HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.006 2018-2020 COv:+
COUNTY OF HAWAII
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Time l: 0044 rt nn By OW'
Date 091161 iq
From: Louise Hanna
To: Poindexter,Valerie;Chung,Aaron;Lee Loy,Sue;Kierkiewicz,Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder,Matt;David,Maile;
Villegas,Rebecca; Eoff,Karen;Richards,Tim;Council Testimony;Planning Internet Mail
Subject: Bill 16 Testimony
Date: Monday,February 18,2019 5:36:01 PM
To Hawaii County Council Members :
My name is Louise Hanna, my home is in Honomalino Acres near mile marker 89 on
Highway 11, mauka of Milolii.
1 am testifying in opposition to Bill 16 re the proposed Pi'ilani Partners bottling plant
near Wailoa Park in Hilo.
Where I live we have no ground water. We do not have access to the county water supply
except by going to a county drinking water spigot-the closest to my home being 13 miles
away at the Hookena turn off. Yes, I have chosen to live "in the country" and depend on rain
water and catchment for most of my water needs.
For all of us water is life, for people, animals, and plants. We live in the most isolated place
on earth and we do not know what will lie ahead for life on our island in terms of rainfall,
temperatures, and rising sea levels as the result of climate change generated by human
consumption and actions.
What we doknow is that this island has been endowed with a deep, untouched aquifer. That
water aquifer belongs to this island. That water is a public trust resource.
When I first heard about this proposed bottling operation I found it hard to believe that anyone
would approve the extraction and exportation of our most precious resource -water. Sure it
would have a lovely exotic label, evoking life in an island paradise. But at what cost
considering the manufacturing water waste,plastic bottle production waste, fossil fuels needed
to run the plant, and then the fossil fuels needed to transport the product to the commercial
markets. I have seen Hawaii bottled water on sale in New Mexico grocery stores - at what cost
to our islands? It made me cringe to think of the environmental cost of that bottle of imported
water.
Council members, I urge you to vote against Bill 16.
Water is Life!
Aloha and Peace,
Louise Hanna
88-1583 Ala Malino Rd.
Captain Cook, HI 96704
Comm. No. �•
Ref. To: Pi PC
Ref. Date FEB 1 9 2019