HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0493.073 2000-2002
TO: Chairperson Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd
Hawaii Island County Council
From: K. Angel Pilago
Kona Resident
Subj: Testimony in support of General Plan Amendments _ _ gy
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Date: June 19, 200 ~e.__.._._~._~ ~r
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Aloha and good evening to the County Council, to the friends and families of
Kona,.. and honor and respects to our Kupuna and Kumu `Ao; Our Elders and Mentors.
My name is K. Angel Pilago. A resident of Kona, and I testify to urge you to
approve the General Plan Revisions and Amendments. Doing so will enable the
Community and the County Administration to move forward and work together in
reasonable, practical, and responsible fashion to improve the quality of life for all
citizens of this island.
I am Chairperson of the Kohanaiki Ohana, a community-based advocacy group. I
also sit on the Boards of various organizations and commissions. As Vice-Chair of
KAHEA we were signatories with President Clinton in receiving the Northwest Hawaiian
Islands into Reserve status. On Hui Ho'oniho we are practitioners of traditional stone
masonry and traditional burial and interment protocol. Pa Ku'i a Lua is an academy of
Hawaiian martial arts, my expertise in the Pa is Tactics and Strategy.
I am a crewmember and watch-captain of the voyaging canoes Hokule'a and
Hawaii Loa. Councilor to the Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council.
Commissioner to Department of Interior, National Park service; But,
I am most proud of being a decendent of Kekuhaupio, the warrior-priest who was
councilor and martial arts instructor to Kamehameha nui Paie'a, Kamehameha the
Unifier. From ancient times to now, our family has always worked to make Hawaii a
better place to live.
A couple days ago I had a chuckle when I heard that the wrestling star...The
Rock...was going to do a movie about Kamehameha. But soon those giggles turned
serious when I realized that "The Rock" was right. We should all honor and respect our
history,...and our values...and our future.
Soon after, I revisited the General Plan and found in the Historic sites section the
quote, "THE HERITAGE OF A COMMUNITY.... IS DOCUMENTED BY ITS
HISTORY.... THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF SUCH DOCUMENTATION... IS
CONTAINED IN THE ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SITES THAT SUPPORT
THE TRADITIONAL LEGACY....
....THE IDENTITY OF A COMMUNITY EVOLVES FROM ITS PAST.... AND THE
RECORD OF THAT PAST....IT PUTS US IN A BETTER POSTION TO JUDGE AND
UNDERSTAND OUR CONTEMPORARY VALUES,...OUR PROGRESS, AND OUR
LIFESTYLES...."
Cornet. IV®.
File Igo.
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Ref. [~te...,,...._~ Z
Policies for the County in the General Plan include:...Protection of Hawaiian Rights under
Judicial decisions; and, to recognize the importance of natural features in Hawaiian Culture by
incorporating the concept of Cultural Landscapes in Land Use Planning. The historical legacy
of this island, and of this land,.. is not,..IS NOT, exclusive to indigenous Hawaiians;
It is the shared cultural and intellectual property of all citizens who live in Hawaii, and chose to
call her home.
You, the County Council ,..are in a unique position to make this shared community
whole. To help us understand this shared vision we need only to look at the natural resources
we all share;.. Those things are: THE SUN.... THE AIR.... THE WATERS.... AND THE
NATURAL...OPEN SPACES...
THESE THINGS IN THE PUBLIC TRUST.... BY COMMON USAGE... FOR THE COMMON
GOOD....
These gifts are from God to assure peace and security,...they supercede profit,...give morals
and ethics to politics,.. and it creates and communicates security and well-being for all.
Public law 92-583, the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, pledges Federal support
to states to manage their coastal zones. In 1975 the Hawaii State Legislature established the
Shoreline Protection Act clarifying the Special Management Area. In 1997 that legislation
evolved into the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Law.
From 1991 to 1995 Pash,..myself,..and the community, litigated all the way through to
the Supreme Court;.. and, finally won a decision in the peoples' favor.
Significant aspects of the case were based on the CZM and the SMA. Yet, even though
the decision had profoundly positive applications for Land Use Planning in Hawaii,..we suffered
a downside....The County found itself at odds with its communities and its constituents. Years
of catering to special interests maneuvered the County against its own people.
THIS COUNTY COUNCIL.... IS THE ELEMENT THAT'S NEEDED.... TO BRING
THESE TWO FACTORS,....THESE TWO PARTS OF ONE FAMILY,.. INTO BALANCE....
WE ARE HERE.... TO HO'OPONOPONO WITH YOU.... TO CORRECT... AN INCORRECT
SITUATION....
Your approval of the General Plan revisions will enable us to rise above the quagmire
we're caught in and move forward together as a reasonable and practical society.
THE COMMUNITY IS DELIGENT.... AND SUCCESSFUL.... WE CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE.... FOR AN OPEN SPACE PARK.....WITH AMULTI-CULTURAL CENTER....
WE PLEDGE TO WORK LONG.... AND HARD....TO HAVE KOHANAIKI OWNED BY THE
COUNTY.... FOR PEOPLE OF HAWAII.... IN PERPETUITY...
We feel this investment in mutual trust, that empowers the people of Hawaii, is the
highest and best use of our natural resources.
IN TERMS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT....THIS NEW
METHODOLOGY WILL GENERATE A BIGGER RETURN....THAN PREVIOUS MODELS OF
CORPORATE DEPENDENCY....
In summary,.. many citizens, here and on other islands, see the present General Plan
amendments as an important tool to foster appropriate Land Use Planning,.. and conscientious
citizen participation.
We urge you to approve the revisions, and facilitate bringing together the County
Administration and Communities, so we all can create a better Hawaii for ourselves and our
children.
As an after-thought,...) often wonder why all the islands are collectively called Hawaii...Why
not Oahu?...or Kauai?... or Maui?.. I like to believe that we here are special. That we have
and innovativeness that help us create,.. and an assertiveness that helps us lead and follow-
through.
YOU ARE IN THAT POSTION OF INNOVATION AND ASSERTIVENESS....
Mahalo from myself,.. and from my family,.. for the opportunity to share our mana'o... our
thoughts and feelings with you.
Respectfully,...Ka'apikapika Angel Pilago and Ohana.
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