HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0338.003 1998-2000 ;R! 10:39 FAX 8083265697 02
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May • 20, 1999 ✓ J
'09 MAY E l Ph 4 08
ryor Yamashiro
'unty Building
:o, Hawaii
_ar Mayor Yamashiro,
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Dish to express my great concern regarding your decision to
- riot the East Hawaii Cultural 'Center from its home in order to
rovide a home for offices of.the Merry Monarch Festival and an
- gaiian Hula Museum.
its proposed space transfer, made without prior consultation of
le EHCC Board of Directors, the EHCC membership and the communiti
.)rig served by the EHCC, is peremptory and insulting to the
c. and cultural entities of our West Hawaii area.
politicians and businessmen bemoan the dire economic situation
•a yet some of these same people ignore Hilo's great strengths
c,. contribute a diversity of character and beauty to this city.
you may know, several studies have been made of the historic
Lakaua area, the heart of historic Hilo town. Instead of build.nc_
the positive aspects'of distinctive architectural sites, tree -
' streets, attractive mews, .courtyards and gardens, city plan
-:want more parking lots, more bricked walkways, fewer trees an
;stings. It no wonder that tourists find Hilo, in many way:,
unimaginative and without attraction.
- sedation of various kinds has unfortunately characterized the
• t of Hilo. In the sixties, a giant ficus tree, the largest of
• kind in the United States and so registered was felled in the
of progress. Now, the Hilo Hotel stands rotting, another
- c..n of progress.
ls always easy - to make changes in the public environment under
. banner of "progress" 'However, it takes some openess to unde- -
nd. the spirit of a city,to discern between change for the sake
c:hange and the importance of historical. value.
-oncur with your thought to find offices for the Merry Monarch
tivai. It is our community's.most economical undertaking. 1
- i:ier if you are aware that the EHCC has sponsored a Slack Key
sti.»al for the past decade?
let Hilo build a Hula Center where a museum might be
ted as well as halau teaching areas, performance areas, cos-
-
- .i.ing and implement display rooms and workshops •while including
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as where experts in chant, Hawaiian music, instruments, and
related arts could be cherished, displayed and taught. As the
waiian island with the largest native Hawaiian population in the
rld, this is the place where such a monument to Hawaii's living
iture should be built.
you need to think big, Mr. Mayor. Why have you left Hawaiians
t of the planning process? Surely, the community of native
yaiians whose culture you wish to put on display should have a
; or part in planning and making real the idea.
its easy for you to evict the EHCC from its home,•but to what
3? Is a former police station and holding-area for
g prisoners the
st you can do? There are • many in the Hawaiian community who would
ter condone such a move.' Surely, the County the State and the
feral government can together:cooperate to develop an Hawaiian
.'.tural Center of premium.guality.,Let the Hawaiian artists, archi-
: s, designers, planners, teachers, performers and others lead
planning for such;a Center. Think big:
.r:da_ring over a community art center of twenty years standing and
ill-considered collection of random ideas which are only minimal:_
'an a concept is shabby. What people in the community will be
3sed by such changes ?,
m writing this letter representing my own ideas. I do not
Lm to speak for community organizations in which I have long
involved as a member /officer ( -Hilo Outdoor Circle, East Helga))
or.ical Society, American.Association of University Women, etc.),
lough the lessons of my thirteen.year residency in Hilo and
.ty -five year residency in Honolulu .have certainly served to sh, .:
rhi_nking.
.k you reading my letter.
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Sincerely,
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l "2 - ' 44<r'
Members, Hawaii County Council
Members, EHCC Bd. of 'Dirs; .-Judith M. Kirkendall, Ph.B.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Chair, Center for'Hawaiian 1310 Wailuku Drive
Studies, UH -Hilo e • Hilo, Hawaii
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