HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.072 2006-2008
05ia1/2001 08:25 FAS 50a 2J8 7501 RIVER PARK CTR E_T,EC STES ft]O)L
Law Office of Peter Ban~ay, Jr.
"Ilplun ~ e.u u eu~u~uoe
205 SE Spolc:u: F 1~~ t. , £ te3:1
Portland, {_Ira~g~a S~72U.;
Phone: C>0. j.::.:4• s;92~1
Pax: I'.%(l:)~;':~8 7501.
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Facsimile
TO: Hawaii County Council
FAX # : (808) 961-8912
F1tOM: Peter Bangay, Jr.
llATE: May 3 I , 2007
SUBJECT: Testimony for June 4, 2007 Public Hearing / Resohi(i ,>r '1 ti 9-U 1
PAGES: 2 (including cover page)
COMMENTS: Attached is my testimony for your consideration ire rp: n rd of
Resolution. 169-07, "Keolalani Hanoa Resolution" .
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CONFIDEN`IIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this facsimile to cval_,,iun is
privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee Ibis,°. a;l.4p,?li
cover sheet. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are helya~ i ~~~tified
that any dissemination, distribution or condrng of this telefacsimile is prohibited. _7;F: ~ ~~u Y.~me;
received this fax message in error please imrnediately notify us b~telephone at thg; r ip;n der listed
on this cover sheet.
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Ref. To:
Ref. Date .fUN 4 20Q7
OS/al/2007 08:25 FAX 500 298 i501 RIVER PARR CTR EXEC STES GiJO)
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni St., Suite 209 i:':u~ ~i~`~' 7 r
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
My siblings and I grew up at Punalu'u acid were raised iricttre lifestyle of my '~ci c na 7.1,
harvesting food from the moans and the sins and practicing many native Hawaiisa:; c. a Lh..r rl
traditions.
I was taught by my kupuna to respect our fishing grounds and sacred burial s l: s c ~t
Punalu'u, and to malama our cultural practices so that I could then teach my keiki. rlce ssa~e
values and traditions. The respect for nature and the sins instilled in me by my k7~q,r~ na aad
ohana helped shaped me into the person I am today-one who understands that I h av~ ~ n ox 3i
obligation to act responsibly and to be a good steward of our natural resources aria a .a: eta.lpar of
the land.
As a habitat for a multitude of animal and plant life, punalu'u is not only a s.a 'u h eve t fbr
the many different species-it is where life begins and is sustained. I can recall as .a y ru: nf;
swimming along side the honu' ea. These occasions were not very common. Nor~r ~ Prue a5
years later, l am encouraged to see more honu' ea than ever before; ostensibly be,re. ~ se: c f
protection afforded to them and to their natural habitat in recent years.
I envision proposed development, as seen on Oahu and in Kona, adversel.; a'' e:c ti rcE; :tie
fragile eco-system of Punalu'u and its adjacent areas unless we, at the very least, i~rr ; a::~ ti e xhat is
currently the status quo. We have all heard the opinions of the many environmecula. a p 2fl s ash
paint a grim picture of the irreversible damage that would befall the eco-system c:~l'' I l c: ;c r:i x;
ahupua'a of Punalu'u if the area is developed with condominiums, hotels, and otl;f:r reseal
structures. The increased influx of human traffic into Punalu'u created by such d~ c 1~;; p Wont
would inevitably impact not only the eco-system, but would also eliminate oppo:°'~. c iti. fux ]::r:
oiwi to continue in the cultural practices and traditions of our ancestors.
It is lny hope that my own children will have the same opportunities I had t;r c:~ri n; up to
experience alt that Punalu'u has given me. Development at Punalu'u and the ahrq;; ca',e ~f
Punalu'u would all but eliminate these opportunities for my ohana and other area r u.ic ena:..
Along with my ohana, I urge the Ilawai'i County Council to pass the "Ke:~lac:l. ul :a':ar..oa
Resolution" so that the first step towards purchasing the entire ahupua'a of Pm,r.C.u ~ c c: a ~ 1~;
accomplished.
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Peter Bangay, Jr., Esq.
Punalu'u Property Owner