HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0687.024 1996-1998
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Ku Kahakalau, 10:25 AM 2/17/98, lnclusion of Waipi'o Valley 1 ~
ISate: 'True, 17 Feb 1998 10:25:47 -100 (H$TT
From: Ku Kahakalau <kkahakal@makani.kl2.hi.us>
X-Sender: kkahakal@makani f
To: hiclerk@interpac.net
Subject: Inclusion of Waipi'o Valley Lookout -in places-protected from
peddling ~ ' '
ATTN: James Arakaki, Chairman, Hawaii ~P,~~ty Council ,
and all Council Members
RE: Resolution to stop peddling along the Old Honoka'a-Waipi'o Road
Aloha mai kakou
We, Nalei, Ku, 'I'inimaikalani and Polanimakamae Kahakalau,
residents of Kukuihaele herewith strongly support the ordinance
amending
Chapter 22 of the Hawaii County Code, Article 1, Division 7, Section
22-31
to include in restricted areas, the old Honoka'a-Waipi'o Road, from
its
Northern end of State Highway (FAS240) on the Waipi'o Valley side of
Kukuihaele Village to the Waipi'o Valley Lookout.
As residents living along the aforementioned stretch of road,
and
subsistence taro farmers in Waipi'o, frequently utilizing Waipi'o
Valley
county road, we feel it is imperative that commercial activities at
the
lookout and along the road be banned for the following reasons:
First and
foremost is our concern for safety. Presently this small stretch of
road,
as you approach the lookout is frequently very congested, especially
on weekends and holidays. There are tourists in rent-a-cars
completely
unfamiliar with the area and therefore unaware that there is traffic
in
and out of Waipi'o, huge tour busses who need to turn around or back
up in
this very small area, taro farmers with heavy loads of taro coming
out of
Waipi'o, Waipi'o tour operators waiting for their next clients and
local
residents enjoying the view. We have
personally driven up from Waipi'o Valley and found no way to enter
the top
because the road was temporarily blocked by traffic and witnessed
several
close calls, where it was a miracle that no accident occurred.
Our second concern deals with preserving the natural and cultural
heritage of
Kukuihaele and Waipi'o, two culturally significant wahi pana or
sacred
places. Presently the beauty and true value of this area lies inp its
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ref ~Precen4ed Counic ~ L
lEr,(. 7~e_ DEB .1.~..~Jd~=~--,
Ku Kahakalau, 10:25 AM 2/17/98, Inclusion of Waipi'o Valley 2
rural cHaracter, something-that is threatened once commercialization
takes place. The major concern here
is not one individual peddling his goods, but the fact that until
restrictions are imposed other vendors will soon follow and our area
will look like some of the
once beautiful places on Oahu now overrun with peddlers. No one in
the
Kukuihaele community will directly benefit from these vendors,
however,
many of us will feel the negative effects of their activities.
While many of our neighbors share our concerns, only a few have
chosen to speak up in regards to this issue, primarily because of the
fact
that as Hawaiians and as local people born and raised in Hawaii,
we are taught to avoid confrontation at all costs. As
affiliation-oriented people living in a small rural community, these
neighbors do not want to make waves or cause hardship to the person
presently peddling his goods at the lookout. However, personal
conversations
with many of them verify that they are concerned about the impact
unrestricted
commercialization will have on our precious neighborhood.
For the above reasons, we feel that it is imperative that the
Old
Honoka'a-Waipi 'o Road, from its Northern End of State Highway (FAS
240)
on the Waipi'o Valley side of Kukuihaele to the Waipi'o Valley
Lookout be
included in the places protected from peddling in Ordinance Chapter
22,
Article 1, Division 7, Section 22-31. By not allowing commercial
activities within this area, we the residents of this area along with
our
children and those that come to visit, will be able to enjoy the
unspoiled
beauty of Kukuihaele and Waipi'o Valley lookout, much like out
ancestors
did for many generations. Mahalo for your kokua. Ua mau ke ea o ka
'aina
i ka pono Ka 'ohana o Kahakalau
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