HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0430.026 2018-2020 , t
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From: George Douvris C OF
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To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimonial for County Recovery Update I Dec 3 @ 3pm coun ti orgy@h aiico n go
Date: Saturday,November 30,2019 1:28:57 AM ULL -Z D o
Aloha to all the members of the county at this meeting wishing to hear
testimonials from lower Puna residents in regards to recovery plans from
the 2018 Kilauea eruption. My wife and I are writing you from India where
in a sense we have been "Big Island lava refugees" waiting for a green
light to be able to return back to our land sooner than later. We came here
to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in January of 2018 and right
before the Kilauea eruption first started and the lava sadly created a brush
fire that burned our house down but did not cross too deeply into our land.
Like many of our neighbors in the area, it is very important for us to get
back to our home. We are both 68 years old and all our money, time,
hopes and plans are rooted in the land we need to get back into and start
rebuilding and restoring our life and livelihood. Also our three kids were
also working together with us as a family venture.
Our access road is right off of Pohoiki past Hinalo side going down on the
right side as you are going down towards the ocean. Past our land there
are other plots of land belonging to Hawaiian land owners that want to get
back to their land as well. Many of us are also elderly and living without
access to our land continues to be a hardship.
We all worked hard and long for many years as well for the money
necessary to buy the land and build the farm. Our dream of a family farm
has now been shadowed by the nightmare of not being able to get back
soon to rebuild and restore.
I know there are lots of considerations and decisions that you have to
make, but we just wanted to simply explain that we can not come back
unless Pohoiki road is open to the point where we can access our land
again. With no more farm income there is no way we could live back in
Hawaii and have to pay rents and the cost of living there, so we will
remain in India until then. Please consider our needs and expedite opening
the road back.
I am sure that you understand that like so many others in our area, we do
not have the financial means to buy or rent another place to live. Only
when we get back into our land can we build a small cabin that can
provide is with a home and a place to restart our farm business.
Thanks again for representing the interests of all of us as we look forward
to better days. For my wife and I, being able to come back to the land and
have a home after being away for over a year waiting for access to do so,
would be very happy news.
Mahalo 47j01-10
Comm. o ryry '' ''
Ref. To: yt W()
Ref. Date OEC'-3 2019
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George Douvris
Malami Ki Homesteads (off of Pohoiki road)
Pahoa Hawaii
(415-871-0411)