Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutINDIVIDUAL COMMENT EMAIL - 128911Mori, Ashley From: Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:55 PM To:General Plan Subject: RE: Remove Mahukona Resort from Hawaii County General Plan 2020 Attachments: MKOKI Remove Mahukona Resort from HCGP 2020.pdf Aloha, Attached please find my comments to support the removal of Mahukona Resort from the Hawaii County General Plan 2020. Should you have a problem opening up these files, please text me at and send me a fax number to submit it timely by Thursday, October 31, 2019. Sincerely in Aloha, 3 0 128911 1 Maika'i Kamakani '0 Kohala, Incorporated PO Box 40 Kapaau, Hi 96577—PO Box 1026 Euless,TX 76039-Cell: 808-854-7326 RE: Remove Mahukona Resort from the Hawaii County General Plan 2020 I am finding it very unpleasantto provide my comments and mana'o. Yetaware the policy of deadlines must be in its entirety,a voice. At first my attemptto provide a personaltake on this was to deem as separate. Yet how can I separate the kanaka maoli,the innate of Naihe from the Founder of nonprofit Maika'i Kamakani'0 Kohala, Incorporated aka MKOKI? We are one in the same,not different nor separated and certainly not difficult but always finding a center of peace with truth. My rooted ties to Kohala goes far back 15th generation Naihe and today the generation is close to 20tH The"Modern-Day Hawaiian"says"to be the 7th generation is to be held in a special place",whatever that means. Then I gather I must be privileged noting Naihe's father being Keawe-a-Heulu,maternal great grandfather of our last reigning Queen far back alone as tabled in hergenealogy confirmingthis in Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen. My ties are deeperthan the normal modern-day Hawaiian.In my district of Kohala,we do not believe in placing na kupuna in the forefront of protesting but to sit down face to face as we've done countless times with Hawaii County Planning Department officials. For it is of the old ways of protecting and preserving"all things Hawaiian". it is also protectingand preserving the rightful respect of na kupuna, keiki or na opio always at the forefront as it would if provided in a pu'uhonua. By history there were three pu'uhonua of record on Moku'o Keawe. Hilo(Coconut Island),Kealakekua Honaunau)and Wai'apuka in Kohala. Wai'apuka has been mentioned in the pastwith OHA's newsletters to its subscribers by our respective kupuna widowed Aunty Marie Solomon who was also a board memberof MKOKI up to her passing. She was also my grandaunt. She and her husband,Robert Sonny"Solomon,half sibling of my father's maternal mother was responsible for all the important historical sites,not limited to na heiau and other sacred places in the North Kohala District. In fact, Wai'apuka is home to my'ohana Naihe gravesite. It is also Kamehameha l's favorite water spot in Pololu Valley area. Please note that the basis of my history is to point out truth and my direct lineal descendants of past. For even my'ohana Naihe has property in the Mahukona District also clouded underTMK's. Really,it's over 350 acres in Kohala as scattered and known by Chalon International,name changed to Kohala Surety. As a direct lineal descendant of Naihe,Kupuka'a(one ofseven children of high priesthood who took care of god Ku in Hapu'u area of Kohala aka: Hale 'o Kai'li (Ku Kai'limoku),Pao'o,Luhiau as mentioned in the attached history,my lineage arrived prior to the Kamehameha Dynasty which makes up the entire moku o Keawe aka: Hawaii County clouded underTMK. 128911 Maika'i Kamakani'O Kohala, Incorporated aka: MKOKI RE: Remove Mahukona Resort from the General Plan October 29, 2019 On "The Mauna"issue,I,unlike the modern-day Hawaiian,still believes in the law and guidelines of the present as it instinctively and overtly resolves to a standing of"placement". As Mary Kawena Pukui, known Historian has stated as translated in English,"Land is likened to an AIii and we are just its servants." As a servant and by koko(bloodline),an ali'i mo'i, I speak for myself personally and professionally as Founder of MKOKI to stop the Resort Designation of Mahukona. No!To the Resort Design ation of Mahukona. Sincerely in Aloha, 52-/-1-\---7 phanie N.Naihe Laxton CEO.Founder.President PC:files Mayor Harry Kim ATTACHMENTS Mahukona— History and Values General Description. The land and series of small inlets between the Mahukona Lighthouse and Kapa'a Park have been settled and publically used for 700 years.It harbored several canoe landings,villages and four spiritual sites including the deep water navigational Ko'a Holo Moana Heiau.During the mahele,the land was granted under royal patents to Lot Kamehameha(KingKamehameha V)and Princess Ruth Ke'elikolani.Transfer ofthe land to Western owners is not clear and has been challenged in court. Mahukona became one ofHawaii's first international ports,known as a supplier of fresh food to ships.In 1878 the Hawaii Kingdom approved construction of Hawaii's first railroad system,which was funded byKingKalakaua.In 1884 the railroad brought 20,000 tons of cargo,6,000 passengers,mail and news to Kohala and shipped out sugar and cattle until the 1950's.The town of40 families and wharfsystem were closed after that.Though most structures are in ruins,at least 179 archaeological and historic sites,23 burial sites,shrines and ancient trails are still intact.The land between the parks of Mahukona and Kapa'a was freely used by the public for fishing,gathering and recreation,aided by court-granted public vehicular access,up until 1989 when Chalon International,Inc.gated the coastal trails and road. Offshore, the sea floor is littered with one ofthe highest concentrations ofmarine debris and sunken ships found in Hawaii.It is a haven for snorkelers and divers. Recreation and Education-Mahukona has been used continually fora variety of recreational activities including fishing,snorkeling,camping,picnicking,hiking/walking and is one ofthe few safe accesses for swimming and launching small boats on the entire coast.A variety of groups use the area for cultural and educational activities,including Na Maka'ala o Kohala and Na Kalai wa'a Moku o Hawai'i because of the navigational Ko'a Holo Moana Heiau,one of the few in Hawaii that is easily accessible with no intrusion ofmodern activities or buildings/development.From sunup to sunset the now-remaining public area is full of cats,people,swimmers,boaters,hikers and picnickers.It is THE most used of all recreation areas in the North Kohala district.Until the swimming pool was built in the 1970s virtually every KohalayoungsterlearnedtoswimatMahukona. Prior to 1989 all the lands surrounding the harbor were openly used by the public.Nishimura Bay was a major recreation area.Since then the foreign owner has fenced,signed and put rock barriers even onthe public vehicular access gained by Hui Mamalahoa in three separate court cases in the 1980s.Through County Ordinance 93-109 and SMA Permit 341 public shoreline access became mandatory,but with delays in completing the resort and subdivision the owner has restricted access to self-issued permits since 1990. There is currently no public access agreement with the County or State. Historic/Cultural preservation-Archaeological surveys commissioned by the owners located 179 sites at Mahukona.These sites are part ofan interrelated and continuous settlement along the North Kohala coast which has the highest density ofpre-contact sites in Hawaii.Although many surface archaeological surveys have been done at Mahukona,none have researched the cultural importance ofthe area. Marlenajon Waihe'e Stafford,who was for many years the superintendent ofadjoining Lapakahi State Historical Park and a founding member ofNa Maka'ala o Kohala,testified before the Hawaii County Council in August 1993 saying, Mahukona contains a number ofvery significant culturaland religious sites.I was taught about some ofthem by the kupuna ofNa Maka'ala 0 Kohala.Ihave also benefitedfrom the wisdom of other honored kupuna:Henry Papa Auwae, who was taught the art ofHawaiian healing atLapakahi, and Clive Luhiau, whose ancestors were the konohiki ofLapakahi. They livedat Mahukona andserved as high priests atKukuipahuHeiau. They have toldme that Mahukona is linked to several important religious centers.Among these are the healing centerofLapakahi, and the ancient heiau at Kukuipahu. Theseplaces haveshared a symbiotic relationshipfrom the beginning oftime.Such a relationship is called ho'omana.It is the spiritual harmony that must exist between religious places. Therefore,Mahukona is essential to the spiritual existence ofLapakahi and Kukuipahu. Ifany ofthese three sites are altered in the wrong way, the ho'omana will be affected or destroyed. While it may be tempting tofavor one version ofhistory because it is convenient to do so, the citizens ofKohala and the Hawaiian race deserve to have all thefacts broughtforward before irreversible damage is done to our sacredplaces. These places have been in existencefor over a thousandyears. Certainly we must considerformore than a moment before we take action which may alter or destroy their value. Surely we must consult with everyperson who can help us understand the impact ofwhat we are doing. At one time I believed that a Mahukona Lodge could coexist with sacred andculturalplaces.However, considering what I have been taught by the kupuna, any development which takesplace there must, ifit is to respect the religion andculture ofthe Hawaiian people, be undertaken with the utmost care. We must be absolutely certain that we do not destroy its spirituality in our eagernessforprogress orprofit. " Protection of natural resources— A recent University ofHawaii,Hilo report heavily criticized the impact development along the South Kohala Coast has and is having on ocean resources. Creating a significant buffer between development and the ocean along the more pristine North Kohala coast is critical to protecting reefs and other aquatic resources because development will eventually harm this area if no meaningful buffer(1000 m to 2000 m)is created. Also,these parcels are important to several endangered(listed)species: The Hawaiian Hoary Bat has been sighted and recently the Hawaiian Monk seals have been frequenting Mahukona. The sightings have prompted new signage by the State regarding care for these endangered animals. These areas are important to the recovery of three endangered,endemic shrubs: acharanthes,ko'oloa'ula, and ohai.Common name-acharanthes; Family-Amaranthaceae;Genus Acharanthes;Species—mutica Common name-mutica; Family-Malvaceae;Genus- Abutilon;Species- menzesii Common name- ohai; Family-Fabaceae;Genus- Sesbania;Species- tomentosa Preservation of coastal areas,natural beauty—The natural beauty and viewplanes along this area and the need to preserve this area in open space are recognized in multiple planning documents including the recent North Kohala Community Development Plan,adopted as County Ordinance 08-151 in November 2008.Also scenic beauty is a strong point in both the Northwest Hawaii Open Space Plan and the West Hawaii Regional Plan.Preservation of coastal scenic beauty was a major strategy point in the North Kohala Coastline Conference.The area is marginal grazing land and the community has expressed interest in re-establishing the native coastal dryland shrub and tree forest.