HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0258.035 1996-1998 Honoka'a HighSchool ~ '$6/15/4 ; 11'06 PM ' 112
JSH TO Dominic Yagong, C anty Council
FAX: 9-9693291
1 FROM Honoka'a HighSchool
PAGES (INCLUDING THIS COVER): 2
Dominic, please copy and distribute to your fellow
councilpeople and the mayor and use for any other of your
purposes-state etc Mahalo for your stand. D Jablonski
V'lednesday. June 15. 1904
~n
V ;
' N
L _
_
- U
Ooo?ca. Dia ~~lt•~
R.af. To:
t. I).+aP...._.AU~t .2_7...1997:..,
Honoka'a HlghSohool 2 X1511514^, 11'06 PM _ 2/2
To the Members of the County Councl
August 20, 1997
I support Dominic Yagong and I would like to urge the County Council to vote
down the mayor"s Oji Paper proposal. Rather, the Council should consider a "wait and
see" approach in their decision to lease county lands to Oji Paper. We have the
benefit, so to speak, of a precursor, in the form of Hamakua Timber, which has already
begun planting its proposed 24,000 acres of eucalyptus trees Let's wait and see what
kind of impact this operation has on our community and its infrastructure before we
create more unknown situations- Trees are excellent neighbors-until the harvesting is
done Then, saws will be blazing, and trucks will be hauling through our community
and on to Kawaihae Harbor. As anyone who has been stuck behind a fuel truck can
attest, following a truck extends travel time. Will the protected income from the Oji deal
be used for widening the highway, or creating safer road conditions on the Hamakua
Coasts It so, does the net profit from the lease still look attractive? If not, does this
mean an increased tax burden on county and state residents to pay the costs of road
vdidening7
Let's take the time to study our alternatives and review the true costs- the
financial, social and environmental costs Perhaps money would be well spent in a
processing plant, to keep the traffic off the roads Don't we use wood products on this
islands Eucalyptus trees have a wide vanety of uses, from fence posts to furniture. It's
wise to examine the options in this newcomer indushy Regarding agricultural
alternatives, it's disgraceful that we have to import so many inferior quality fruits and
vegetables Yet the political climate is not creating the economic incentives needed
Instead, we get temporary solutions (like grants) and plenty of verbal encouragement.
My understanding is that there are more people that want to try farming (in the Ag Co-
op)than there is available land. Of course they need expert support (as we do for
growing trees) and water to farm. Perhaps digging wells and creating reservoirs is
cheaper than maintaining the Hamakua ditch
The Oti Paper proposal might be more attractive if Bishop Estate had not
already leased to a timber company. Hamakua Timber will probably begin harvesting
their trees in the year 2003 or 2004. As time goes on we can make a better decision,
after we see the impacts on our lives. If the community benefits, I would imagine Oji or
some other company would still be interested in our timber for paper or pulp As the
world's tunber supplies continue to dwindle there will be interested parties.
Maybe, by studying the situation we will find we can make more income (higher
value crops) by leasing less land, and use other available land for soccer fields, or
educational wilderness or health gardens or luau facilities. Let's diversify or at least
"wait and see"
Sincerely,
Dennis Jablonski
Teacher-Honoka'a High School