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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0258.010 1996-1998 ~~5~ DISz¢~g~.,>c . c A-~~ ~n ~ ,M gc-2s ®r- 7rtc- ~ o~tictc~ Dear Governor Cayetano: 6/13/97 As you tray lutow, the state az~d county plan to lease about 10,000 acres of ]and on the Hamakua Coast to Oji paper, They p4tn to plant a short rotation eucalyptus plantation to be ground up for wood chips. These will be shipped to Japan to make paper. Other than a few jobs, and b40 an acre rent, this will not benefit the people of Hawaii. Since this is publicly owned ]and, 1 think you will agree that it should be put to a use that will be of maximum benefit to the citizens of this state, Many people have shown interest in leasing or otherwise using this land. Growing food for local consumption is one option. For a state that imports about 90% of its food, this rnalces sense. Attotlier possibility is to grow high value hardwoads. A steady supply of high quality lumber could support a wood crafts and fiurtiture industry that could provide hundreds of jobs azui also keep the profits here, Yet another use for some of this land would be to re-establish a strip of native forest. fram the shore to the existing forest. This would become a habitat for many endangered plants that require lower elevation forests. It Hugh[ also help our rare farest birds. And, it would be an eco-tourist attraction, to have a native rain forest that was readily accessible, I urge you to require the DLNR to hold public hearings on the Big Island, to give the public a chance to have input as to how this land will be used. It is our land, and we must decide how it is to be used. Growing wood chips will only enrich a foreign firm and perhaps a few politicians here, but it will not feed us or give us meaningful jobs. Nor will it make our island a better place to Gve on or visit. I request that you give this your earliest attemion. Thank yott. Sincerely. David A. Caccia P.O.Box 1788 Honokaa, HI 96727 cc: Senatorinouye Senator Akaka Rep. Ivlink Rep. Abercrombie Senator Levin Senator Solomon ~ ~ ~ -7 ~ v ~ s Rep. Takamine Rep. Tarnas iii%; L I ~ L~i(10~ Mayor Xamashiro n O County Council )Ka j'-' H7L 2/0. R'E ' i~[.4+N l,.e. n.ra_•Jt1H 17.1991 td wdge:et L55i ~t 'unr szot 9z~ s~©e 'oN 3r~oHd d~~~c~ wca~