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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0604.020 1996-1998 Testimony before the Hawaii County Council's Finance Committee relating to Resolution 309-88 by Kenneth Boche, Permaculture Designer Mr. Chair and Members, Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to hear our views on these matters. I have a nursery in Kohala and I'm very aware of the difficulties facing farmers. First, I feel that with the elections so close that all decisions about the disposition of the County's lands should be deferred until after the General election. As voters, we should require that all of the candidates take a definite position on this issue BEFORE the election. Then we can vote for those candidates who favor our positions. This is democracy. We should not have candidates hide from the issues or have lame ducks such as Mr. Ray, my councilman, make these decisions. To trade any of this land to Bishop Estate for potential park lands robs the people of Hamakua and this whole island of a resource base and the economic opportunities which we need to establish a prosperous and sustainable economy. I would like to ask Mr. Santangelo, "If these lands were in Ka'u and your constituents were clamoring for these lands to remain in public's hands, would you still support trading them to Bishop Estate?" If you wouldn't support your own constituents, you don't deserve to serve on this Council. Don't the people of Hamakua deserve the same support as the people of Ka'u? We need to envision a County Council with Dominic Yagong, Curtis Tyler, Julie Jacobson, Lanny Sinkin, Rene Siracusa, and Nancy Pissichio as its members. Is there a candidate from District 9 that supports Mr. Yagong's resolution? Who would that be? Bishop Estate has enough land in Hamakua already. Bishop Estate has proved to be a secretive, and very harsh landlord to their tenant farmers. With their land monopoly, they keep the lease terms too high for bonafide farmers. Farmers need a landlord which works with its tenants and assesses reasonable lease fees and terms. Furthermore, Kamahameha Schools uses their federal IRS 501 (c) (3) status for tax exemptions but discriminates against non-ethnic Hawaiians in their admissions policies. Discrimination teased on race is against federal law. People talk about the so-called bad business climate In Hawaii. I say that trading this land to Bishop Estate or otherwise subsidizing off-shore corporation represents corporate welfare which we cannot afford. Comm. Na. (RI',~~/.'lC~ FUe No. i L y" _ Presented . IFC Ref. To: Etef. SEP 0 1 1998 TODAY'S PROBLEMS CANNOT BE SOLVED BY YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS. Plantation monocrops are yesterday's solution. What is needed are new approaches to our modern problems. What are some of these approaches? Principles of Economic Renewal: 1) Plugging the economic leaks: Recirculate money that's already here in our economy. Stop giving subsidies to Bishop Estate and off-shore corporations. 2) Support existing businesses: The Five Mountain Medical Community is trying to expand its business network to increase Hawaii Island's profile as a World-Class Healing Center. This is a growing global market that we should support and recruit. The polluting nature of the pulp industry may effectively kill the opportunity to fully develop these kinds of enterprises. Eco-tourism is another expanding global market that is incompatible with the pulp industry. 3) Encourage new, local business: Provide public lands for lease to local farmers and entrepreneurs for the establishment of new agricultural and diverse forestry businesses. Eco-village campgrounds would tap into eco-tourism, the fastest growing segment of the tourist industry. Research into bamboo, neutriceuticals, and host of other products will be possible if our pubic lands are available for lease. 4) Recruit compatible businesses„ The pulp industry is NOT compatible tourism, with healing and wellness, with retirement communities, and it removes land which is needed for new agricultural and diverse forestry enterprises. Community-based Planning: This is a new way of deciding how the community's resources should be allocated. The local community is made an integral part of the decision-making process. This new role for the community is not just opposing unsound projects, but creating its own proposals which will help solve the community's problems. This is the strategy adopted by Councilman Dominic Yagong and his constituents here in Hamakua. Two proposals: Two nights ago, I went to a meeting of pig hunters in Kona. Hunters Island wide are worried about both declining numbers of pigs and a decrease in areas available for their subsistence hunting lifestyle. Most State Ag lands don't generally allow animals on them. These County lands have no such restriction. One use for these lands could be an integrated agroforestry system planted with various trees that would supply pigs (as well as people) with food. Once established, organic matter would be restored to depleted soils, and they would remain productive for decades, providing both food and recreation for hunters and their families. The City of Arcata, California is using some of its public lands to plant sustainable forestry projects which are showing a profits and creating beautiful parklands that are attracting visitors and encouraging them to stay longer. The profits from these publicly owned forestry projects are used to help pay the maintenance costs on their parks. Kapa'a County Park in Kohala and many others like it need these creative revenue sources to bring them up to a standard which will enhance our island both for residents and for visitors. Why give away our potential economic benefits in tax and lease subsidies that shift costs to local residents? We need to consider the broader economic Implications of this decision rather than just some alleged revenue gains from this proposed lease: Which alternative will provide for the most entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for our citizens; which will be most profitable for the County over the long term; which will improve or degrade the quality of Ilfe for the Hamakua residents. These and a host of other business opportunities and quality of Ilfe concerns need to be considered. DEMOCRACY: There are large numbers of our citizens who are distllusloned with the political process, with the special interests providing the funds needed to run politician's election campaigns, and the favors that are done by office-holders in return. They ask, "Who does our Mayor or the County Council represent?" They have come here in hopes that democracy still exists in this system, that you will do the right thing and follow their desires about how to utilize the public lands. You have the opportunity to show them that the system is not broken, that the government will follow the will of the people. Please show yourselves worthy of the trust that has been placed in you. Mr. Yagong's Resolution should be deferred until after the elections. If it is to be voted on, it should be supported. TODAY'S PROBLEMS CANNOT BE SOLVED BY YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS.1 ask you to please show yourselves worthy of the trust that has been placed In you. Please support Resolution 309 9ffi. Thank you.