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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.913 2006-2008 Council Testimony September 19a' 2007 Madame Councilwomen and councilmen; I have sat before you numerous times in the last year as we have debated the future of the ahupua'a of Punalu'u. Each time I and my associates, members of Ka'u preservation and the wider community shared with you our hope and vision for this very special place and sacred lands. You aze awaze of all that has transpired in the various hearings. You have heazd the pros and cons of a development and the pros and cons of making a park on the Ahupua'a of Punalu'u. I believe that you have felt that in general the testimony was heaztfelt and sincere. AND that it was presented in a respectful atmosphere where various positions could be shazed. In the biggest hearing on June 4a' in Na'alehu over 450 residents showed up and testified until almost midnight. Of those who spoke and those who attended over two thirds of them were opposed to the development and favored the pazk being created. The chairperson of that meeting,Mr Yagong, praised all who attended for the respect that they showed to their fellow citizens when they testified. Yet,the mediators in their report have indicated that people they interviewed felt intimidated by Ka'u Preservation. Up until now, we have been quiet regarding the allegations that have been made against us and pazticulazly against the leadership of Ka'u Preservation. We had eazly on identified a conscious effort on the part of the developer to split the community by grabbing onto very old rivaMes and then using them to divide the community. We refused to bite. We went on with our efforts in spite of these attacks. It has been the main concerted effort of the developers and those that they enlisted in their cause to plant endless doubts about our sincerity and commitment to the key issues of the resolution of the development or non development of the Punalu'u Ahupua'a. Eazly on they began using words like thugs and bullies to describe us. Somewhere they conveniently ignored the host of experts in the fields of anthropology,azcheology,marine sciences, urban planning and cultural practitioners who came ,often at great expense of time and distance, to testify to the need to preserve the Ahupua'a of Punalu'u. Were they thugs and bullies ?And when us common folk testified with our heart and soul were we the thugs and bullies ? I must confess that it was a masterfiil campaign carefully orchestrated and directed using the old tactic of consistency.....no matter what the facts ALWAYS refer to the Ka'u Preservation folks as thugs and bullies. To be successful it was necessary to ignore any effort of reconciliation by Ka'u Preservation. On the night of June 4a', after the very long hearing, I walked crossed the gym floor to greet Mr. Enriques. I told him of our developing plan to hold a cultural and music festival. I asked him to allow me to come and talk to his members about the festival. He responded that the festival was away of making money for our cause and a propaganda tool. I repeated my request and his response was I don't think so. I reassured him that I was ,at that very time, pursuing additional grants so that the festival would be a free event and that the primary purpose was COMMUNITY BUILDING....bringing people together. I also told him that I fully expected that Ka'u Preservation would realize zero profit. A prediction that was to be fulfilled on September ls~ and 2"a con,. Na. 3 ~ 9.913 Ref. To:e!yee!-' Ref. Date I waited through the summer hoping that he would change his mind and allow me to meet with his people. I was even willing to ask them to be volunteers and help us with the work of the festival. Needless to say, this wonderful opportunity to do community building was lost. The festival was an incredible experience with over 2000 people each day.Unfortunately,Mr Enriques and some of his members chose not to attend least they look like they were giving support to Ka'u Preservation. Now here we aze at yet another heazing.This one follows a direct intervention by the mayor into the process. I was greatly surprised by this move by Mayor Kim. I was raised in a political world where the executive branch respected the work of the legislative branch to make the laws. I was chagrined that the Mayor would feel he had the right to do so. AND there was the matter of the money....$84,000.00 taken from other budgets and for what..to have a month long listening session to gather opinions from the population at lazge. Councilwoman Naiole said it well at the last hearing : "how many times do we have to listen.We have been around the Island twice. The message was cleaz and is cleaz: They don't want the development and they do want the pazk." In addition to being labeled as thugs and bullies we have also been chazacterized over and over as opposed to development. Let me set the record straight: we ARE NOT OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT We aze opposed to this resort being built. However, we are very much in favor of an education scientific and cultural center being built that would create jobs and housing options being constructed neaz the population centers of Na'alehu and Pahala and Ocean View that would support such a development. For us the preservation of the Ahupua'a of Punalu'u is the critical issue. Along with this is the preservation of ALL native cultural practices and religious expression as well as total access to food gathering traditions. I believe, with everything in me, that these rights are sacred and that the denial or limiting of those rights and practices would be a serious infringement of the CIVIL RIGHTS of the native Hawaiian people.You see, the leadership and members of Ka'u Preservation have no personal gain in pursuit of these goals.We don't sell real estate, we don't have a business that will benefit, we can't make money on this development. No; our gain is only in the fact that we were true to our beliefs and defended those beliefs against great odds. Mental health professionals have for yeazs asserted that the overall health of a population is d~rectiy tied to their access to open spaces and places of natural beauty. We have a wonderful opportunity to do the right thing. Please proceed with the authorization to have the county begin the process of establishing the pazk. We will provide the money....we have already been in touch with potential grantors but the county authorization is the critical first step. I believe the community will come together quickly and share the responsibility for the plan and development of this park. We can develop in such a way that all cultural concerns aze met and jobs aze created for the local economy. As a side note: the MALAMA PUNALU'U FESTIVAL gave a tremendous shot in the arm to our local merchants. I have heazd from a number of them who were most appreciative for the business that was generated by this two day event. Just in housing alone we pumped over $ 9000.00 into the local housing/accommodation market. Restaurants, gas stations and stores all reported benefiting from the festival. At the festival itself all 13 of the food vendors sold out each day. These were community groups that realized good profits for their organizations. In addition the craft vendors did so well that they are already calling me regarding next year ! ! It would have been so special if ALL of us had taken advantage of those special two days. It was a FREE event so that no one or no family would be unable to attend. As the general chairperson of the event I was thrilled by the crowds and their enthusiasm but saddened by the absence of Mr.Enriques and some of his members. Please feel free to inquire from your fellow council people who were at the festival. I'm sure they will echo what I have testified. In conclusion; Please vote to authorize the beginning of the process to purchase the 150 acres for the park. I believe this decision contains the best possibility for a united community effort and the establishment of and maintenance of the Park at Punalu u and the safeguarding of the Ahupua'a of Punalu'u with its sacred sites,heiau and burial grounds, its endangered species and life giving waters. MALAMA PUNALU'U, MALAMA KA'U, MALAMA AINA ! Respectfully submitted; Jim Spie South Point 929-8334 The MALAMA PUNALU'U FESTIVAL will be on Saturday August 30a' and Sunday August 31S` 2008. Please pencil us into your calendars and plan to join us. You will not regret the commitment of time to this wonderful experience.