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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0396.007 2014-2016PI Pc Comm. _'Ao EQC HT`s' CLERK Murashige. Laura rn: From: Syd Singer <sydsinger@gmail.com> 1095 AUG —3 PH 2, OG Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2015 5:00 AM To: Council Testimony Cc: Wille, Margaret Subject: Comment on DRAFT GENERAL PLAN: SECTION ON POLICIES AND GOALS dated July 30, 2015 Aloha and thank you for this opportunity to comment on this General Plan. I am a medical anthropologist and director of the Good Shepherd Foundation, dedicated to human, animal, and environmental health. I would like to offer the following comments regarding this proposed General Plan. H. 12. Remove Albizia trees that create a danger to public roadways. Any trees which create a danger to public roadways should be removed. Albesia trees are not the only threat to roadways. The goal is to make the roadways safer, not to further disparage albesia trees in particular. Note that even native trees can pose a danger to roadways. I suggest rewording this item to the following: "Remove trees that create a danger to public roadways." I. 14. Promote the use of native plants however do not allow unregulated removal of non-native fauna and flora unless harmful to the ecosystem in that location. Native plants are being promoted for use over other species presumably to preserve the environmental identity of Hawaii. However, many tourists and residents identify Hawaii with non-native species, such as the plumeria, or the pineapple, or the hibiscus. In addition, Hawaii is a multi -cultural island where different cultures imported species from around the world making Hawaii a beautiful and biologically diverse place. These introduced species should not be avoided if they add beauty, and possibly food resources, to our island. Indeed, if these species provided food resources for humans and for game animals in the wild, it would help with food security for our island. Hawaii's native plants do not provide food. !2 Q I. _-I Comm: No. ..,.�.�, Ref. To: P QL Ref, Dote AUG 0 4 2015 In addition, many native plants are suffering because of climate change and disease. In some circumstances, the introduction of hardier species which can provide food, wood, beauty, and other environmental services, and which can survive climate change, may be a better option than a dogmatic use of native species. The second part of this item is vague and meaningless given the reality of the State's environmental policy. I agree with the attempt to limit the removal of non-native flora and fauna, especially when there is no harmful impact on the environment. However, State regulations and expansion of exemptions to environmental review. now allow the removal of any non-native species simply because it is non-native. The presumption of these regulations is that only native species "belong" in Hawaii, and any non-native species are by definition considered environmentally harmful because they are not part of traditional Hawaiian ecosystems. Further, the use of harmful poisons and biocontrol agents has been allowed by the State without the need for obtaining a permit if it is for the purpose of killing non-native species or "restoring" native ecosystems. I suggest the following change of wording: "Promote the use of beneficial plants with priority to those species which produce food and/or useful timber products, provide important environmental services, and are hardy enough to withstand climate changes." K. 1. Prioritize County policies and programs that protect and preserve what makes Hawai `i Island and its Districts special and unique including multicultural assets and historic traditions. I agree with this item and applaud its recognition of the multi -cultural nature of our island community, while still recognizing the historic Hawaiian culture. This respects the Hawaiian past, as well as the multi -cultural Hawaii present. However, this is why I oppose item 11. 11. Consider changing the name of the County from Hawaii County to Moku `O Keawe. The use of a Hawaiian name for this island does not reflect the current reality that our island is multi -cultural. We need to move forward as'a community, not back in time. The county should not ignore the contribution of the many cultures which make this a great island. Indeed, we should be encouraging the immigration of new peoples to our island, bringing new ideas, talents, and solutions to our problems..A nativist revision of our island name does nothing to further our development, and merely panders to Hawaiian sovereignty interests. It's important to keep in mind that we cannot go backwards in time. Environmentally, we cannot reconstitute ecosystems of the past, removing non-native species. The climate has changed. Introduced species have flourished, have changed the environment, and are desired by many residents. Likewise, we cannot reconstitute the Hawaiian culture of the past, removing non-native cultures. The political climate has changed. Introduced cultures have flourished, have changed the cultural environment, and are desired by many residents. We must move forward with a multicultural view of our islands. Our uniqueness is not in our environmental or cultural past, but in our current multi -cultural and multi -species diversity. Hawaii is now cosmopolitan. Reversion to the past is not the direction to go. I suggest deleting this item. O. Education and Libraries 3. Establish bilingual learning in all schools of Hawaiian. I assume this poorly written sentence means, "Establish bilingual learning in all schools, requiring Hawaiian language in addition to English." Those who wish to learn Hawaiian should be free to do so. However, mandatory bilingual training in Hawaiian should not be required of all students, just as all students should not be required to learn Tagolog, or Japanese, or Hispanic. Just because we live in Hawaii it should not mean we need to speak Hawaiian or even know the details of Hawaiian culture. This is the United States, not the Hawaiian Kingdom. Respect for all cultures in Hawaii does not require knowledge of all languages and cultural practices. There are currently more Asians in Hawaii than native Hawaiians, and these Asians have had a greater hand in creating our current culture than native Hawaiians. Yet, we are not being required to learn Japanese or Tagolog or Chinese. Why should we be required to learn Hawaiian? Note that many people come to Hawaii for the climate, food resources, and other reasons, and not to immerse themselves in Hawaiian culture. Elective language classes should be available for many languages, including Hawaiian. But these should be elective. I suggest changing the wording of this item to the following; "Encourage students to learn languages in addition to English." 4. Advance knowledge of principles of Hawaiian cultural including of personal kuleana, pono, lokahi, kakou, and ho'ohanohano. Again, this cultural knowledge should be available, but should also include knowledge of principles of Japanese culture, Filipino culture, Chinese culture, Puerto Rican culture, and any other culture that has contributed to our modern day Hawaii. If the Hawaiian people want to promote their culture, there are ways to do that. The county government should encourage ALL cultures to share their language and belief systems. There should not be special treatment for any one cultural group, including the Hawaiians. This is a government for ALL the people. Each cultural group should be given equal treatment. I suggest changing this item to the following: "Advance respect and appreciation of the many cultures that comprise our culturally diverse community." P. 7. Provide a government to government forums with representatives of the Kingdom of Hawai `i. This item is highly controversial, and will only serve to undermine the cohesiveness of our society. Are we all subject to one government, or two? Should members of the alleged Kingdom of Hawaii be allowed county government benefits and services? Do county laws apply to Kingdom subjects? Is the county really wanting to accept that it is not the sole governing body on the island? Until such a legal separation is established and recognized by the United States, this island should be considered under one governmental system. Opening this Pandora's box will feed the fires of discontent, encouraging some to ignore county and state laws by claiming they do not apply to themselves as members of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The county should be open to dialogue with ALL cultural special interest groups. But to consider any group to have sovereignty independent of the US government, Hawaii State government, or county government is divisive, and gives an unfair advantage to such a group. All people should be treated fairly and equally in Hawaii, regardless of their heritage or place of origin. If this General Plan is to lead us to a better future, it needs to break free of the past. We need to end nativist policies and a desire to return to the past in our cultural, environmental, and political policies, and embrace the diversity which is today's Hawaii. We can respect our diverse history, culturally and environmentally, without making the future a hostage to the past. I recommend completely deleting this item. I hope my comments are helpful and further the policies and goals of this General Plan. Sydney Ross Singer Medical Anthropologist Director, Good Shepherd Foundation P.O. Box 1880 Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 808-935-5563