HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.783 2006-2008 Murashige, Laura
From: Michele Anna Jordan [catsmilk@sonic.net]
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 5:27 AM
To: counci!testimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Preservation of Ka'u ~ , , ~ ;
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Date: 9 July 2007
To: County Council ',rr--..'
From: Michele Anna Jordan, Sebastopol, California
Re: The Future of Punalu'u
Dear Council Members:
I'm writing to go on record with my support of Resolution 169-07.
To begin, let me explain that 2 am not related to anyone in the region, nor do I own
property or have any financial interests in Ka'u or Punalu'u.
I travel to Hawaii whenever I can. I don't stay in resorts and I like to get as I can to
the natural beauty of the island and have always been struck by the exquite beauty of the
area of and around Punalu'u. My favorite times to visit are early in the morning and at
dusk. Then, I simply listen to the sea and breathe the pure air and think about how lucky
everyone is to have this special place. I became aware of the controversy over potential
development when I saw an article in the local paper last year.
It would be a tragedy to give over this piece of Hawaii for development. So much of Hawaii
has already been changed forever by condos and apartments and hotels and retail shops. To
take the same course in Punalu'u would be a tragedy of monumental proportions, with
obstructed views, destruction of sacred sites, air pollution from traffic, traffic itself
and layers of commerce that would obscure the land and its beauty.
2 have, for many years, studied hula and Hawaiian culture, a pursuit born out of a
lifelong connection to Hawaii and a love for its
beautiful traditions. So many of the dances I have learned are -
about beautiful places that are now lost. Must everything be
remembered only in loss? It seems that you have a unique opportunity today, to save one
of the most beautiful places not just in Hawaii but in the entire world from such a fate.
There is increasing concern here on the Mainland about the fate of Punalu'u. We are paying
attention and will continue to do so until Punalu'u is preserved forever. Please, let
your legacy be the preservation of this land. Let people look back on your tenure with
gratitude and say to their children and grandchildren, "This beautiful land is here for
you because a few people did the right thing when it most mattered."
respectfully and with aloha,
Michele Anna Jordan
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