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P/SAW SG
Murashige, Laura �' t 1. 2h
From: Bradley Westervelt[bdw @hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2012 7:22 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: B.J. Leithead-Todd
Subject: testimony Committee on Agriculture, Water& Energy Sustainability 12.18.2012
Attachments: HSCA testimony Reso 19-13.docx
Please find attached testimony in opposition to resolution 19-13, for AWES committee Tuesday,
Mahalo,
Bradley Westervelt
Treasurer and Gov't Affairs Committee
Hawaii Sustainable Communities Alliance
Comm. No.., ' 3
Ref.To: �'//kweSc
Ref. Date (iv C 1 8 2.012
12/17/2012
To the Hawaii County Council Committee on Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability
counciltestimony@ co.hawaii.hi.us
RE: Comm. 25, Resolution 19-13
A RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THE ADVANCEMENT OF PRINCIPLES OF
SUSTAINABILITY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT DECISIONS AFFECTING NATURAL AND
CULTURAL RESOURCES.
December 14, 2012
Aloha,
The Board of the Hawaii Sustainable Communities Alliance, a 600 member
organization in Hawaii County recently reviewed this resolution and have the
following concerns:
The ideals being framed by this resolution elevate "Cultural Resources" to be
equivalent to "Natural Resources". Given that any square inch of the island may
possibly be considered "historical" or "sacred", a "Cultural Resource" has no
limitation.
Demanding a measure of loss of value and holding the government accountable is
an unmanagable matter of opinion. For a thought experiment: Would the site of
King David Kalakau's Hilo summer home be considered such a 'cultural resource'?
Was there not value in having a hotel there at one time? Are not different public
and commercial services in place there today of public value?
We of the Sustainable Community Alliance are concerned that rules and guidelines
such as these may hinder the natural evolution of community. Cultural Resources
are alive or they are dead. Like trees, Cultural Resources may become new things
upon the same site as once hosted a very different cultural activity in the past.
Applying the guidelines of this Resolution would effectively stymie change and
favor nostalgia.
While the intent of this resolution is kindly presented, there is nothing of merit
that is not already addressed by existing Hawaii Statutes and County Ordinances.
Asking County Agencies to apply the guidelines of this resolution to any actions
will only serve to complicate discussion and further slow the wheels of an already
expensive and complex County Administration.
The Hawaii Sustainable Communities Alliance is all about promoting and
supporting sustainability, for people of this island, and the children of the future.
Please change or retract this resolution as it is now written. It will only serve to
hinder progress to a more sustainable society.
The Hawaii Sustainable Community Alliance was formed in late 2010 to promote, Hawaii Sustainable
support and advocate for land-based sustainable community living in Hawaii.
Our membership has grown steadily and numbers more than 600 today. e x
RR 2 Box 4524 Pahoa, HI 96778-9756 hawaiisustainablecommunity.org
Communities Alliance