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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0349.876 2006-2008 KANU O KA'AINA LEARNING'OHANA Natives of the Land from Generations Back rre,~«e~,t x,r ,cr.ltalc„i«,~ r>ir rz Aloha. My name is Dr. Ku Kahakalau and I am testifying in strong opposition to the proposed Punalu'u development. v,~e ~~G~~;ae~,t r~„~, qtr itirs~ Over the past years, many concerned residents like myself have z"a"°r`'T testified against this development detailing our concerns about protecting the natural habitat for endangered species like the se~r~'~ry Hawksbill Sea Tuttle, the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the Hawaiian ~~~,~r<~ ~:~~~~,,.i< Hoary Bat. We have also shared our fears for the many sacred and r=u5t~~e well-preserved historical sites and burial compleXes and the need to i'°'~i'°'° a"U`~"`°" preserve the only beach in Ka'u easily accessible to the genera ~rrti~5tee public. Gutl K,rnltrku4ui Ph.P. My testimony today focuses on economic development - or rather the lack thereof if this development is approved. For decades rural Hawaiian communities like Ka'u have relied on the tourist industry to provide jobs. Yet we al'1 know that hotels have a long history of opening and closing, either for renovation or permanently, like the last resort at Pimalu'u. Whenever new owners come in, which happens all the time, people are laid off, some are rehired, then laid off again. `The bottom line is developers and hotel owners have no concern and no sense of responsibility for their employees, -their families and the community - or for the environment for that matter. They build, buy and sell hotels and other developments based on how much profit they can make, nothing else counts. In order for Ka'u and other areas on Hawaii Island to have a viable economic base, we cannot rely on outsiders to control our economies. Rather, we must create community-based and controlled organizations and businesses that allow us to preserve our resources and work Cowards community sustainability. For the past seven years, a group of concerned community residents from the Waimea area of Hawaii Island have done just that, via the c~ creation of the Kanu o ka 'Aina Learning `Ghana, anon-profit Kanuirla, l lax~~iPl organization. As president and founder of this organization, I am „ gns_ss,_i~1~ Proud to report that as a result of many dedicated community ~-.,t- ees;-~nz-ott;~, mernbers pooling our strengths, we have been able to grow a dynamic learning `ohana that includes over 200 learners of all ages in the Kanu o ka 'Aina Learning 'Ghana grows zoomb-to-tomb models of education that advance Hazoaiian culture for a sustainable Hawaii. 3f4~ Comm: No. T'I Education with Aloha: honors the pest, nddresses the present, serves the futur~ef. TO: ~hG Ref. Date ~ 2 Waimea area and services over 2000 Iearners statewide. With 75 full- time employees, the Kanu o ka `E'lina Learning `Ghana is currently Waimea's second largest employer and contributes significantly to the North Hawaii economy. In our first five years of operation, the Kanu o ka `Aina Learning `Ghana managed $ 16 million. In the next three years, we are projected to manage $ 19 million, as we assist Hawaiian communities to work towards a sustainable Hawaii. As stated by Ted Liu, director, State Dept. of Business, Economic Development and Tourism in a July 22, 2007 Star Bulleting article, "the state is now launched on the path toward an innovation economy." There is widespread agreement that the education of Hawaii's young people is a critical component to realizing this innovation economy. According to Liu, "innovation is based on a belief in Hawaii speople - - its human capital and makes that human capital even more valuable." By having access to quality womb-to-tomb educational programs, such as the ones developed by the Kanu o ka `Aina Learning `Ghana, Ka'u and other rural communities can work towards sustainability, while participating in a 215` century global economy on their terms. If requested, the Kanu o ka `Aina Learning `Ghana is ready, willing and able to provide technical assistance to the Ka'u community in their efforts to move toward an innovative womb-to-tomb approach to education that focuses on long-term viability and sustainability. According to Liu, "One of the focal points of this innovation economy is to enable "our economy to grow without depleting Hawaii s scarce natural resources." This in turn, according to Liu, will lead to sustainability. Ka'u is a cultural kipuka, a seed bank for the future revitalization of Hawai'i's native language, culture and traditions. This precious resource must be protected at all costs. Mahalo nui for your past, present and future efforts to protect Hawai'i's scarce natural and cultural resources. Please do whatever you can to stop this outmoded development. Help us protect Kanu o ka 'Aina Learning'Ohana grows womb-to-tomb models of education that advance Hawaiian culture for a sustainable Hawaii. Erlucntion with Alnhn: honors the pnst, nddresses the present, serves the future Punalu'u, as we work towards a sustainable Ka'u. Sincerely, Ku Kahakalau, Ph.D. President Kanu o ka 'Aina Learning 'Ghana grows womb-to-tomb models of education that advance Hawaiian culture for a sustainable Hawaii. Educntion with Aloha: honors [he past, addresses the present, serves the future