HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.175 2006-2008 Members of the Council. Thank you for once again coming to Ka'u. My name is
Sterling Robbins and I live in Ka'u. I support resolution 169-07 because I believe it is a
step towards ensuring that for generations to come the Ka'u heritage will be agricultural,
with affordable housing and preservation of the unreplaceable and spectacular Ka'u
coastline.
There are jobs in agriculture in Ka'u but in order to fill them labor is being
brought in from poorer countries, countries as far away as Thailand. The problem is not
lack of jobs, the problem is the race to the bottom for workers. Let us work to reverse
this trend and support efforts to improve the wages and working conditions of jobs
available in Ka'u right now.
If 169-07 is passed, Ka'u Preservation's plan for a living classroom will create
more jobs for those in Ka'u. And not just jobs but also training in skills and professional
careers. Such training is badly needed and sorely lacking in Ka'u. Waiakea and
Honoka'a High Schools receive money for botrobotics, Ka'u receives none. This needs
to change.
Ka'u Preservation has shown they have the organization and commitment to
make the living classroom a reality. They have a core of dedicated members who have
put in countless hours for years to make Keola Hanoa's dream a reality. They have an
active volunteer base as demonstrated by the month long study of the uses of Punalu'u
and the recent mailing of over 6,700 stamped brochures. And they have the experience
of Ka' Ohana O Honu'apo to draw on. .
1 also want Ka'u to remain an area where working people can afford to
live. The gentrification of Kona has resulted in people from Ka'u commuting to jobs in
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Kona because they cannot afford housing near their jobs. Gentrification is simply a polite
word for those with more money displacing those with less money. According to the
developers of the Sea Mountain project, this is exactly what will happen to Ka'u if their
project goes through. Guaranteed its what would happen. Surely there are better things to
do with our time and money than helping mainland maiahini take over Ka'u.
in summary, in addition to keeping Ka'u agricultural and affordable while
providing more training in high end skills, I would like to see the entire Ka'u coast
preserved and, where possible, restored. 169-07 is a move towards the regeneration of a
native Hawaiian landscape, not a money making scheme which tears a hole in the heart
and soul of that landscape. Conservation and restoration of the deeply damaged
indigenous web of life are worthy ends in and of themselves while also generating jobs
and providing the base for one of the fastest growing industries-eco-tourism.
169-07 is a rare opportunity and I urge you to not let it slip away. Passing this
resolution will help save Punalu'u, help keep Ka'u affordable, take another step towards
preserving a unique and strikingly beautiful coastline in Hawaii and create jobs. Thank
you.
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