HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0343.011 2012-2014 r Ie r/1Gof 1
CO, 'T-Y 77 7 -12
Murashige, Laura f I -
From: Sharon Wlleford [slwsurfing @gmail.corn]
I. _ 9: Q5
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 11:46 AM ���
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Say no to developers blocking public access: "We can no longer accept the selling of our precious resources to
the highest bidder."
Enough is enough! This kind of underhanded transfer of wealth out of the public trust has got to stop
Aloha kakou,
The issue regarding the taking of the King's trail (often referred to as the Kings trail or the jeep trail) and turning
it over to private developers has been an issue for a while, as well as billionaire speculators buying up ocean front
lands and turning them into high end gated communities, locking out the public.tt is happening at an alarming
rate along the North Kohala coast. These areas have been used for generations by local families for fishing and
camping. A development named Kohala Kai has been granted permits that are questionable. Among many highly
suspect moves is the rerouting of the King's trail. This rerouting will allow the private developer to turn the Kings
trail into a golf cart road for private use only and reroute the King's trail walking path onto an old cattle trail. The
King's trail has already been grated without proper oversight. This cattle trail is treacherous. There is no way a
fisherman could carry their gear over this "new"trail to get to the ocean. We the public have been given a grand
total of 3 parking spaces at the top of the highway and are expected to haul our gear onto an old cattle trail to
nowhere since we are now not allowed off the trail.There is no longer access to the ocean since the one access
area will become a private clubhouse area for the wealthy gated community members only. There are also
significant cultural sites in the area that will be off limits. In order to access the sites one would have to pass
arduous documentation that will then be scrutinized by an entity yet to be identified before a "permit"for access
would be granted. Is this what we want duplicated along the Kohala coastline? Areas our families have enjoyed
for generations will be gone soon if we do not speak up. The above sign is posted on the development next to
Kohala Kai; I really hope it is not a sign of what is ahead for our families. Please call our county council
members and write to them to tell them this is unacceptable. We can no longer accept the selling of our precious
resources to the highest bidder. The ocean, aina,the wealth and joy these precious resources provide belong to all
of us. There will be a hearing at some point regarding granting the developer easement. I will keep you updated
and hopefully you will be able to send in testimony or come in person. The way that this has come into being is
so questionable. As soon as I have all the details I will make them available. The light of truth will clear a way for
things to be made right.
For the sake of simplicity I have highlighted a few of the issues below:
restoration of the Ala Loa trail
Ala Loa trail designated as the public access trail
access to ocean via cove area since it is the only area in that development allowing access to enter the ocean (the
developer said this area would be private (no public access) with a club house being built there &the two ancient
wa'a storage sites being restored for use by the private development's community only)
ability to camp without asking for permission
ability to fish at night without asking for permission
open access to sacred cultural sites
review of permitting process (there are many questionable)
admission of additional historically significant cultural sites for preservation
Aloha e,
Ka'ho'opi'i- Nawahine Ohana
Comm. No.
3 zi3, //
Ref.To: P Fe-
Ref.
Date. DE 3 2013
12/3/2013