HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.924 2006-2008
September 19, 2007
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Testimony to Pass Resolution 169-07
Deaz Hawaii County Council:
This testimony on behalf of myself and members of my ohana including: Christopher
Bangay, Joseph Bangay, Mrs. Helen (Bangay) Galban, and Mrs. Elizabeth (Bangay) Bell
we support the passage of this resolution to protect and preserve ow sacred home
Punalu' u.
November 20, 2006 a USPS certified letter was sent to Mr. Chris Yuen, Deputy Planning
Director and Mayor Hany Kim with copies to Sea Mountain Five, Office of
Environmental Quality Control, and Group Seventy Iatemational Inc. This response letter
addressed the DEIS concerns on the Sea Mountain Five Development.
May 28, 2007 I send a letter to Mr. Bob Jacobson with copies to County Council
members in support of Resolution 169-07.
July 14, 2007 afollow-up thank you letter was sent to Mr. Jacobson with copies to
County Council members in support of Resolution 169-07.
August 11, 2007 Ka'u Preservation organized and accomplished a Punalu'u Beach Clean
Up Day. Members volunteered and demonstrated their stewardship and responsibility for
ow aina.
August 14, 2007 the eye of Hurricane Flossie came within 100 miles of Punalu u. The
storm brought high winds and surf along with media coverage from around the world.
Fortunately, Punalu'u was spared without damage from the storm.
September Ig` and 2"d, 2007 Thousands attended the Malama Punalu'u Culture and Music
Festival in Na'alehu. Everyone celebrated the beauty of ow majestic Ka'u and Hawaii
with hula, music and many forms of demonstrations of the Hawaiian cultwe. Kau
Preservation shared the education on ow living classroom model, Kukulu Kwnuhana ' O
Ka'u Learning Center at Punatti u. Over 2,000 attended the festival each day, including
hundreds of children who enjoyed the Keiki Hawaiian Craft tent. Participants and
vendors from all across the islands united to show their support for the protection of
Punalu'u. This historic event was organized by Ka'u Preservation and displays only a
speck of the promise for the futwe as caretakers for their aina.
Comm. No.3 ~ ~ • 2
Ref. To• he+e ~
Ref. Date 1 -
September 1, 2007, Mrs.Pele Hanoa, President of Ka'u Preservation was honored with
the proclamation from Governor Linda Lingle and Lt Governor Aiona that proclaimed
September 1st -WINTERED PELE HANOA DAY throughout the state of Hawaii, in
honor of Pele Hanoa's dedication to the protection of the sacred lands of Hawaii and her
lifelong efforts to preserve the Hawaiian Culture.
September 4th, 2007, we witnessed Mayor Kim announce his vision for Punalu'u during
the Ka'u Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Pahala Community Center, In the speech
the Mayor said, "I have a dream that someplace in this world there's a place that people
will start to talk about, you want to go to this place to teach to team to touch of nature, to
look at the beauty of open space, of die wafer, the turtles and say wow, this is special."
The Mayor said his vision was inspired by a trip to Crater Take National Pazk. According
to the Crater Lake National Park Website, "Crater Lake National Park has been
recommended as a wilderness preserve, a place where we may forget ourselves for a time
and enjoy a surge of healthy outdoor exploration. Here, we may rediscover ourselves and
Team that material things do not necessarily constitute our richest possessions. This blue
gem of the Cascades certainly moves us deeply when we imagine the awesome power
which created this wonderful place." The park is also home to Crater Lake Lodge, a small
71 room hotel and dining room, a camp store and laundry facility, 2 campgrounds with
225 sites and a small motor lodge, located 7 miles from the lake.
The vision the mayor is talking about comes from my beloved sister Ka'u Preservation
Founder, Keolalani Hanoa. Keola's vision includes a cultural center and open air market
showcasing local art and products, but does not include ANY hotels in order to protect
Punalu'u's fragile ecosystem and sacred sites. Instead, it calls fora "world-class"
educational center or "living classroom" where guests and students would camp at
Punalu'u and enjoy educational programs in a unique outdoor setting. Ka'u residents
have suggested developing lodging in Pahala and Na'alehu for visitors to Punalu'u,
Volcanoes National Park, South Point and the many other historical landmazks. The
lodging in Na'alehu and Pahala and the educational and Cultural Center at Punalu'u
would provide sufficient jobs for Ka'u residents while protecting the pioneering spirit of
Ka'u.
In closing, Mayor Kim's statement on September 4, 2007, "We are all on the same page"
let's vote from our heart center with respect to the balance of our fragile environment and
listening to our strong community voices for preservation. Kapu Ka'u
Res filly sub/miffed,
~i l~
Elsa ICalanikauleleiaiwi (Bangay)Dedman, MD
P.O. Box 472
Na'alehu, Kau, Hawaii 76772
cc: Mayor Harry Kim