The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0853.049 2010-2012 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura From: Hokunani Roback[hoku.roback @gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2012 11:08 PM ;': C To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Testimony for Resolution 308-12 Attachments: Resolution 308-12 revision nov 9.docx Aloha, I read my testimony at the November 9th,2012 meeting but ran out of time to complete, I just thought I may be able to turn it in written form to be used for the Nov 21st meeting. Mahalo, Hokunani Roback Comm. No. c3 4 Ref. To: Ref. Date NOV 2 1 2012 11/19/2012 Hokunani& Keone Roback 27-139 Mill Road(P.O.Box 614) Papa❑ikou,Hawai❑i 96781 Tel: (808)964-3232;Email: hoku.roback @gmail.com November 9th_ 2012 To: Members of Hawai i County Council Re: Resolution No. 308-12 Dear Members of Hawai i County Council, Aloha! My name is Hokunani Roback. I live on lower Mill Road in Papa'ikou with my husband and 4, soon to be 5 children. Our's is a quiet neighborhood, lined with old plantation horses, and made up of mostly elderly folks, and long time residents, with a few younger families scattered throughout the camp. Concerning Resolution No. 308-12. 1 believe in public access to shoreline, and in fact believe access to any beachfront. including Mill Beach, is a public right, as I'm sure many other people feel as well. I do however have some concerns about how this County public access will affect the small community I live in as well as the community at large. When Charlene Pricket and her husband Jim Waugh began to impose certain beach access regulations, such as: no night access, no dogs, no baby carriages or other wheeled contraptions, and parking restrictions, I was upset, 1 had become accustomed to wheeling my young children in a stroller down to the beach. In my na an(gut) I felt, I should be able to determine my own access to this beach, especially as I am a resident of the area. But then I also realized that when I enjoyed other public beach or mu uku facilities, there were time restrictions, parking restrictions, amongst other regulations, according to the particular place you accessed. I still may not agree with all the restrictions posted but I do see the necessity for some of them. Over time since certain postings, I have witnessed: a decrease in parking traffic and excess speeding on our roadway, no more strange cars driving to the end of the road to park at 1 am in the morning, no beer bottles at the end of the road or tiny' little drug bags to cleanup in the morning, fewer people coming into my yard and helping themselves to the use of my water hose to rinse off without asking. I have also seen an increase of pedestrian access to the beach. But whether we disagree or not on certain postings, access to the beach continues daily. If the county takes over current access, Mr. Yagong shared,that public parking was still not necessarily going to be available for beachgoers as Mill Road is too small to accommodate such; and my hope is that this will continue and it is also my hope that like other beach parks owned and cared for by the County hourly restrictions will still apply. It's a small beach, I feel like it's a wahi pana, a sacred place,where the Hawaiian monk seal come to hanau, and bask in the sun. Part of our kuleana in caring for this beach should include continuing hourly restrictions, and by no means do I feel access should become a 24 hour free for all. With no public parking along the roadway the theft associated with cars being broken into has gone away, there are fewer instances of access to homes being blocked by parked cars, and even speeding is less of a problem, although it still exists. I often see excited heachgoers on the drop off or pick up, fly past my house like it's a highway. It's not a highway it's a small private road without sidewalks. where my children play basketball, ride bike and yes play, where people walk around using the street. Partying involving drinking and drug use was also a problem in both the illegal end of the road parking area and beachfront area at all times of the night when there were no hourly restrictions to the beach. Our neighbor even testified that he's had to call the cops on people parked at the end of the roadway, blocking driveways, loitering, and bringing a had element to the community in the middle of the night. Hokunani& Keone Roback 27-139 Mill Road(P.O.Box 614) Papa❑ikou,HawaiLli 96781 Tel: (808)964-3232;Email: hoku.roback @gmail.com With these very ligitimate concerns in mind, as a member of this neighborhood that will be directly affected by a County public access to the Mill, I am asking why are we rushing? 1 urge the County Council and members of the Community at large to investigate further the alternative public access suggested by the owners. This alternate access has the ability to abate the concerns of the both the Public by offering a County Public access and at the same time offer peace of mind to the residents of this Silverton camp community, who are worried about what a County public access plowing through our small neighborhood could mean for us. The alternate access sounds similar to one already used in past according to testimony of an aunty I heard today, the Hamakua side of the Mill". This alternate access could be a little shorter than the current access, sturdier than the current access (which is eroding on some of the bends), easier to upkeep than the current access (wider walkway, possible small county vehicle), offer more entryways to the ocean (along cliff side) for fishing, perhaps even easier access to other surf breaks, inclusive of a public parking area, and most importantly for me, away from homes, on a much less travelled roadway. What's the harm in slowing down and researching this a bit more so that we can do whats best for the community of Silverton Camp as well as the longtime beach users, that will be affected the most. Access continues as it did when this entire process started, there is no threat of taking that away, just a fear based on rumor, and whats really scary is how that rumor has spread and evolved over time until its slightly unrecognizable, do you realize that many people actually believe access to the beach has been taken away altogether? Another concern I have is that should the county aquire access, restrictions to the beach will be worst than what we enjoy today. Instead of closing one day every few months for clean up, the county may have to close for a few months at a time maybe even a year for necessary improvements. I certainly don't like the sound of that, My family and I access the beach weekly. Could the county decide to close access altogether if they find there is no room in the budget for necessary improvements? I hope not, I moved here specificly because of its close poximity to the beach. Ultimately, 1 believe in public access, and I support this resolution. I understand it can be amended so lets explore our alternative access, not just what we have today. Let's make a clear minded decision, rather than one based on anger and fear which is a lot of what I hear today. 1 was always told not to make decisions when I am angry, and I hear a lot of angry people, but most of those people do not live on this street. As a person who lives on this street who does have concerns, how do you think it feels to voice these very ligitimate concerns to an angry crowd?To be honest I have found it intimidating, and I'm sure others who live here feel the same way. I have a fear of retribution from an angry crowd of folks, because I'm not saying "rah, rah. burn the witch!" That's very sad, unfortunately the tone of this resolution, has helped to fan those flames. Sincerely. Hokunani Roback