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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-20 Leeward Exh E (Public Testimony C Loprinzi) LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI`I TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT OCTOBER 20, 2022 Public testimony of Clare Loprinzi via Zoom was heard at 9:46 a.m. in the West Hawaii Civic Center, Community Center, Building G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with Chairman Michael Vitousek presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Michael Vitousek, Barbara DeFranco, Clement"CJ" Kanuha III, and Mahina Paishon-Duarte ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Michael Dela Cruz and Zaheva Knowles ALSO PRESENT: Keyra Wong, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission), Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Department), Jeffrey Darrow (Deputy Planning Director), Maija Jackson (Planning Program Manager), Jessica Andrews (Planner), Clinton Mercado (Planner), Janice Hata(Zoom host), and Noriko Sauer (Commission Secretary) VITOUSEK: Is Clare our next testifier? HATA: Yes. Clare if you could unmute and begin your testimony. I'll let you know when your time is up. LOPRINZL Okay, aloha. You guys can hear me? VITOUSEK: Yes, we can. LOPRINZL Okay. I'm a traditional, cultural customary practitioner. Now, I am really bothered, I'm going to speak on several issues. I supported Bill 194, the SMA issue. This is and I'm just really honest and blunt and people know that about me. I've been a practitioner of fifty- one (51)years. This is so alarming to me that we are even in a situation like this when extended permits would even be considered when you know that Ali`i Highway extension would never, cannot happen right now. There is no archaeological, the kapuna iwi, not"—", not" —" all ancestors of all ethnicities of bones are just being dug up. There's no route for any of us that understands the severity of generational trauma on our women, on our people, on our babies and on the next many generations of lineal descendants and all descendants. But I'm talking lineal descendants. You are in Kahalu`u. When we try to go on and we saw that they had blasted through where the iwi are, there's bones there, there's archaeological sites. There is no recourse that we haven't done by calling Planning Commission we will be down there, calling SHPD we will be down there, DOCARE we will be down there. Where the hell is people. They are not coming down there on purpose. How much have been people have been paid off? How many Commissioners appointed by Roth have conflict of interest by even buying properties? How many lineal 1 EXHIBIT E descendants are saying that oh yes, we can just put the iwi in a container. Shame on you! Do you know what that means? Do you know that for us, as traditional people that our babies are directly affected. That I'm helping lineal descendant's births. Our lineal descendants are directly affected by what happens to their iwi, the Kuakini Wall and all the burials are there. The conflict of saying that now you're trying to do extending periods with going through this system that's, so mafia induced. So corrupt! How can you guys even sit there? I mean, I'm just like appalled that right now isn't this happening in Honolulu where people are being investigated on the seats that you guys are holding. What are we supposed to do if you think that we are going to sit back and not do anything, you're wrong. We have our ancestors that we need to respect. It has a direct affect on our customary practices that are still intact. La`aloa, you have people coming in there to put the bathrooms there. Where's the skit is going to go? Literally! Where is it going to go? I mean that to even consider that you guys would do a health thing. That's one of Gandhi's main things was to get the skit out of the "—"people from shitting next to the Gandhi's River. What are you guys doing. What are you allowing? How can you extend, how can you have a marketplace now where you are trying to put in Hawaiian culture, when you just took the bones, and you've got them in containers. Where you're crushing the bones. When you don't even understand the concept of lava— VITOUSEK: Are we keeping track of time on this? LOPRINZL No, I have three (3) — HATA: Yes, I— [Talking above one another LOPRINZL "—" VITOUSEK: Okay. I will remind you that it is important to be courteous, and respectful to the Planning Commissioners who are volunteering their time — LOPRINZL I'm being respectful — VITOUSEK: —to serve their community and it is inappropriate to make accusations about— LOPRINZL I'm not making accusations, I'm just saying — VITOUSEK: —bribes and all that kind of thing from this volunteered board. So, if you'd like to continue, please continue respectfully and please continue on the topic of the agenda item being discussed. Thank you. LOPRINZL Okay. Yeah. So, for me these topics are very relevant because the creation of a Kona Community Development Plan. Who was hired by Zendo? Is there a development involved with this? You know, now Public Works is allowed to just come in and grub for what a fine? I mean or they can get a permit for $80.00 and then they can grub away, acres away or however 2 EXHIBIT E much. And then when you say no, there's archaeological sites in there and then we're watching our ancestors' sites, we're watching them get crushed away and we've gone through every single process that we have access to do. And promising, we will come, we will come and meanwhile the bulldozers are just going on and on and on and that has a deep effect on me and on every lineal descendant and on their children and on their children, children. So, that why I'm saying this like is that how is the Public Works allowing grubbing and grading in Special Management Areas without permits. No posting. You're supposed to post something outside. So, nothing is even posted. Where is the environmental assessment and the cultural assessment? Where is that done? And why is — VITOUSEK: Okay, thank you. I believe that's all the time that we have for that. LOPRINZL No, I have nine (9) minutes because I have, and if you want to do this, this is all taped too. I have 9 minutes; I'm talking about 3 different topics. So, you've now interrupted me respectfully I'm saying this to you two (2)times, and I have 3 minutes for each issue. That is my right! And that is — VITOUSEK: We are currently addressing agenda item 2, the public testimony as part of— [Talking above one another LOPRINZL Yes. VITOUSEK: Pardon me. Asa Chair of this meeting, I'd like you to maintain order and listen for a second. We're discussing agenda Item 2 at this time; we have 3 minutes to testify on agenda Item 2 and I believe that 3 minutes is up— LOPRINZL I have one more, yeah — [Talking above one another "—'J VITOUSEK: — and if you'd like to add anything you can do so at the time of the next agenda items provided that testimony is respectful, ma'am, if you continue to interrupt, we will have no choice but to remove you from the meeting. I hope that you can understand that as— LOPRINZL —I have one more thing. Yes, I have one more thing, when we have testified before, we had that option when you have 3 things so that we don't have to call back in. So that we don't have to wait because we too have families and children and jobs, and we take time, and this is not a paid thing. VITOUSEK: Correct. LOPRINZL So, I only have one more— VITOUSEK: And unfortunately, that time has passed already. 3 EXHIBIT E [Talking above one another "—'J LOPRINZL —I have one more— VITOUSEK: We have moved on New Business and so this will be concluded and if you'd like to add anything to the subsequent agenda items you're welcome to do so at that time. But for now LOPRINZL —but I only have so much— [Talking above one another "—'J VITOUSEK: —that concludes it, and I will ask the Host to mute you at this time. [Host had mute testifier Loprinzi] VITOUSEK: Mahalo. The testimony was ended at 9:53 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador Secretary to Boards and Commissions 4 EXHIBIT E