HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0338.008 1998-2000 FRI 10:45 FAX 8083265697 Z 01i
0 0
:aunty Council Representatives
Aupuni Street •
Ile, Hawaii 96720
. o our County Council Representative:
it has come to my /our attention that Mayor Yamashiro has advised the Board of
greeters of the East Hawaii Cultural Council that he is entertaining plans that
Quid preclude the renewal of the lease that that they currently hold on the Old
.' olice Station building when it terminates on December 31, 2000.
Ovei the years the Cultural Center building has hosted up - to 15,000 visitors per
nar to the galleries and workshops housed therein, in addition to providing a
ome for the Hilo Community Players and the Big Island Dance Council and their
,dividual events.
"share strongly object to the displacement of this organization. As our Council
s presentative, please give serious consideration to the contribution this
eanization has made to the community. They have completely renovated and
.ride use of a building that was once slated for destruction and provided a home
r the arts in our town.
'; sonal Testimony:
T`c suygcatite that the Cultural Center, now housed in the "old police station" on
l alakaua Avenue, can be displaced due to political action Is a disrespectful idea.
Such ideas are usually only held by those unfortunates bereft of sound mind.
is disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of hours of blood sweat and tears that have produced
this monument to the spirit of culture and creativity hidden in our community.
The foundation of cultural consciousness began in the minds of a few members of our
torumunity. It is impossible to repay those individuals. Future generations will remember them and
their contribution. They believe that the future of humanity is not decided io the expedient minds of
;voglodytic power brokers but is the creative spirit that unites an cultures.
The "old police station" now stands as a monument to the higher consciousness of our
community. The "old police station" has been transformed into an edifice for our common culture.
Any suggestion that government bas the right to refute the decision of thousands of culturally
conscious citizens is insulting and irresponsible. To my mind the idea has no conscionable rationale.
have worked with the people who have struggled to make this effort a success. 1 have worked wr
he project also, on the renovation and with the groups that chaffered the East Hawaii Cultural
Center. I will presume that the effort gives me a voice to comment on any inference that the cultural
rots embodied in this project can be disregarded. That suggestion is shameful and socially
immature.
n: erely�'row up Hilo. .
•
l i Comm. No. 33g.00g
File No. FI
Ref. Tot HS ED C_
• Ref. Date 1IUN 2 5 1