HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.173 2006-2008 Rr- /Zcs. 169-07
Mahalo to the Finance Committee for coming to Ka u to hear testimony. My testimony is from a Kau residena
with a long track record of community service, incVuding starting and managing a Farmers Market Internet cafe
and garden of native Hawaiian plants, five years as volunteer fireman. etc.
{ ask the Committee to oppose this Resolution and believe that this opinion is in line with that ofthc majurny of
Ka a residents. "[here are several reasons for this opinion:
L Financial. "1'he County can acquire Punalu'u Beach Park [or fi~ee from Sea Mountain 5. [t will be very autl~
to acquire the large acr'cage proposed, and the cost of fixing the infrastructure is unknown. Since Punalu'u i,5
already developed and there must he a fear of lawsuits, the CounciPs acquisition $ would be better spent nn
some other section of Ka u's 80 miles or so of untouched coastline.
2. Lawsuit potential: The proposal to buy a part of the property will make negotiations with the present uwncn
difficult. They will need to be compensated for the loss of value of the part of their property that the Resolution
M
is not seeking. Sca Mountain Five will need to be compensated for their expenditures to date. Colony nne and
private landowners at Punalu'u have not been consulted on the purchase of land around them and have:
expressed concerns about violations of Ilawaii statutes.
3. Loss of jobs: No employer has come to Ka'u to replace the sugar plantation that closed in 1996. A resort_
though not an ideal employer, would provide around 300 jobs. Currently, some residents rise at 3 am to take the
l Ieleou bus to the Kona resorts, and many more commute by car. The Council should consider it a top priority
to give these commuters a better life!
4. Management Concerns: Councilman Jacobson proposes to give management of the CuimciPs Punalu u
property to Ka u Preservation, a group with no track record of environmental management or other relevant
experience. Councilman Jacobson's cosy relationship with Ka u Preservation worries the average Ka'u residers
It would he difficult f<x any group relying on volunteers and grants to survive a future economic duwnturu.
Consider the example of Ile Kula na Mea Ifuwuii, a y'oup based on a successful halau and with many years'
experience oC running the }luiafest in Waiohinu. This group suddenly folded in 2003.
S. Sca Mountain Five appear to be a group with demonstrated concern for the environment and the cormunity
'they can be expected to be much better environmental managers of Punalu'u than Ka a Preservation based un
experience and commitment. 'they have promised a Community Benetit Package that includes funds For
hospitals and schoo{s in Ka u, a{so a Hawaiian CuhuraV Center 1 believe that Sea Mountain Five can be masted
t~~ preserve and nurture Punalu~u and its wildlife. Please note a tendency to demean Sca Mountain Five as
°devclupcrs" but Ka a Preservation is also seeking the role of developer on the site.
iN SUMMARY, [submit that Ka'u's first need is (i~r economic help in the form of a major employer.
(iovernmcnts are supposed to encourage employers in economically distressed areas but Ka'u has been
neglected by County, State and Federal branches. Students graduating have little choice but to leave t(~re di~,u~ict
urjoin the commuters. If the County plans notjust to neglect Ka'u as in the past but to actively intervene to
defer a serious employer, they should he close to a deal with some alternative employer who can bring 100 j~.~hs
Otherwise committee members should vote against the resolution.
Ucnnis Elwell
June 1 2007
ca„t,,, r~. 3y~.
Ref. To•
Ref. Dote ~,~~~tt(t1