HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0363.019 1996-1998
7/22/97
To Committee on Human Services and Economic Development
John Ray (Chair)
Dominic Yagong (Vice Chair) RECEIVED
Aaron Chung Tlme°---------°----- By._------------.
Bobby Jean Leihead-Todd Date________________________-_
John Sant9gelo County Council
Curtis Tyler
AI Smith
I oppose the Oji Lease for the following reasons:
- Will Oji be a good neighbor? No, they have not shown any reason why they intend to be. Have they
ever visited with the residents in Hamakua to tell us what they plan to do and how it will help our
community? No, and do they have plans to? No
- Why hasn't Oji come into our schools to offer scholarships and training to our youth to become
Foresters?
- What kind of job training has Oji planned to put our displaced sugaz cane workers into the working
world again?
- And how many of our displaced sugar cane workers will they put to work?
- Are there any guarantees in the lease to provide jobs?
- Is a monocrop plantation a good idea? No, a monocrop of anything is a bad idea.
- Who is Oji accountable to? Only it's shareholders as faz as the big picture.
- Do you think the shareholders care about the Hawaiian Environment? No, the shazeholders only care
about making money.
- Does Oji plan on coming before the Committee on Haman Services and Economic Development
before you vote on the Lease? If they do not, how can a vote even be taken on this very important
issue? -
- Do County elected officials and or State for that matter really want to give Hawaiian land to a foreign
Corporation for 55 years?
- Why not give the residents of Hawaii a chance to have the same opportunity as we are giving to a
foreign Corporation? Land at $10 per acre for the 1" year and $40 an acre aRer that would be a
tremendous opportunity for displaced sugar cane workers and any other resident to at least feed his or
her own family for life. But it can be much Beater than just that. Can you imagine the Diverse
Agro/Forestry that could take place on these lands.
Please before you take a vote consider these issues as well as all the other issues given in today's hearing as
well as all other testimony put before you.
I feel confident that if you vote with your heart you will be able to take pride with your decision and your
children and gandchildren and all the citizens of Hawaii will be able to appreciate these limited precious
land resources that we have and the vision for these lands for the next 55 years and beyond.
Please give the citizens of Hawaii the same opportunity to bid for these lands as you have given to Oji.
Sincerely, /
Douglas G. Andrews
Box 1286
Honokaa, H196727 3~3 `Ot
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