HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-20 Letter to Colette Machado & Dan Mahuna re their letter of 08-19-19 re meeting on Maunakea vet,..:?
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County of Hawaii
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
August 20, 2019
Ms. Colette Y. Machado, Chairperson
OHA Board of Trusteees
Mr. Dan Ahuna, Chair
Ad Hoc Committee on Maunakea
State of Hawaii
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
560 N. Nimitz Hwy. Suite 200
Honolulu, HI 96817
Dear Ms. Machado & Mr. Ahuna,
First and foremost, a sincere thank you for the attendance of yourself and others
of OHA on the meeting of August 23, 2019. I am truly apologetic for any failure of my
part that resulted in misunderstandings of the meeting. In my attempt to be truthful, I
felt it should be clearly stated what the ultimate goal of gathering Hawaiian leaders were
as this was openly stated when the Governor asked me to attempt to reach common
ground peacefully. As careful as I tried to be, it obviously was not enough.
On apologies:
• I would never in anyway, knowingly be guilty of misusing Hawaiians
kindness in any way. I hope how I spent my life demonstrates this.
• Please know I never meant to blindside or misrepresent anyone.
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
August 20, 2019
C. Machado & D. Ahuna
Page 2
On miscommunication:
• Listed is excerpt from the Hawaii Tribune Herald:
HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD— July 30, 2019
"A Friday meeting between leaders of the Native Hawaiian community
and Mayor Harry Kim regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope project
was inconclusive, Kim said during a press conference Monday.
As pad of his role as mediator between the state and TMT opponents,
Kim said he arranged the meeting to receive `guidance"from community
leaders about how to address the ongoing protest agains construction of
the telescope.
However, Kim said the only real consensus[emphasis added]from the
meeting was an "acknowledgement of differing viewpoints,"as well as an
agreement to have more meetings....."
• My email to the invited meeting participants:
"Please review, especially the general consensus, for any changes you would
like to make. I hope to receive your comments ASAP. A press conference will be
scheduled shortly after feedback has been received from all attendees. If you care not
to be identified[emphasis added]as an attendee, please notify me. I apologize for the
rush. I did not anticipate having a press conference, but the coconut wireless to the
press mandates that I provide information to prevent the spread of misinformation."
The only point of your correspondence that I disagree with is that continued
participation by OHA would not be constructive. I again am apologetic on
miscommunication on my part.
Sincerely,
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Harry Kim
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County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer