turn into, he was still adamant about his personal agenda for this site, with two committee members who are not even property o«•ners (one of whom has obvious political motives) being the most hostile and aggressive supporters of this "Luchau's Path To Nowhere." Atone of the committee meetings I attended, after verbally informing the General Hui Member- ship of the difficulties within this committee in the November Sunda}• meeting, Luchau performed a "round table" hearing of the other property owner's opinions. No vote was mentioned during our atten- dance, and }'et Luchau was the onl}• individual «•ho indicated that he wanted afull-on paved parkin this area ~;'ithin the ne~a t~~•o years, certainly much of the ~~•ork done by Jul}', 1~. By the folio«•ing meeting, only attended by six or so individuals, the asphalt path public park plan was the one being selected for the grant proposal. At that same meeting, Luchau ~•as given a letter from my business partner, a Real Estate Broker, which basically panned his whole concept as being not in conformance ~~•ith the Master Plan and not in accordance with property owner wishes. This letter was apparently shown to committee member Rene Siracusa but nobod}' else. Also, Luchau has received all of the enclosed information which I am forwarding on to you for your revie«•. Sir, at this time my business partner and I are having to take time out of our professional capaci- ties in order to take the steps of contacting fellow-property owners for their support and input, a step which Luchau seems to have glossed over or avoided in order to gain full control over this committee and this 31-acre parcel in question. Personally, I am of the opinion that he and Siracusa have other agendas at work in violation of the new policy adopted at the last general hui meeting. Item ly, Section III, Stan- dard of Conduct clearly indicates what the Federal requirements should be as far as personal gain from being on such a committee. We are a Hui fraught «•ith legal complications and to invite and encourage hostilit}' toward propert}• owners by setting up outside individuals ~;•ith po«•er o~•er Hui members and our community propert}' is not in our best interests at this time. Also, since Luchau has recently pur- chased a 20-acre parcel in Eden Roc, according to public records, his potential for misusing his position within a committee that has anything to do with development, paving, or othern•ise is extremely' high. Since I understand that this committee chairperson position is appointed b}' the President of the Nui, and since I am so familiar with this 31-acre parcel as well as so many other factors «•hich seem so needed at this time, I would like to offer m}• humble ser<•ices in sen-ing as Committee Chair of the Park Committee in place of Luchau. His antagonistic, one-sided, narrow view of our community lands is definitely outdated, unaffordable, and potentiall}' cause for subsequent lawsuits as well. By not conform- ing to the Master Plan in all its aspects, which property' owners and investors review and rely on in selecting their home/investment property, as well as being so blatantly callous toward the credible, pro- fessional opinions of fellow property owners, Luchau is literally inviting upon us as a Hui more time in court with property owners suing over such factors as "loss of equit}'", "loss of quiet enjoyment'', and, perhaps more so, time spent in court tr}'ing to affix mandator}' Park maintenance fees upon property owners. Or, maybe part of Luchau's personal agenda is to later combine the Park committee «•ith the Road~•a}' committee and in that ~•a}' just lump all those fees together on the sl}•. Who kno«•s. Onl}• Luchau, apparently. . Page 3 My research of the area and its physical attributes and assets, in addition to my special type of financial expertise, has yielded our Hui with some terrific concepts for development of the communit}~ properties which the Park committee seems to have sway over. 1 have also indicated vex}' brief descrip- tions of my concepts in the following enclosures, however, the full concept I would really enjoy introduc- ing at the December or January General Membership meeting, or to }'ou in person at your earliest conve- nience. Luchau seems to be bent on going out and begging for mone}' from governmental agencies «~hich basicall}• puts us under another type of receivership with a mountain of papern ork to go with it. According to the concepts 1 have developed, ~~•e could not only conform to the Master Plan in exciting and new wa}'s, but also make a substantial amount of income for both the Hui and the individual property owners by relying on the shills, expertise and involvement of our own property owners, instead of outside clubs and political organizations. According to the method of development and free enterprise I have a solid perspective on, we are not in an all-or-nothing situation as Luchau would have you believe. At any rate, please do review the enclosed material as I am certain that Luchau is ver}• selective in what information he passes on from committee to you. I do plan on fort~•arding this same information, including a copy of this letter, to any pertinant individuals who may have a concern in this matter. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance or information prior to the next Hui meeting in December. 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W 'Z nWy W T._ W.* Y W ^T W t~' N N N e N N aaN .•~,a yl \ N Ilm y0 X NV Xp NV l NA :,i IIW yN ~ a No il~ II'~ ym~a2 ~ ~O i i- Ilu Na IW ; Y W }}Z ~'x( W ~~N r i ! i Z f~•i. a is ~ fo ~ Z ~PLL >t c tl~:t .:2: ai ,l° ~ T . is 0 000000>00 ='00000000~W - uN o xW Na ~ nP S +P YV 1!: nm ip no b =O~ Ilm' III ~ Ms \ ~ ~u up ~ .p ! em e~ W i•• \ \ i OA~OOC~00;30~~000~0~?00000 i l PLAT !6 m ~ m ~ N v l 1 ` 1 O j ~ ~ Z Ro.ao S I T t ~ u ~ ~ ~ ~ o :o° ` 1 ~ ~ , ' ^ _ ? ^ ~ o I i y ~ O n O ~ l ~ y~ Q ~ ~ v`1 ~ , L ° ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ [ I ° a , 3 M C i 8040 Milo Lagoon C`~n ter 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 106 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Phone (808) 935-4743 • F°ax (808) 961-0020 ~-Mail: schone@interpac.net Dear HPP Property Owner, 12/3/98 Aloha. My name is Terry Schoneberg and 1 am a Realtor here in Hilo. I AM WRITING YOU AS A CONCERNED property owner in Hwn Paradise Park. My partner and I have a home on 19th st, which backs up to a 31 acre undeveloped area, which your property either borders, or is near. SEE MAP. ARC YOU AWARIe that there are plans to build a park with paved walkways on this 31 acre site? WE ARE VERY opposed to this plan and are informing you and requesting your help in stopping this project. There are many reasons to not develop the same. A committee is gung ho on obtaining a government grant to proceed and will be presenting same at the Dec. meeting of the Hui.... HERE is why we are opposed: 1) Being near or bordering on this area (which is heavy forest and secluded}, would in our minds bring in kids, crime and great access to the rear of our properties for thefts, etc. What a great secluded spot for the kids to party, trash and desecrate. 2) The Hawaiian Paradise Park Community Master Plan contains archeologists review of the area and indicates that it very well could have prehistoric artifacts and significance, and that NO DECISION for the area should be made before a full study.. There appears to be burial sites on the property and artifcacts, which would be compromised if the area is open to the public. The committee has dismissed our concerns and is planning to proceed with approvals for the park, without the needed study. -~-J site in our minds is a carefully planned and policed area, not a park which is open to the public. 3) The area is owned by the HPP Hui Hanalike, and currently the Real Property tax dept is assessing each lot of this 31 acre site at $100 each, due to possibility of cave openings. Opening this unsafe area with burial caves may prove dangerous. Also, the Hawaiian community could easily be offended with the current plan. 4) This is a very special area, with nesting sites of Owls and Hawks and bringing in the public would compromize the quiet and seclusion needed for these endangered species. 5) Obtaining Government Grants for our private subdivision may be turning over control of our assets to agencies that place a burden and unwanted requirements on our subdivision. 6) There are other community areas in the subdivision, which could be utilitized, e.g. two undeveloped county parks, etc. which would benefit far more people in the subdivision than this proposed park. These areas should be developed first, in our minds. THIS IS ONLY A SAl1APLING of our concerns, and we would be happy to discuss this at length with you.... WHAT WE NEED is for you to become involved and come to this meeting which is the 3rd Sunday in December, i.e. 1 2/20/98 at 3pm at the Community Center on Makuu and 17th.. We will be expressing our concerns and hopefully you will agree with us, attend and vote against this project. IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO BE A VOTING MEMBER IN ORDER TO HAVE A SAY. You must pay a $25 fee to be a member. AND altough the bylaws do not address same, we were told that you must be a member 10 days before the meeting to vote. You can go by the Hui on Makuu and 17th and join.. SO if you would assist and join the assoc. it would be great. Please feel free to call me or Jenny at 982-8266 and we can discuss this further. Most Sincerely, Terry Schoneberg (R) ~Tilo I~~goon Center 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 106 • Milo, Fiawai'i 96720 Phone (808) 935-4743 • F`ax (808) 961-0020 P-Mail: schone@interpac.net Hawaiian Paradise Park Hui Hanalike 31 Acre Park Committee Dear Sirs, 1 1 /2®/98 Thank you for the opportunity to address your committee regarding the proposed ethnobotanical park on 1 1 / 16/98. As you know, myself and my partner own a property adjacent to this proposed park, so we do haue a special interest in same. We do haue many concerns with regards to the proposal and implementation, not only being adjacent to same, but also being conscientious and concerned Hawaii residents sensitive to preserving our sine, etc. I hope that your dreams for the area are the same and that this input will be digested and fully considered. 1 do recognize the efforts put forth by your committee and am not trying to berate the time and input of your wishes for this ~1 acre site, but merely want an airing of our concerns and implementation of what is right for the area, based on the Hawaiian Paradise Park Master Plan, further research, more community resident input and discussion of same PRIOR TO SUBNIISSIORI of any grant proposal. First based on discussions and representations made by the committee at this meeting, it is my understanding that the following will be adhered to: 1) That your proposal is merely a starting point and absolutely no implementation of any decisions with regards to this area will be made prior to: a) Bringing the decisions of the committee to the full membership for cote on same (aftea'~the`m~~n `shtp~~a~t - "~-fully informed of plans, limitations, op ~ ~ ~ "b ~ _ _ b) that further a vote of all residents, not just members of the Hui will be solicited prior to making any final decisions. c) That if a grant is applied for, and approved, this will in no way weigh towards the final decision on the area. HOWEVER PRIOR TO EDEN SUBMITTING R GRRNT PROPOSRL 1 feel that certain points should be addressed to determine if the grant proposal will euen conform to the master plan, be the best idea for the community in regards to costs, preservation, and implementing the master plan, or euen complying with County regulations. IN RERDING the master plan I have a few major points of contention which should be addressed PRIOR to applying for any type of grant. 1) In reviewing the archeological review letter dated Jun 9, 1985 from Mr. Paul Rosendhal. He clearly states that PRIOR to any decisions with regards to the area, a full and further study is completely necessary to determine what is within this site area with regards to archeological remains, their significance, how they can be protected, etc. He clearly states that in his opinion, this area could have important prehistoric or early historic remains within same and that as an initial step, the entire area should be studied, cataloged, and discussed. In lieu of this, and your committees knowledge of artifacts discovered in the general area, I know you will agree that this must be addressed. To propose a park, paved walkways, etc. and submit a grant proposal, PRIOR to further study (merely to secure a grant) seems not to heed the findings contained within the master plan. Any grant proposal made prior to conforming to Mr. Rosenthals conclusions SHOULD FULLY inform the Grantor: * that the area has not been fully studied, mapped or cataloged. * that the master plan clearly states that any decisions for the area should be fully conditioned on, and based on those findings of further studies. * that after any necessary studies are done that the membership and residents, and concerned parties will make the ultimate decision for the area. ALSO UERY IMPORTFINTLY the master plan indicates that the 31 acre area will NOT RE A PRFiIC, but rater a archeological, ethnobotanical SITE. This is clearly NOT a Park area and to propose picnic areas, skateboard and bike paths does NOT seem to be the intention of the plan. I n my opinion, any improvements for the area which are of a park nature and not merely aarcheological/ethnobotanical site should be abandoned. In my mind such an archeological site is not a public park and use by anyone would have to be a carefully monitored area, i.e. 24 hour security, access for public and residents only accompanied by or monitored by staff and site officials, etc. To open such an area with no monitoring, no 24 hour surveillance, etc. would seem to be inciting desecration, destruction and trashing of a seemingly important area. Not being within County, State or Federal jurisdiction, i.e. being a privately owned park, seems would make such monitoring cost prohibitive. Further, the actual physical makeup of this area, i.e. thick vegetation and seclusion make opening this area of questionable. Rccessible community park areas are by design open, clear areas, which afford easy policing and monitoring. Opening up this secluded and difficult to monitor area will only invite kids and undesirable elements a secluded spot to party, desecrate a special area, etc. The master plan indicates where bicycle and foot paths have been dedicated. These areas are NOT within this 31 acre site. The master plan indicates further, two dedicated County Parks, etc. THESE areas have not been developed yet. Wouldn't a grant to develop these facilities be more in line with what will benefit the most people. To summarize and not make this too lengthly.... Pursuant to the master plan and archeological findings contained in the master plan, and the plans indication of not a park, but rather a site: that to proceed with any grant proposal prior to further complete study of the area, mapping of sites, determining if there are any burial caves within the area, checking with any and all concerned Hawaiians who may have reservations on developing this area and determining of the Community at large would rather develop other facilities within the subdivision that would benefit more people, etc. IS fd®T in the best interests of the residents of Hawaiian Paradise Park. do hope that these important concerns will fully be considered by the committee and not just tossed aside. My partner Jeannette is submitting a more complete assessment of the area and has some excellent ideas with regards for the area, implementation, etc. and do further hope that you will allow her to be an integral part of your committee and will glue her concerns and ideas a full and complete attention. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Terry Schoneberg (li) INTRODUCTION TO SITE IN DISCUSSION The area being discussed in this report is the 31-acre unimproved expanse located in the center of Hawaiian Paradise Park which has remained undeveloped and unroaded. Ethnobotanical beauty, ar- chaeological significance and habitat to many indigenous species of animalia according to reports and evidence are abundant ~•ithin this area. This report is a summation and analysis of actual application of the written or otherwise documented information available to the analyst (Index of Reports, page), in particular the 1997 Master Plan for the subdivision currently on file with the County Planning Dept. It is assumed that property owner input and outside expertise were acquired at that time for the land usage. The area in question is also adjacent to one of m}• properties within this subdivision where I have a house with possible extensions of this archaeological site on the property. This also allows me a firsthand familiarity with the site in question. PARK COMMITTEE COMPOSITION/MASTER PLAN HPP is a subdivision slated to have more than "30,000 residents in the next 25 years," (about 10 percent per year) according to the Master Plan. On the other hand, an ,B.merican subdivision containing its own lo~~?~land area of undeveloped native rainforest sheltering possible prehistoric ruins deserving of further research and inventory (Rosendahl, 1985), as well as the observed nesting areas of native species of our shy, feathered ohana members (also mentioned on page 4 of the Master Plan) is truly a global rarity°. The presence of indigenous wildlife, flora and fauna was also upheld in the Master Plan. Ho~~• to combine all these factors, in complying with the Master Plan, as well as actively seekingrenewed pron- ertkowner input. and recruiting appropriately timed outside expertise seems to be what should be cur- rentlyoccurring in commitee. ASPHALT TIIROUGIi SITE, NOT PARK According to the Master Plan, there are at least ttvo undeveloped 4-acre County Parks slated for the subdivision (which means that the County would be responsible for the costs and maintenance of these areas), as «•ell as the 40-acre Community Center grounds. Another 20-acre park is also slated at 15th avenue. The 31-acre section in discussion is designated in the 1997 Master Plan as being an "ethno- botanical garden and archaeological site (not ~arsk, two very different words, according to a dictionary of the English language). Also, there are several precise plans and designations setting aside specific areas for pedestrian/bicycle paths mentioned in the Master Plan. Item #4, page 15-16 clearly indicates that "it is intended that Railroad Avenue become limited to bicycles, pedestrians and electric vehicles." Also, on page 21 it states "the permeter of Paradise Park and Railroad Avenue are the only mapped out areas that we have dedicated to pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths." is now being reslated/redesigned by a committee whose chairperson's number one dream for the place is pave a 5-foot wide asphalt path in an oval configuration across each of the currently individually subdivided lots of this parcel not more than 100 feet or so from the back door of each property owner adjacent to that area. CONFLICT OF MASTER PLANS, CONFLICT ~VITII CURRENT TERRAIN The current plan of Luchau's being placed as part of a $200,000 Community Plot Ptan grant proposal seems to conflict with the above portions of the Master Plan quoted. Requesting government funding fora pr~ect which so clearly does not complti• with the Master Plan makes the time, effort and and vrot~erty owner input that went into the Master Flan redundant. It implies "wh}- have a Master Plan when we can change it in committee." It is unclear at this time how this current rough plan came into existence, however, it is clear that, as it stands with the committee chair, it does not comply with resident intentions laid out within the Master Plan. In reasoning these conflicts, other factors were brought into study which must also be mentioned. INTRO TO LACK Ur' PROPERTY OWNER INPUT Page 2 A near absolute lack of property o«•ner input has occurred within this committee through a s}~s- tem that can be termed "quiet disclusion". In other words, simply the scheduling of meetings omits the possibility of involvement by an e~•ergrowing list of indi~•idual property o~;•ners «•hose indi~•idual exper- tise and desires should be equally considered. Add to this the community a«•areness system in place (the Conch) and its outreach potential or lack of it. Here's how quiet disclusion has occurred and what can affordably be done to alleviate the dilemma/situation. SUNDAY MEETINGS DELETES MEMBER ATTENDANCE Firstly, the General Membership meetings take place on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., lasting, it seems, around 3-4 hours. This discludes members who respect the Sunday sabbath, members who work so hard that they need that time to rest or be with their children, members who ma}' be on their third happ}• beer on a hot afternoon, etc. To alleviate this situation, a videotape sho~a•n on the free public station as well as available for vie~a•ing by members should be made of each Hui meeting. Telephone canvasing membership can be another method of disco~•ery and disemination. Also, a Hui Website might be an avenue of membership participation till no~~• o~•erlooked. PARK COMMITTEE DIFFICULT MEETING TIME AND PLACE Secondly, they- only announced to non-attending members the Park Committee meeting schedule in the Conch, hidden in the fine print on the last page, as far the records a~•ailable to me shotti~. The committee holds the meetings at 10 in the morning every Monday at Malamalama school. The method of announcement was likely the least-noticable method of community notification that could have been used. Also, the meeting time and day discludes most ~~•orking persons. Additionall}~, at that time of day/ week, many Domestic Gods and Goddesses are cleaning up/catching up after the kids being home from school for the weekend, too. It should be no surprise then that a great portion of the participants of the committee have emplo}'went at Malamalama school, (including the troup an amateur ornithologist and adjacent property owner had to rescue from their extended backyard after the fora}• got lost). I t is unclear at this time if the active committee members from Malamalama school are under any kind of employment obligation for which the}' may feel compelled to go along with [he decisions of an overseeing bod}•, therefore creating a panel of "}'es-men". NO DIRECT CONTACT WITH CONCERNED PROPERTY OWNERS Finally, interested property owners who wanted to be included on this committee were not con- tacted directly about the meetings, even after having left their names/digits. Upon attending at least on e properly owner was initiall}' met with hostile, defensive debate tactics defending John's dream plan as it currently seems to stand, in spite of their accounting expertise, real estate and legal experience, and additional written, studied evidence introduced regarding the endangered species habitats as well as new physical evidence which could date our own archaeological site much further back than current State Historic records indicate, perhaps verifying IZosendahl prehistoric dating of the area ADJACENT OWNERS PARTICIPATION REJECTED IN PRACTICE Also, it must be mentioned that there has been little to no contact of at least the property oc~•ners adjacent to the site to inform them directly of plans to drastically alter their extended backyard. Indeed, instead of involving adjacent property owners even just for assisted access on their recent forays into this area, the committee has taken the 17th street aces through the jungle , and, according to ph}~sicai evi- dence and other records, they heedlessly destroyed a ground nest of the Pueo which had been part of a year-long study (b}• an HPP resident who owns propert}• adajcent to this site) in the process of advocat- ing on behalf of the rights to habitat of our endangered species. Upon being notified of this, the}' promptly went back in the next day with another foray and walked right over the same nesting site a second time. Had the committee actuall}• been open to property owner participation and the guidance through the area as it was offered, that destruction may not ha~•e occurred. ACTUAL COMMITTEE FORMATION Page 3 Individuals who, according to public records, either 1) do not own property in Paradise Park , do not live in it, 3) in one case, with obvious political interests {Rene Siracusa), 4) very short-range residency of the area compared to the residency period of property owners who have been discluded as either committee panel members or participants. A committee of informed, equitable property owner attempting to achieve the Master Plan is what the documentation indicates should be active. Instead, in summation of analysis and review, a committee of one with newcomer/outsider/employee backing seems to be what is taking place on this project. NEW POLICY ON GOVERNMENTAL GRANTS At the November meeting of the Hui, new policy was put in place which states "No director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation shall participate in the selection, award or administration of a contract where, to his kno6vledge, he or his immediate family, partners, or organization in which he or his immediate family or partners have a financial interest, or H•ith whom he is negotiating or has any arrangement concerning prospective emplo}'went. No director, officer, employee or agent shall either solicitor accept gratuities, favors or anything of monetary value from contractors or potential contractors." Until further legal advise can besought, according to what is stated in that clause, it may possibly make it impossible for any HPP member of the Paradise Park Hui Hanalike to perform any work on an HPP project for which Count}', State or Federal funds have been received. This interprets as this: a non- HPP outsider would be hired to do the work in our subdivision, not an HPP propert}- o~~•ner, no matter how much more affordably the owner could do the work for, and possibly «•ith less «~ear and tear on our private roads since they wouldn't have to haul in outside equipment. This clause, as it could apply simply to this committee alone as it currentl}'stands, raises signifi- cantquestions as toits composition. The motives of those invol~~ed, should they fall under the scrutiny of the overseeing Federal receivership gifting the grant, could possibly curtail the project, if not result in "disciplinary action which ma}• include termination". CURRENT PROPOSAL A FINANCIAL CATASTROPHE According to the Master Plan, further study, research and inventory of our precious heritage site has been recommended and therefore it is ob~-ious that it should be done. The only question remaining on that portion is how that research should be done, and can the association gain any outside revenues in order to do so. Proposing to black asphalt the area at this time ~•ill not create renewable revenues, but instead will bring in unforeseen ongoing costs and expenses, graffitti, and crime as well as creating an unsecure site for the homeless and free campers sprawled across 31 acres. Also, it appears that there is insufficient accounting expertise within this committee to provide the foresight of ongoing costs of maintaining such a site. According to the policy change, Luchau's proposal will not allow for residents to gain from ne«• employment under these governmental grants, but instead, perhaps require in the future some type of allocation fee/assessment to be charged to the propert}• owners as part of maintenance fees for an unplanned public park with unplanned bike paths. This rushed-thru dream plan currentl}' includes chem toilets and astreet-crossing entrance, but no night-time lighting or securit}• measures included. It makes no mention of ongoing trash clearing of the expanse of 31 acres, let alone maintenance and vandalism costs. The plans being prepared hate no sense of future at all, almost like a childlike list of what to take with you when you run awa}' from home. And with no basis from the Master Plan, aside from one possible t}•po on one map, it is likel}• that it will flail, flop, and fall apart at any given point along the way. ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR SITE Page 4 An alternative plan for this 31-acre site has been formulated by an HPP resident who own adja- centproperty to the site in question. This plan, when brought out in committee, was downplayed in favor of Luchau's plan, in spite of~ the potential for renewable revenues that it contained (see "Plan for Re- search/Sanctuarypreparatton phase). This plan, should it be initiated, not onl}' opens doors for renewable resources within our community, it also protects this site until it can be further studied and prepared, offers new avenues of funding and grant alternatives; and could very well show to the rest of the world how very advanced and considerate development into the new Millennium could become. Luchau's plan seems based on the same st}'le of development mentioned in the Master Plan which brought about hap- hazard, "substandard" development in our subdivision in the first place. The following are updates to work in progress being taken on individually by the alternative site plan designer at her own cost. 1) ADOPT A SITE UIIII PROGRAM According to State Historian, Mark Smith, the archaeological site in question is on record as dating from the paniolo da}'s. However, when Mr. Smith was taken on a recent walk through the site by committee members, he was not told of the burial cave with bones in it that had been on the community center grounds. Neither was he apprised of new artifact evidence found in the area, nor the site this artifact was found in. Also, upon discussing the potential of the area with both Chris Reichl and Paul Mills of the UHH Anthropology Department, it was discovered that Luchau had only just now contacted Prof. Mills, yet also did not include in their conversation anything further describing the site other than minimal wall work. It is unclear at this time ho«~ much, if anything, Mr. Luchau informed Prof. Mills of the Rosendahl study. Prof. Mills, as of the Spring 1999 semester will be including this site as part of the new "Adopt a Site" program, enlisting the elpertise of island-wise, upper-division students to initiate studies of the area in compliance with pertinant laws and area conservation techniques. 2) ENDANGERED SPECIES LOWLAND SANCTUARY Certainly, the site «~ould make a beautiful park for people once the archaeological research has been completed„ but what would it do to the current inhabitants of the rainforest there under the huge banyan trees (not just "overgrown mango" as Luchau would have us believe); the actual flora, fauna and lowland animalia abundant within its protective cover ? According to the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Honolulu, inviting in the public into such an area would be tantamount to getting rid of Oahu and telling everyone there to swim for the next shore they can find. INITIATE CHANGES PROVIDE A HOME Our island endangered species are being discussed in committee and treated in a manner similar to the concept that the Panda Bears are only considered an endangered species in America. Wh}' is the Pueo only considered endangered on Oahu? How do you think they ended up being endangered? Be- cause development took away their habitats. Why are our indigenous species, so endangered and rare, protected but not their habitat, their nesting grounds? Why is it that people complain about and physi- ca11y suffer from diseases such as leptospirosis, transferred often by rats around a catchtank, and yet nobody considers that the potentially Permaculture thing to do is provide the wild creatures that feed on them a home where they feel safe so that they will, in turn, help defend our unimproved areas against intense verrnin population growth. Then, think about this: if we don't want unwanted, frightening guests in our own home, we can ask them to leave. Shouldn't we give these other-species members of our ohana the same respect and let them have a home in peace? Isn't it up to us humans then, as caretakers of the globe, to provide them a home so that they will help defend ours? They haven't the power to ask us to leave, but we could certainly invite them to stay. RENE~'VARLE SOURCE OF INCOME Page 5 The Master Plan and the evolving use of the Community Center as an occasional resident mar- ketplace both seem to indicate that HPP residents and property owners desparately need nearby, rene«•- ablesources of income not a public park dependant on Federal intervention and increased owner assess- ments. The Proposal of a private bird sanctuar}~ offering quiet, small archaeological investigative groups time to research the site while at the same time housing our endangered species would not only fuel our subdivision economy, but also expand the sources of funding available, the leverage residents would have in participation, and a new source of global education revenues in the proposal of a websitelmailing list of ongoing new information and discoveries. We could also become global leaders on certain housing development issues were we to maintain our rainforest the way it is. So what if it may have to be off- limits to just walking in off the public access areas. It'll keep the poachers, gangs, drugs and violent crime potential (as well as the rats) to a minimum For a while longer in our elegant little subdivision. Jeannette L. Cole aja J.C. "Jenny" Shinpa«~ HCR 1 Box 5216 Keaau, HI 96749 November 30, 1998 Mr. Herbert Kaw•ainui Kane P.O. Box 163 Captain Cook, HI 96704 Dear Mr. Kane, Please forgive my tardiness in sending you this package of information regarding the "Kane Stone," the canoe anchor/basher I found last May. This particular set does not readily reveal the eye to the child-sized footprint that seems to be caned on one facet, so I have pointed that out on the photo. To further inform you and update you on historical matters in this area, it may be pertinant for you to be further made aware of the site I found the stone in. The site, ~z•hich is physically an extension of my backyard on 19th street in Hawaiian Paradise Park, is an as-yet unstudied archaeological site. It contains, according to a 1985 walk-through viewing written up by Paul Rosendahl, a site of "either prehistoric or historic significance". Within the protective cover of the hugest banyan tree I've seen since Lahaina, an entire village site lies quietly and relatively untouched, surrounded by cave openings, hidden holes, more banyan and mango trees, and an array of endangered species nesting sites. Currently, there is a Park Committee of the Paradise Park Hui Hanalike meeting to make plans to plow a 5-foot wide, 2-mile public parkv?•ay bikepath through the heart of this site by this coming July. In spite of this new plan being in every way contradictory to the Master Plan for Development of this private subdivision, and in spite of very outspoken opposition of property owners to the rash development of this unstudied area, the Committee Chairperson, John Luchau, and his committee sidekick, Rene Siracusa (last election's Green Party candidate), have manuevered themselves into positions where she can gain politically through this project, as well as Luchau himself finally gaining the total control over the Hui that sent us into lawsuits and receiverships before. (Luchau's got a personal benefit agenda on this bigger and deeper than the Keaukaha Ice Pond). It's a big haole political mess, and they've already dozed closed one cave with bones in it on the community center site (without addressing any OHA issues or otherwise) because they were afraid children would go in and get hurt or lost. Personally, I've devoted a great deal of my normal worktime to trying to stand in the way of this type of heedless development and will continue doing so even though I myself am just a blond haole lady accountant who seems publicly ridiculous defending Hawaiian burial sites and the nests of hawks and owls. Even though my dad was a University Prof for 33 years (particularly during the 1960's, when his drinking buddies and phone pals included Edward R. Murrow and Dan Rather), I never was ehe type to take up the protest signs. However, this canoe bashing stone seems to have chosen me to speak on its behalf, to continue requesting the research and inventory that the Master Plan recommends, to be the voice for so many people who may be too caught up in their own infrastructural battles now to focus on this 4-acre unstudied village, but may not be in the future. The biggest problem is that it seems as if this committee, (of which 2 of the four main members don't even own property in the subdivision), is trying to rush the public park plan through before anyone can be made the wiser, before the next County Council election in two more years. I have contacted others regarding protecting this village site: OHA, A'u'li'i at Lyman House Museum, Moani Akaka, at least four professors at UHH, Mark Smith of the State Historic Preservation Office, Paula Kekahuna (who has taken the whispering walk through the village site with me and has also held Kane Stone in her lap), and I have left messages with Mililani Trask and Haunani Kay Trask. I have also contacted the LDS Church since I am aware that they also have aspiritual-type of interest in this site and the burial caves and holes. And, of course, I have contacted as many federal, state and county agencies as I can find who have anything to do with protecting endangered species, as well as every other property owner I know (and some I don't). It doesn't seem as yet as though anyone is taking this too seriously, but I just can't let that keep me from doing what I feel the Aina (and those whose bones lie within her quiet veins) v~~ants me to do on its behalf. I've tried attending the Park Committee meetings, but have been so harrassed and my credibilit}' so debased that I found it redundant and painful to continue attending. So,1 must wait for the neat General Membership meeting in December in order to attempt one more time to halt these pro-development maniacs. At any rate, I hope these photos prove sufficient for your own continued research. Please let me know if I can be of an}' further assistance in any way. Perhaps if you happen to be on this side of the island you would enjoy taking the hike through this site yourself and meeting Kane Stone in person. The place is certainly inspiring in a very sacred way and I am very humbled that the Aina is allowing me to protect it and care for it. Thank you very much for your interest and, what I call in my southern drawled, poorly pro- nounced Hawaiian pidgeon, for your "Mana Malama", the Light of your powerful Spirit (it may not be right grammatically, but the its the heartfelt intention behind the words that counts). Your Puna Pueo, Jenny Shinpaw P.S. My business partner and I have some historical questions, which, if you ever have a spare moment we would truly appreciate having answers to. I know you are very busy, but.. . 1) Is the myth true about the bones of one of the Kamehameha kings being buried in a hidden place in Puna? And that his bones have never been recovered or found? 2) Are there geographical surface links between the Orchidland "Floating Vagina" cave and the Maku'u heiau dedicated to Lono? The maps I've enclosed ma}' indicate this village as being one. 3) Are there any known battles that may have taken place in this area, or perhaps records of when rampant, infectious introduced diseases may have swept thru this area? 4) Are there any records of peoples «'ho may have inhabited this part of this island prior to Tahi- tian migrations? Could this be a site of Marquesan or other origin? ~ When were banyan trees introduced here? These look like some of the first. 6) What was a canoe stone and possibly its bubbler attachment doing on dry land in a hole? ~s`~* ~ .r: ~f~<~ .~~>s..:,: ~ s. u: g': > 4 y r Y .n ~ X. t A'. ,,.C... . } Hawaiian Hawk An endangered species, with a population estimated to be in the hundreds, the Hawaiian Hawk is called 'Io by the Hawaiians. if you are lucky, these amazing birds can be seen in the late afternoon hours patrolling the area , often a lone, 'Io can be spotted circling in the air, waiting for a chance to fall upon it's prey... The 'Io plumage has two color phases, a light underpart/dark upper parts parts phase (pictured), and a dark brown (adult) phase. 1~emales are larger than males. Diet seems to consist of mice, rats, frogs, spiders, insects and their caterpillars. Photographic evidence has been seen of an'Io diving on a mongoose, which had been crossing the road, and killing it instantly with a precise incision of its razor sharp talons into the cervical spine. The hawk was then tenacious in refusing to give up the prize it had won, and proceeded to display threateningly when approached (still on the roadway). Similar behavior can be expected in defense of nests or young... Nesting from May through October, the'Io can be seen soaring in large circles, at consid- erable heights. The diurnal Hawaiian Owl, or Pueo, also soars... Iolani was a sacred hawk in Hawaiian mythology... a v :,n~ ' ?Ft. . nA .Y t ,r r ~ . ~~t: r ` J ~ ,:b ~t + t - KL~ 1 .F ~ :.1 jjs t d' • 'd ; ~ Asio flammeus sandwichensis Common name: Hawaiian short-eared owl, pueo State status: Listed endangered on Oahu only Heritage global rank: G5T3 Description: Amoderate-sized owl, 13 to 17 inches (33 to 43 centimeters} long, body markings brown and white, streaked with white and darker brown, eyes yellow within a dark mask. The legs are feathered down to the toes. Thesexes are similar, although females are slightly larger. The pueo can be distinguished from the introduced Barn Owl (Tyto albs) by its round and dark face, yellow eyes, and dark bill (Berger 1981, Hawaii Audubon Society 1989). Unlike most owls, the pueo is often active at mid-day. Furthermore, it frequently soars at very high altitudes, which leads some observers to mistake the bird for the `io or Hawaiian hawk (Buteo solitarius) (Berger 1981). The pueo is considered by many ornithologists to be a subspecies of Short-eared Owl endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (Berger 1981, AOU 1983, Scott et al. 1986, Hawaii Audubon Society 1989, Pyle 1992). S. Olson (pers. comm. 1992), how- ever, regards this classification debatable and considers the pueo to be taxonomically indistin- guishable from the mainland Short-earedOwl (which is common). The pueo's relationship with its North American and Asian relatives may require further examination. Distribution: The pueo is endemic to Hawaii, occurring on all the main Hawaiian Islands, but it most common on Kauai, Maui, and HaK~ai`i. Because it is in decline on Oahu, the state govern- mentconsiders O' ahu populations of pueo endangered. The pueo occurs from sea level to 8000 feet (2440 meters) in elevation in areas dominated by both native and alien vegetation, from pastures and grasslands to dry and wet forests. Short-eared owls have also been observed on some of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but these individuals are probably mainland stragglers of the North American subspecies, Asio flammeus flammeus (Berger 1981, Hawaii Audubon Society 1989). . Feeding habits: Pueo feed primarily on introduced rodents such as the housemouse (Mus muscu- lus) and the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) (Berger 1981, Scott et al. 1986). Before humans introduced rodents to Hawai `i, it is possible that the pueo fed on the now extinct flightless Hawai- ian rail (Porzana sandwichensis) and other birds. Reproductive biology: Pueo build their nests on the ground, usually in grass. Three to six white eggs are laid. Little is known about the pueo's breeding biology. Nests containing young have been observed in March, May, and November (Berger 1981). Pueo begin incubating when the first egg is laid. Subsequently, eggs usually hatch in the order they were laid, creating a marked difference in the size of the nestlings. Conservation concerns: The total number of pueo has not been estimated. Because pueo nest on the ground, the young are vulnerable to predation by feral cats and mongooses. Human-related mortalities (e.g., shooting) and other human disturbances to habitat seem to be the predominant reasons for the apparent decline of the bird. The pueo is a category 2 candidate for endangered or threatened status. It is also listed as endangered on the island of Oahu by the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR 1990). Therefore, the Oahu pueo population is protected under state law (H.R.S. 195-D). f - :r - ~ ~~x ~x' ~ r t, fi (y{ $R~ ~w J.C. Shinpaw HCR 1 13ox 5216 Keaau, Hawaii 96749 m November 10 1998 e J ,F ~ s Ethnobotanical Committee r Malamalama School ~ ` ~ f Hawaiian Paradise Park ~ ~ - Keaau, Hawaii 96749 " Dear Sirs and Ma'ams, -.r Thank you very much for allowing me to attend your recent meeting. Having received the invi- tation to attend in the manner I did allowed me to at least have a naive hope that I was indeed welcome to share input in deciding what to do with the area. I'm very sorry I was so mistaken. I guess I am a little confused now. As I understood it, (when I found the ladies floundering through the jungle, obliviously on their way to a hidden crack area where one could have fallen to her death or at least injury), I was invited to attend your meeting since I had an expertise in the area and a desire to preserve and protect it as I thought you also did. The area in question is indeed beautiful, even sacred, and when you mentioned an ethnobotanical garden I guess my writer's imagination envisioned a Preserve, a place to protect the history, the plantlife and the various species of wildlife which make their homes in that habitat. I was terribly, sadly mistaken. I did not realize that what you actually had in mind was to pave paradise to put up a parking lot so that you could not only have a groovy place to meditate, but also put your star of glory (a "Malamalama Merit Badge" if you will), on the effort for your own political/career purposes. I have seen this scenario before. I refuse to participate in it happening again. And I think it is a crying shame that the first thing you, as an entire committee of "concerned preservationists" want to do with a place where owls, hawks, pigs and other creatures make their homes is to cut it down, stomp it down, pave it down, and invite in the crowds (and trash, and noise, and crime). And for you to put some kind of "meditative, cosmic" label on it is a sham. You were obviously angry at being told that your plan is both financially naive and socially antagonistic, I also want you all to know how awfully rude I think you behaved. As teachers in a school I at least expected you to allow me to complete speaking and not, since I was an invited guest, treat me with the high-handed, holier-than-thou, hotheaded attitude I was shown. If one lives in a bubble of delusion and a porcupine happens along and pops the bubble, do you get mad at the porcupine for having quills? Or are you grateful to the porcupine for taking away the bubble of delusion and setting you on solid ground? Frankly, I think if you want to spend precious moments of your life sitting in a committee room feeling self-important while you listen to yourself chirp like a chicken in the hen yard because you want to fuck the aina in the ass, that's up to you. That's precisely what you sounded like to me, and that's what you're going to sound like to other property owners, too.. And that's why you all got lost out there: you are so damn busy listening to yourselves and feeding your egos that you didn't listen to the land, the trees, the ocean (which you can hear from here if you are quiet enough), or the wind blowiag the trees or the quiet sound of sleeping, nesting o~~ is nearby (which you also could have um+•ittingl}~ disturbed). You sounded like a bunch of squaking hens in the chicken }'ard and you want to treat this special area as your own spot to scratch and shit on. You never allowed me to even finish asking my questions, let alone providing you ~•ith a final recommendation. So, now that I have spent a year doing exactl}' the research you are onl}' beginning, now that I have Herbert Katvainui Kane aware of the site, now that the site can finally be granted the quiet dignity it deserves, here are your flaws, as I see them, in summation, and my follow-up recommenda- tions. I understand that my input will probably be even less welcome now than before, but I do plan on sending a copy of this document to various pertinant organizations and individuals, so since you've botched up welcoming a property owner's input, I suggest you pay close attention since your social ass may be on the line: 1. Propert}• Owner Input: I suggest that you receive input from the surrounding propert}• owners before you just go ahead and railroad this 2.5 million dollar plan down some political, greasy-palmed throat. I doubt any of you has attempted to do that }•et, since I never was contacted about this Park committee until your field trip got lost. In fact, my business partner and 1 had asked the Hui to be notified «•hen and if this commit- tee ever met, and we never Here. This leads me to believe that you don't reall}• ~i•ant property o~rners to know about this until the plan is made and the grant is given. And won't that be a little star on the Malamalama Merit badge? To have done this with no help from anyone else but }'ourselves is to take away the co-ownership that all the propert}' owners have of this area in discussion and to practically take away the subdivision privacy and hand it over to every possible anal-retentive blo~rhole on the island. And, since my business partner have at least 3-6 parcels in this subdivision alone, I guess that means that we have at least 3-6 times as much vested interest in what happens to this area as many of you probably do. 2. Unnecessar}' Paving: 1 can't understand your plans to desecrate this special area behind m}• home. I just don't understand why, with all the area already set aside for community parks and so on, this area needs so badly to have a $200,000 minimum paving job which will force the owls and ha6vks to find other nesting areas, which will invite in gangs and graffitti and crime into an unfenced, uninsured area. The areas of the subdivision which need bike paths are the main roads where commuters and children regularl}• ride and have even been killed on. Would you like to be the one to tell a mother "We won't pave a path where your child rides every day and theirfriend got killed on. We' 11 pave it where it's dangerous to get to'" Put pavement on the main roads, or make speed bumps for the side roads or just make sure the damn grass stays cut and the mud stays do«•n. And if you want Chem toilets, put them at the busstops for the children who have to hold it till the bus takes them to Keaau. And give them a covered busstop while you're at it. 3. Further Research is Required: It is obvious that the committee is spending a great deal of time planning to do something that is unrealistic financiall}' as v~'ell as in feasibility. What needs to be done first and foremost is to decide what to do right now with the place, as it is, to protect and preserve it. What better way than to leave it alone and quietly research it from the front door instead of bashing in the back door and im•iting in the herds of stampeding site rock-takers. To start stomping do~c•n the forest Kith a bunch of volunteer! eighth graders wielding sickles has got to be the mose lame-brained, micke}'-mouse idea I've ever heard yet. Let's get some very aware individuals in there to quietly examine the area, study it ongoing, so that we don't end up killing the good thing that's there. What's wild should stay wild. . 4. Immediate Proposal for Uses: What is needed is a proposal which will make all the members of our is- land/global village happy, as well as the land and its various habitant species: Change our proposal to an immediate reality. The public/property owners don't want another bridge from forever, and we must realize that financially, there are other demands on available resources which our subdi- vision needs even more (see "Paving") A. Wildlife/History/Nature Preserve/Sanctuary No paths, no walkways, no trespassing signs, {ornithological/species sanc- tuary), wildlife only sanctuary during primary research phases of area ,until area can be carefully and thoroughly examined by appropriate individuals at appropriate times. The cost would be for the signs. Access into site should attempt to be made through a home- owner already adjacent to site to minimize trailblazing/disturbing of nesting sites/plant life. This will prevent "cruisers" from finding a wide open trail on 17th avenue and taking walks with their bb guns. There are many species of both plant and animal life within this site that inviting in the Public could endanger. To first respect the things making their homes and feeding within this area is the first lesson in Respect of the Aina. This idea will make the land and animals happy. Information Center/Website With a grant proposal designed for both animal and/or plant life, we could develop awebsite/information processing center which could open up all the research information obtained for public access without spoiling the habitat. Photos taken by professional ornithologists, recordings made discreetly of owl cries and hawk cries, and so much more could be made available to the public this way which would not spoil the habitat/histony. We could even include a website which could show the archeaolotgical reconstruction in progress (i.e. ""This week's artifact/room", etc.). This makes our education/tourism industry happy, as well as researchers in other lands. C. Paving. What we need for bike trails in our subdivision is along the main access roads where we have commuters, children riding everyday, joggers, etc. To propose a bike path in an area and then not one on the main road where people have been injured and killed is disrespectful of their loss and pain. Yes, let's get a safe place for us ail to travel. How about speed bumps on the side roads, too? Saving this money and not doing any dozing will make many people happy. D. Ethnobotanical Lab Site Perhaps Malamalama school needs some kind of ethnobotanical worksite where the children can get a larger feel for the flora and fauna here. I am aware of two different sites, both up for one-year leases at extremely affordable rates which may serve your immediate desires and needs much more appropriately than the large area being dis- cussed by the committee. one site, on 15th street, has a proposal on the table for a private Reading Library/Afterschool center complete with outdoor lab experience stations (arbor, 2 water ponds, fruit-bearing trees and vines, etc.) The other site, in Orchidland, has a double greenhouse, catchtank, aviary, outdoor shower and concrete house site/cesspool already on it. It also contains more species of exotic plant life than I have ever seen in one place since I've been here, and I've seen a Iot. Macadamia nut, gingers, Green Tea shrubs, all kinds of palms and fruit trees, the place also used to have peacocks cruising on it and they fit right in. Across the street my friend Bird has horses and there is a Retreat camp not far away either. Or, perhaps the thing to do is put in the Ethnobotanical garden in the Commu- nity center immediate site, but, of course, utilizing the area in discussion as the source for many of the plant species. There could even be small vegetable gardens set up to grow free food for our community hungry. This will make the garden installation much more of an immediately accessible social offering, not taking years to create but rather could be started tomorrow with the area of fenceline. Let's plant Ipu along the fenceline to bless the initiation of the process. This will make plant lovers happy. E. Plan aPotluck/Fundraiser Dress as your favorite bird or plant or endangered species. Bring a food dish made from locally grown produce. Play music Like "Gimme Shelter". Make a big deal about being the only subdivision to have its own bird sanctuary and public community center ethnobotanical garden. Parties make everyone happy, too. F. Committee Formation Make me Committee Chair/Project Designer/overseer. This will make me happy and hopefully you, too, and may provide us all with a person who is not going to diddle-fart around, nor have an inclination to find ways to spend more money. Actually, I think the subdivision, as a whole, may end up being able to make some sort of income off the research result information center for ornithologists or a type of re-enactment village, but that is a long-range plan that may take years to obtain. What we need is action today, right now, and I feel I am probably more knowledgable in the area, more respectful of it, (and already more in contact with respectable individuals who are experts in the fields that may have interests in this area), than the other members active on this committee at this point. So, there you have my seven pointed proposal. After already having discussed this area with the. State Historian, Mark Smith, L}~rnan House Museum, and Herbert Kawainui Kane, as well as researching out the fact that this site shows up nowhere in the Hawaiian registered historic sites leads me to believe that it is not a Hawaiian site but more likely just an old paniolo site that's been long abandoned. However, it is still terrain that is mostly non-usable as anything but jungle/forest/habitat to many wild animals and plantlife, and to bring in ignorant masses to massacre the area before it can be cautiously studied and hand researched by professional archaeologists, ornithologists, etc., would be almost a crime against the species already living in and claiming this area as their habitat. I would like to preserve this area in the state that it is in. I feel the land has called me to do so. And to not be allowed to would be, like my Shawnee ancestors, like driving me along another Trail of Tears. This is a very unique and special area. You apparently have no idea what kind of place this really is. You don't sleep in it, you don't live init. I must only assume you live on the outskirts of it not even really knowing what goes on here or what it really like. I saw the fear in allyour eyes when you were lost in here and it had its hold on you. And now, you want to feel part of it, because it is so special, so beautiful that you want to make it your own, control it, conquer it. I feel that the current committee plans make it into something that everyone can trash and ruin for the non-human things that are there just so you can feel like you arc stronger than it, just so that you can suck up the strength that flows through the place info your own deaf veins. And inthe end you will weaken the place and, ultimately, kill the good thing that's there. To open it at this time (before more intensive, private research can be done), to the general public is to invite it to ruin and the houses around it to criminal elements. 1 am asking you to do a very great thing, I know, but 1 feel I was placed on this site to protect it and guard it as best I can, as a warrior guarding the cave where the tribe is hiding. Please allow me to continue doing this in a larger, more socially-serving manner. Please allow this site the private dignity it truly deserves for just a while longer. It would be a shame to lose something of great historical or ecological impact just because of a "committee" deciding to do so on paper, mostly so they can claim some kind of political credit for having been part of a project. Please consider my proposal as a bona fide expression of a long-term resident, with children who are fourth generation on this island, to protect, preserve and respect the aina as only someone w-ho was chosen by the aina could do. If the land itself has asked me to take care of it, then what person could better be chosen by humankind. Thank you for your attention to this matter. J.C. Shinpaw CC: Paradise Park Hui Hanalike Receivership Entities Pres. of Hui Hanalike, Walter Moe Hawk Endangered Species Hawaiian Animals Akepa, Hawaii (honeycreepe?•) (hoxops cnccineus coccineus) Akepa, Maui (honeycreep~) (Loaoaps coccaneus ochraceus) Akialoa, Itauai (hone9~cneeper) (Hemignathus P~~) Akiapola'au (honeycreeper) (Henugnathus munmi) 0'0, Kauai (honeyeater) (Moho braccatus) O'u (honeycreeper) (Psittirostra psittacea) Bat, Hawaiian homy (I,asiurvs cinereus semotus) Coot, Hawaiian (alas-ke'oke o) (Fulica ameJicana alai) Creeper, Hawaii (Oreom}stis mans) Creeper, Molokai (kakawahie) (Paroreorrryza ijammea) Creeper, Oahu (alauwahio) (Paroreomy~a nrac.ulata) Crow, Hawaiian ('alala) (Cones hawaiiensis) Duck, Hawaiian (koloa) (Anal wyvilliana) Duck, laysan (Anal laysanensis) Fnch, Laysan (honeycreeper) (Telespy2a cantans) )1=1nch, Nihoa (honey-creeper) (Telespy~ra ultima) Goose, Hawaiian (Hens) (Nesochen sand~icensis) Hawk, Hawaiian (io) (Buteo solitarius) Honeycreeper, crested ('akohekohe) (Palmeria dolei) Millerbird, Rlihaa (old world warbler) (Acrocephalus familiaris kingi) Moorhen (gallinule), Hawaiian common (Gallinula chloropus sandricensis) iVukupu u (honeycreeper) (Hernignathus lucidus) Paula (hone}~creeper) (Lo~oides bailleui) Parnotbill, Maui (honepcneeper) (Pseudonestor xanthophrys) Petm1, Hawaiiandark-romped (Pterodroma phaeopygia sanda~ichensis) Po'ouli (honeg~creeper) (Nlelamprosops phaeosoma) Sheanvater, [~iewell's Toavnsend's (forn~erly (='a o) (Puilinus auricularis newelli) Snails, Oahu ores (Acha6nellaspp.) S61t, Tia~vaiian (ae o) (Himantopus me~acanus knudseni) TFintsh, large Eiauai (Myariestes rnyadestinus) 'Thrush, Molokai (doma o) (My~dese~s Iar~ierLSis ruilra) 'Thrush, small T~auai (puaiohi) (1lRtes palmea~i) 7i~rtle, green sea (Chelorva mydas) 11Zrde, havrksbill sea (Tlr~etinochelys imbricata) 'hirde, leather6ack sea (®errnochelgrs ooriatea) Turtle, loggerhead sea (Caa~etta careita) 7firtle, dive (Pacific) ridley sea (Lepidochetl+s divacea) 'Ttlyde, olive (=Pacific) ridley sea (Lepidochelys divacea) 29 13:11:54 1995 ~r ' ~ `r- { v L f f ~ ~ t 4 ~s ~4 ~ ~ a .s# ~ . 4' ?~rF :v } }f iK r ~.5. c 'kr- . z C L ~i. S ~!+?.~y~H~:.i Hakalau Forest Akepa, Aldapolaau, '0'u, Hawaiian Hawk, Hawaiian Ca-eepe~- 32, 730 Hanalei NWR Hawaiian S`tilt, Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen, Hawaiian Duck 917 Huleia NWR Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen, Hawaiian Duck 241 I~akahaia NCR Hawaiian Salt, Hawaiian Coot 45 Kealia Pand NWR Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coat