HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0115.013 2008-2010
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Murashige, Laura
From: FredCachola@aol.com tQ09 f~flR 2 Rh1 9 Z ti
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 3:42 AM
To: cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us; counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong@co a~y~iiYhi u ;
bford@co.hawaii.hi.us; kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us; genriques@co.hawai hWA lh_ .r;!<
phoffman@co.hawaii.us
Subject: County Council Committee on Finance: Communication 115-Open Space Commission Rept
Dear Mayor Kenoi and County Council members:
DO NOT RAID THE 2% FUND to MEET the BUDGET SHORTFALL.
Mahalo for your efforts to balance the County Budget. We realize that you are looking at all possible
alternatives to do this. However, raiding the 2% fund is such a tragic alternative. Raiding the 2% funds would
actually ruin the future of our County's economic, social and cultural well-being by eliminating critical funds that
were wisely set aside to purchase, protect and preserve those beautiful natural, cultural and historic places that
we cherish ...and which drives, nurture and stimulate our tourist/visitor industry.
There are special and unique lands treasured by our island's residents and thousands of yearly visitors that
have been already identified and prioritized by the Open Space Commission. You must ...HONOR THE
WORK OF OUR OPEN SPACE COMMISSIONERS.
There were hundreds of volunteers who collected 9,782 signatures on the initiative petitions to get the
question of the 2% funding on the 2006 ballot. You must ...HONOR THE WORK AND DOCUMENTED
DESIRES OF THESE VOLUNTEERS AND SIGNATORIES.
A large majority of our county voters (57%) approved of the use of these funds to acquire special places that
are priceless ...that are unique ...that gives us so much pride, inspiration and identify as
Big Islanders. You must ...HONOR THE WILL AND WISHES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
There are two parcels already approved by the Council for acquisition ...and that are actively listed for sale:
KAIHOLENA in Kohala...and PUAPUA'A in Kona. You must ...PURCHASE THEM NOW, BEFORE THEY
ARE SOLD TO OTHERS. (DEVELOPERS?)
Due to the depressed situation among the local, national and international economies ...land prices are
similarly depressed and we may never see land prices this low again. You must... PURCHASE LANDS
NOW AT REASONABLE PRICES ...AND DO NOT DIVERT DESIGNATED 2% FUNDS FOR OTHER USES.
In recent years, our rampant "development mentality" we have lost, or drastically altered so much of our
island's most beautiful places. In our rampant drive to urbanize and commercialize our limited lands... we
have lost so much of our Native Hawaiian wahi papa (significant spiritual and cultural places) that are
inspirational reminders of our proud and industrious Hawaiian ancestors. But we now have the ways and
means to save these places. You must ...MAINTAIN THE 2% FUNDS TO PURCHASE, PROTECT AND
PRESERVE THESE PLACES ...FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN ...FOR
POSTERITY. That will be highest and best use of the 2% Funds because ...if we lose our county's most
treasured and cherished places ...they are gone forever.
Please do not allow yourselves to become "raiders" of our precious legacy land funds. Mahalo!
Me kealoha pumehana,
Hawaiian Researchers Ohana
Fred Cachola
Julie-Ann Cachola
Dr. Kehau Cachola-Abad
Leinani Cachola-Heiber
A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in_just 2 easy_steps!
Cornnu
Ref. Too- `
Ref TD01
3/2/2009 . Date