HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.057 2018-2020 Murashige, Laura
From: Duenna Kawanishi <msohelo2@comcast.net>
Sent: Tuesday,July 23, 2019 3:41 PM -17
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony Regarding TMT building on Mauna Kea
Name: Duenna Ignacio-Kawanishi
Age: 67 years old
I presently live in Beaverton, Oregon, but was born in Laupahoehoe Hospital and raised in Ookala, Hawaii. I
am 1969 graduate of St. Joseph High School, Hilo, HI. I graduated from the University of Hawaii in Hilo, 1993.
We still owe our home on 20 Spring St., Hilo, Hawaii.
Presently living in Oregon
I have 3 grown children and a proud grandma of 8
Growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii we have made numerous trips up to Mauna Kea. I always thought the
mountain to have a special place in my heart.
I recently learned that my Great-Grandfather on my paternal side, Herman Meyer(born March 24, 1861, died
September 13, 1930, immigrated from Bremen, Germany. He hunted for wild cattle on the slopes of Mauna
Kea. He lived in a log cabin up on Mauna Kea, and was the first person to build a log cabin on Hawaii. He
planted the first apple trees on Mauna Kea and today they are still on the mountain and giving fruit and so is the
log cabin he built.
Allowing another telescope to be put up on the mountain is a horrible idea, when they are already 13 telescopes
on the mountain and only 8 are operational. Now they want to put one more telescope on Mauna Kea. Why?
This land is sacred land not only to the Hawaiians, but to all of us who have been raised on the island and our
ancestors. It is one of my priorities to ensure that Mauna Kea and the island of Hawaii is left in a better place for
my children and my grandchildren and the future generations to come.
Whogives the Governor the authority to make such a life changing decision about Mauna Kea without listening
to the people? Does he even have a connection to Mauna Kea? Did his ancestors build a log cabin on Mauna
Kea or plant Apple Trees?
Please,please save Mauna Kea for the people of the island.
Mahalo,
Duenna Ignacio-Kawanishi
Comm. No.
Ref. To:
1 Ref. Date JUL 3 1 2019