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e - <br /> Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, Chairwoman June 27, 2002 <br /> Committee on Planning <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> 25 Aupuni Street K~~t;~~`~ , <br /> Hilo, Hawai' i 96720 v._.^_ - , <br /> f-.,_----- <br /> t <br /> Re: The proposed new Hawaii County General Plan C'.rx~onry r->,- <br /> Dear Chairwoman Leithead-Todd and Council Members: <br /> Alohal The new Hawaii County General Plan, which outlines development for the next 10 years on this island, <br /> is protecting of some of the remaining shoreline. However, my deep concern is that the 2002 Hawaii General <br /> Plan preserves and safeguards the coastline along the shoreline, fronting Kapoho-Kalapana Highway. <br /> A car O International Corporation, owned by Keiichi Asaoka, with lead executive representative, Senator David <br /> M. Matsuura intends to develop 494-acres above the Coastline. The proposed. Oneloa Onsen and Sports Retreat <br /> will impact the coastal waters. The drilling into the porous fragile ground to tap into the thermal heating to fizel <br /> their proposed `onsen (hot bath} ponds' will negatively impact the waters of sacred Ahalanui, (a new County <br /> Beach Park). Likewise the anchialine ponds along the shore will suffer irreparable impact as well. <br /> The 18-hole golf course, 40-unit lodge, 30-unit beach club (detached unit accommodations), 125-unit chalets, <br /> restaurant &i retail complex, numerous onsen, and additional developments are n®t compatible with the land <br /> being designated `important agricultue' and `extensive agriculture', as stated in the Land Use Pattern Allocation <br /> Guide (LUPAG) map. This appears to be a circumvention of land use. The proposed 2002 Hawaii County <br /> General Plan must keep these LIJPAG map recommendations of this land. <br /> Furthermore, The Environmental Notice published by the state Office of Envirorrrreental Quality Control, 5/8/98, <br /> p 14, in the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notices (EISPN) section., regarding the. proposed <br /> Oneloa Onsen & Sports Retreat, stated: <br /> "The mitigation measures will be memorialized in a development agreement. The project requires a General <br /> Plan amendment, State Land Use Boundary amendment, and Change of Zone for the proposed 1 ~-acre <br /> commercial area and beachclub". Instead, A & O International Corporation has applied for a Special permit for <br /> <br /> the entire project, this must be denied. As it is a circumvention of land use. <br /> As a representative of the people, Senator Matsuura has a financial stake in this massive development; this is <br /> fundamental `conflict of interest'. This is not Pono (right). The natural resources beauty must be protected, not <br /> <br /> rubberstamped. You must preserve natural resources for the community and the future generations. I implore <br /> <br /> this body to implement conservation of this area. Please do not allow desecration and destruction of one of the <br /> last Open Spaces in one of the few accessible shorelines along the Puna coast. <br /> <br /> Mahalo for your wisdom in preservation of the natural environment for the residents and for those captivated by <br /> <br /> the beauty, the prime fisheries and those that love the remnant of `old style' Hawaii. Urbanization would prove <br /> devastating to one of the last Hawaiian places. This area as also Visitor Industry material, w.h:y-killa(~~~oose <br /> <br /> that laid the golden egg`? b y , <br /> Please, le1® special permits or development agreements to accommodate A & O International <br /> Corporation. Keep Pohoiki for the people/children/grandchildren. The County should protest that:'wh_ i~h <br /> <br /> sustains the community physically, mentally and spiritually. <br /> Mahalo. <br /> (dote: 12~ siriilar lettern «ere recei-ved. <br /> l~~on file in the Gffice of the C,ount5 (;lark) <br /> /?I ~ - ~ , <br /> _ _ _ <br /> <br />