HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0493.034 2000-2002 P.O. Box 565
Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
20 June 2002
'2ECti'vfu
James Arakaki, Chairman .
Hawaii County Council ~y..___.r_-
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25 Aupuni Street County Council ~ = r"'
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: The Hawaii County General Plan
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Council Members:
Aloha! Hawaii County Planning Department's proposed Hawaii County General Plan is a necessary
guide for the next decade. Protection of local values & lifestyles has suffered immensely. Destruction of natural
resources ~i mistreatment of burials has occurred innumerable times. Case in point:
1250 Oceanside Partners, the developer of Hokulia is an obvious illustration of cultural genocide.
Enormous profit spurs' mishandling & damaging of human remains. Continued desecration of I-Iawaiian
remains has continued despite Court order to re bury the remains. In fact, the bones were left in paper bags in a
shipping container for months.
Moreover, destruction of the `stepping stone trail' used by Hawaiians before Captain Crook arrived in
1778 (for a Golf Course) & destroying prime agricultural land for luxury residential mansions is an affront to
Hawaiians & many who cherish Hawaii. Lastly, tons of mud which polluted the pristine waters of Kealakekua.
Hawaii County passed 7 new ordinances, 4 special permits ~c a lengthy development agreement to
accommodate Hokulia-luxury home sites on prime agriculture land. The County isn't supposed to enter into
agreements with developers... it should be protecting the resources.
Furthermore, The Honolulu Advertiser (4/6/02 pB 1) reported in an article entitled "h'vna luxury project
illegal" that Judge Ronald Ibarra stated, "The counties must take before-the-fact measures to ensure
preservation of prime agricultural land, and when investigation shows that a proposed subdivision in an
agricultural district will in all likelihood not be used for agricultural purposes and may be an attempted
circumvention of the land use district amendment procedures and controls.., the county should disapprove the
subdivision".
Irreparable damage has occurred far too long. It is time to put on the brakes, put a moratorium on further
development until infrastructure catches up with approved subdivisions, the 52 golf courses & the urban sprawl
which is the root of bumper-to-bumper traffic that plagues this island!
Quality-of--life, for the native people of the 'aina & for those who love Moku O Keawe, rather than
profits for developers-Which results in traffic congestion, urban sprawl, sweltering heat, dependency on air-
conditioning and the epidemic of substance abuse on this island with the skyrocketing statistics of child abuse &
domestic violence.
Kealakekua Bay. Keupuka, Honaunau, Koloko-I-lonokohau, Kahuku Beach (Ka'u) &Kohanaiki must
have protection. Additionally, please support Mayor Kim & Planning Director Chris Yuen's proposed
amendment, Bill #163 to place the shoreline at Kohanaiki into `Open Space' ciesignation.
Ki'ilae Village & adjacent land also warrants conservation & protection from luxury estates.
Preservation of sacred fiawaiian religiousness, cultural and burial sites, along with shoreline protection
are all essential. Value is immeasurable to future generations-the continuum of 'being Hawaiian' the roots
which sustain & assure the flourishing of Kanaka Maoli in their homeland.
I have been blessed to live in Hawaii nei for nearly 30 years. The desecration & plunder of the 'aina
breaks my heart. As a grandmother, I implore this body to adopt measures to assure that this island retains &
spares the natural resources to benefit future generations.
Mahalo plenty, for your attention to this most important matter-protectionyp~~&,, guardianship otwai' i.
«s?~xpYi.
Sincerely with a,
; E3onnit Bak®r aid 'Ghana
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