HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL-SMA-2022-000018, PL-SPP-2022-000018 01.19.23 E. SUNDMAN TESTIMONY (LATE) Araujo, Jaclyn
From: Emily Sundman <emilysundman@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2023 12:54 PM
To: LPCtestimony
Subject: AHU POHAKU HOOMALUHIA LLC ( Formerly Robert Watkins and Jean Sunderland
Good afternoon,
I am writing in regards to the proposed rezoning and expansion of the Hawaiian Life Retreat (AHU POHAKU
HOOMALUHIA LLC ( Formerly Robert Watkins and Jean Sunderland) from today's meeting. My apologies on
missing the deadline, but I am very concerned about the expansion of the resort in this agricultural and family
area given the ongoing issues the resort, their guests, and contractors currently cause. I have summarized
these concerns below with specific examples.
1. Traffic usage of Maluhia Rd and Pratt Rd. Pratt road (currently unpaved) is a wonderful roadway
providing safe travel for families and children to either walk or ride bicycles to avoid Akoni Pule hwy on
their way to Kamehameha Park. Pratt rd and Maluhia are frequently used by families to safely access
areas reached by Pratt rd while avoiding dangerous traffic. My family uses Pratt rd in order for our
children to bicycle to school at Kohala Elementary. Unfortunately, I have personnaly nearly been hit by
vehicles traveling at excessive speed on Pratt Rd that were on their way to Hawaii Life Resort on five
separate occasions in the past 4 months. One time the vehicle nearly struck my nine-year-old son on
his bicycle as he was pulled over on the side of the road. All of these individuals were either guests or
contractors/employees of Hawaii Life Resort. I have seen several near accidents of other children who
were safely traveling on the shoulder of Pratt Rd as well.
2. Wandering Tourists from the Resort. My family (including two small children) lives near the resort on
Honopueo Rd. We have repeatedly had tourist in our yard, near our children playing outside. These
tourists believed they should be allowed on my private property because it "seemed beautiful", and
numerous tourist had been told by employees of the resort they can access my personal property to
take photos or otherwise lounge outside. I cannot stress enough how upsetting this is given that I have
small children who would be at risk of kidnapping from these people. Often, my children (playing feet
from our home) have told me about the trespassers and I have had to run outside to investigate who
these people are. Repeated calls to the resort has not improved the frequency of these trespassers.
3. Poor signage for resort and coastal access. Due to the poor signage provided by the resort to direct
tourists both to their resort and for coastal access, particularly at the numerous turns to reach the
resort across Maluhia and Pratt roads, many tourists have inadvertently ended up at various locations
across Pratt and Honopueo Rd. Myself and many of my neighbors are fully invested in the agricultural
needs of Kohala and have cattle and other livestock on these roads. I have frequently had to stop
tourists from attempting to open gates to turn their cars around in, or otherwise harassing animals
across fences.
I hope my neighbors and my concerns regarding the safety of residents of Kohala, particularly our keiki to
safely reach school and Kamehameha Park are taken into consideration and this proposal is rejected.
Kind regards,
Emily Sundman
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