HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1051.012 1996-1998
WRITTEN TESTIMONY
OF
DEBRALEE P. KAILIWAI-RAY
November 13, 1996 RECEIVED
before the
HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE flms___- ~y---
on the application of Date
Ka'upulehu Developments for an County Council
SMA Use Permit and Change of Zone
Aloha! My name is Debralee Puanani Kailiwai-Ray. I
currently reside at Puuanahulu Homestead, 71-1561 Mamalahoa Hwy,
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
I am offering the following testimony on behalf of my
family. I have been very fortunate during my lifetime to
experience the importance of gathering resources along the Kona
Coastline, including Punalu'u to Niuli'i. I have with my father
gathered resources at Ka'upulehu, Keawaiki, Kiholo and Kawaihae.
Each huaka'i offered one of kind life experience for me. It is a
very important part of who I am as a Hawaiian, what I became as
an 'opio and where I am going as a makua. My children are the
seventh generation of our family from the Ahupua'a of Puuanahulu,
Kohonaiki, Kaupulehu.
It is a shame to see the beauty and spirit of Ka'upulehu
destroyed by another project development. I am filled with
frustration and struggle daily with issues impacting our cultural
traditions and practices. I am filled with sadness and loss to
watch the beauty and spirit of. Ka'upulehu and other areas
diminishing before my eyes. It is that same bountiful beauty and
spirit our family held on and looked forward to on each huaka'i.
This is especially heartwrenching to see my father's lawai'a
(fisherman) spirit diminish as we continue to experience the
difficulties on protecting the very few places with significant
cultural and natural resources.
It is disturbing that there are inadequate rules and process
pertaining to cultural traditions and practices with projects of
this magnitude. Until such time there are published rules and
policies protecting our cultural and natural resources, our
'ohana respectfully request that the County defer action on the
applications.
Comm. No.
ZN6 104
File No. ,
_
Ref. Tot Pr_ pr-
Ref. Date ~ 13 19N