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March 26, 2001 Mayor Harry Kim Chris Yuen, Planning Director Norman Hayashi, County Planner Members of the County Council. Senator Lorraine Inouye - Representative Dwight Takamine ' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, f:: ~ 'The following North Kohala community associations, Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club, Kohala ' 1~ i Filipino Club, Kohala Puerto Rican Club, and the Kohala Historic and Cultural Preservation Group, would like to take this opportunity to express our concerns regarding the update of the Hawau County General Plan. We are very concerned about the future land use in Kohala and want to make sure that the County hears our voice. We want the County to protect our valuable agYicultural .land and lifestyle, recognize and protect our historical resources and sites, preserve our access to our coastline and mountains, and protect Kohala from encroaching and inappropriate development. l) We have reviewed the proposed revisions to the Hawaii General Plan, and want to see our suggestions included in the final updated Plan. We want stronger and more specific language in the Plan that addresses our concerns more clearly than the preliminary drafts. Our suggestions are included as Attachment A. 2) We want to remind you that in 19118 the Hawaii Senate passed Resolution S.C.R. No. 179 "Urging the Retention of View and Open Space makai of Kawaihae-Mahukona-Hawi Road from Kawaihae to Upolu Point, Hawaii" which resolved that the State and County governments work in close collaboration to discourage subdivision and building development makai of the Kawailtae-Mahukona-Hawi Road. This was also passed by the House. It is an important precedent to recall and respect regarding the protection of the Kohala coastline. The Planning Committee of the Hawaii County Council passed a resolution (June 14, 1959) calling for preservation of the North Kohala coastline. See Attachment B. Obviously the County and State have overlooked this in allowing development to occur north of Kawaihae on the makai side of flee road, i.e. the subdivision across from Kohala by the Sea We do not want to see this trend continue! 3) We also want to see the puus in North Kohala preserved. We are aware that a study was done which proposed the reclassification for the Puus in North Kohala from the Agricultural District to the Conservation District. The Puus meet the criteria for Conservation Districts contained in Section 205-2(e) of the Hawaii Revised Statues. The proposed reclassification would impact favorably the areas of statewide concern set forth under Section 205-17, HRS, Preservation or Maintenance of Important Natural Systems or Habitats, and Maintenance of valued Cultural, Historical, or Natural Resources. See Attachment C. 4) We recognize the fragile ecological nature of Pololu Valley and request that the County protect it, and that it be removed from commercial activity. Our community voiced its concern about this at the Na Ala Hele meeting on January 11, 2001. We support Na Ala file 3~Tss. l~l. ~o: