HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0620.017 2002-2004
From ~ R.TRYLOR * abacus RiE services PHONE No. 808 326 9178 May. 17 2004 2~SSPM P01
May 14, 2004
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Hawai' i County Cnuncil -
25 Aupunl St. C7'~
Hilo, HI 96720 -
REe In Support of BIII 270 Hawai' i Island Land Protection fund
Dear County Council Members, ro ,
cn
I remember when the ponds at Makalawena were so clean and taken eared of
by my kupuna that you could drink the water in the pond. Today, the ponds
are neglected and undrinkable. I remember when the shoreline wes
bountiful with fleh yet we only took whet we needed for our family. Toddy,
there are hardly any. I remember when taking care of your community and
sharing with each other was part of everyday Ilfe. I do not see that today. I
remember when Aunty and Uncle, or Grandpa and Grandma would say take
care of these places, these are our burial sites. And we did. I remember
when we respected cultural sites and family properties because it was the
"natural/right thing to do". Today it seems we have become disconnected
from these things.
I am grateful to you, the Council Members, for acting on the preservation of
our lands before it is too late.
As you may already know, the results of the Hawai' i County Voter Survey
(April 2004) shows that 70°/n of the Hawai' I County voters would vote for a
charter amendment creating a community lands and open space preservation
fund. They also strongly support a charter amendment to set aside two
percent of the County's property tax revenue lv purchase land for
conservation. it Is important that we IooK toward "taking care" of our lands
for our children, their Puture, the economy, and the preservation of our
Hawaiian heritage.
I am a cultural advisor for Kuki'o in North Kona, a Hawaiian values and
agriculture teacher at Kealakehe High School, and the vice president of NC
Kula Na Mea Hawal'1(a school of things Hawallen) in Kahuku, Ka'u. I was
born and raised In North Kona. Uur family lived and worked the ahupua'a
of Makalawena, Kuk1'o, Awake'e, Kalaoa, Flo/ualoa, and Manal'ula.
In 2001, DE6DT's statistics showed, of all the tourists that visited the
Hawaiian Islands, over 20% visited the Island of Hawai' i. 48% of the
visilars were Interested and visited cultural areas. I have the opportunity to
meet and talk with many visitors and homeowners on a regular bases and
the consensus of why they picked this Island was because of the ambiance of
the land, the "layed-back style", and the beautiful scenery and history of our
Comm. No.
Ref. To; L~iO~ e
Ref. Date .~eY 1 R Anne
From R.TRYLOR * abacus RiE services PHONE No. 808 326 9178 May. 17 2004 2:56PM PO2
ploce...they call our place paradise. We would be wise to continue to capture
this kind of audience by presCrving whet we have today, and planning our
developments. I believe that slgnlFlCant sites and land areas, both mauka
and make/ should be preserved and taken cared of so we arc able to
perpetuate our Hawaiian heritage and develop economic growth which will
make our communities s®If-sustainable.
It Is most Important that we presorve Keakea/anlwahlne Complex one of the
most signiflcant areas in Kallue, Kone. Also Paklni Nui ahupua'e in Kahuku
Ka'u. Walo'ahuk/n! 1s In PaklnJ Nu! which Is a site of rich historical,
Importance and one of the most revered areas In Ka'u.
Economic growth and self-sustainability can be accomplished by partnerships
established within the science/research communities to study the ahupua' a
system In relationship to watersheds and earth systems, also by providing
culturally significant ecotours, and utilizing land for diversified agriculture to
just to name a few.
Bill 270 is a wonderful bill because It does not burden our people with
Increase taxes or fees. It simply takes a portion of the property tax revenue
and puts it In a dedicated fund that can only be used for purchase and
protecting of important lands. This bill Is necessary for our economy and the
environment and our future. For a hundred yoars from now our Children will
say "Mahalo kupuna whoever you were for thinking of us".
' O w Iho no
Cin i Ha hano Punihaole Kenned
Y
73-4310 Mama/ahoa Hwy.
Kailua, Kona, HI 96740
808.895-1010