HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0064.014 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK �/�
COUNTY OF HAWAII
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From: Kaui Trainer
To: Poindexter,Valerie;Chuno,Aaron;Lee Loy,Sue; Kierkiewicz,Ashley;Kanealii-Kleinfelder,Matt;David.Maile;
Villenas,Rebecca;Eoff.Karen;Richards,Tim;Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony AGAINST Piilani Partners
Date: Sunday,February 17,2019 12:13:39 PM
I, like many others in our Hilo community, adamantly oppose Bill 16/Ordinance 92-122,
regarding the proposed Pi'ilani Partner&bottling plant near Wailoa Park in Hilo.
Water is a public trust resource. It is an increasingly important resource that is endangered by
private interest. Have you not heard about the water wars with Nestle Corp? I encourage you
to visit this site to learn more: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/michigan-
confirms-nestle-water-extraction-sparking-public-outrage/70004797 By approving a bottling
plant, you are aligning yourselves with horrible corporations that exploit humanity and the
environment.
Here in Hilo, Piilani Partners want to take up to 200,000 gallons a day from a deep,
untouched, pristine aquifer, despite the objections of native Hawaiian leaders and dozens of
other testifiers. The resulting bottled water would be shipped off-island to profit a few people.
This does not justify their profit off of a public trust.
Aquifers are only recharged with water and kept pure if watersheds above ground are cared
for. This requires time, energy, and taxpayer and private money. Pi'ilani Partners at first
refused to pay any fees for the aquifer water. Then they offered a$100,000 scholarship--a
fraction of likely profits. But in the past, Earthjustice has questioned whether community
benefit payments fulfill public trust obligations. I absolutely believe that benefit payments do
not fulfill public trust obligations. The people in Michigan would agree as their local
politicians allow Nestle to exploit their resources even as the people continue to suffer with
contaminated water. Will you be like the Michigan politicians?
Only three people supported the Piilani Partners bottling plant at several Planning Commission
meetings. All three are paid by the owners. Dozens opposed it. The only hydrologist supplying
information on the well drilling and aquifer is working for Pi'ilani Partners. Is there no
unbiased information?
It could use three bottlefuls of water to produce one finished bottle of water. Much of the
-waste water from production would be contaminated and discarded. Where will it be
discarded? Plastic dust may contaminate soil around the plant and be spread by wind. Fossil
fuel would be burned to run the plant and transport the water. Noise from delivery trucks and
industrial bottling (55.decibels is still irritating)would disturb peaceful Wailoa Park nearby.
Yes, Pi'ilani Street would be upgraded and the sewer line extended, but this would attract even
more development in the future near Wailoa Park. Is this the vision of downtown Hilo's long
range plan?An industrial park?The plant could generate over 1 million plastic bottles a day,
contributing to the already overwhelming impacts of plastic waste on wildlife, on human
health, and on taxpayers paying for cleanup. Plastic is the bane of our ocean. Do you want to
increase the amount of plastic waste?Especially when we are striving for a sustainable, `aina
loving economy?And with China refusing America's fecyclables, what will the future of all
those bottles be?The landfill?
The Pi'ilani parcel was granted "industrial"zoning, though everything nearby is zoned for ,�
Comm. No. ' 4'4'14
Ref. To: P IPC
Ref. Date FEB 1 9 2019
*If
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other uses. How did this happen? How is it that this zoning was approved especially when the
downtown master plan was focusing on the Wailoa park and bike trail improvements for the
purpose of public enjoyment of nature! An industrial bottling plant would spoil not only our
public trust water resource, but also our enjoyment of our parks and nature. Repeal
Bill16/Ordinance 92-122 in its entirety. Please be the voice and decision of reason and
prudence. We do not need more resource exploiters and spoilers of the environment. We are
already hanging on by a thread! Support environmental justice and climate friendly activities.
Support the public's right to clean, unpolluted water and a healthy environment. Support our
ecosystems` reliance on the freshwater-brackishwater-oceanwater mixing zones that support
limo, turtles, fish and limpets. I do not want Piilani Partners' bottling plant in my Hilo town.
Kau'i Trainer, Hilo
kau itrainer@gmail.com
Aloha kekahi i kekahi.