HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.899 2006-2008 1468 Eudora St.
Denver, Colorado 80220
July 3, 2007
Bob Jacobson, Councilmember`~4fi ~Uf 1 ~ ~ t 1
25 Aupuini St, Suite 200
Hilo, Hawaii, 96720
Deaz Mr. Jacobsen-
I am writing to you in support of Resolufion 169-07 and the purchase of the Panalu'u
coastal area and Ninole. I know that the council has such a wonderful opportunity to do what is
right in the long term for the people and the environment of your most beautiful island.
My husband and I aze from Colorado, and have traveled extensively through islands over
the yeazs. We aze members of the Ka'u Preservation Society. In my previous cazeer, I was a
statistical analyst for our Department of Public Safety. I served on an advisory board that worked
with a number of communities throughout our state. Many of them had the desire for economic
development, and were dealing with the changes brought by bringing tourism and developments
of second homes. There aze so many similarities between these communities and what is
happening in Panalu'u. One thing that I have observed is that the promises that the developers
make aze often not carried out. These promises are based on two things: wanting to present the
best images to get approval for their business ventures; and presenting only the optimistic best-
case scenarios. When their projects aze not as successful as they hoped, they do not have the
resources to carry through on their promises. When we were in Panalu'u last yeaz, we saw the
terrible results of things not working out with the deserted restaurant that was at the end of the
black sand beach in Panalu'u. What was left for the local people was an eyesore that leaks
sewage into the ancient sacred ponds, and contaminates the azea. The promises that developers
make are based their best-case scenarios. There is a chance that this development would not meet
their projections, and what would Punalu'u beach and the surrounding azea be like then?
This is one azea in the islands where many aspects of the original culture and history
have been preserved. There are many sacred azeas with such deep meaning for the Hawaiian
people. And the wildlife that is so endangered has a chance to survive here, with a 2000 foot
protec5ve azea.
In our travels, we have seen other areas that were held sacred by the Hawaiian people that
aze now dominated by hotels and condominiums. The developers made promises that these azeas
would be preserved, and local people would have access. The access was often through these
hotels and condominium azeas. We found that they are certainly not held sacred, as they would
have been by the local people, and aze not very accessible. This is also a danger for the black
sand beach and the other sacred areas in Ka'u, if the developers maintain and "provide access".
With this resolution, this azea will belong to the people of Hawaii for generations to come.
I am sure that you will use your wisdom as leaders to do what is right for the people of
your island, in passing Resolution 169-07.
Since~rely-,/- y,~
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Linda R Mazsolek, M.S.
Member, Ka'u Preservation Society 3 ~ ~ ~ I
Comm. Ho. I
cc: Ka'u Preservation Society Ref. To:
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