HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL-SLU-2022-008-PL-REZ-2022-039 06.13.23 M. Akau-LaClair Opposition Testimony From: Mia Akau-LaClair
To: LPCtestimonv
Subject: OPPOSING TESTIMONY: KAUPULEHU LAND LLC, PL-SLU-2022-000008, PL-REZ-2022-000039
Date: Tuesday,June 13,2023 6:17:12 AM
My name is Mia Akau-LaClair and I live in Pu`ukapu, Waimea and own a home on
Waikelehua Place directly across the main highway from the proposed project site.
fully OPPOSE all applications submitted by Kaupulehu Land LLC.
I am writing on behalf of the Akau `Ohana of Waimea and eight generations of my
family who are nurtured by the lands and waters of Waimea. My family has lived on
this land neighboring the proposed property for the past 50 years and we are one of
the last old time families remaining in the area. I have witnessed the area around my
family home transform from a few local family homes, grazed pasture land, and forest
into commercial office spaces, large residential subdivisions, and a traffic nightmare.
At one time we could farm and hunt on these lands and share food amongst our
families. Waimea will forever be home to my family and we stand to make sure that
our Waimea remains for all future generations. This project and many that have
come before continue to threaten our subsistence way of life growing, raising,
gathering food— living in balance with `aina and we wholeheartedly OPPOSE all
applications submitted by Kaupulehu Land LLC.
The proposed project is contrary to all five policies of the Waimea Town Plan of the
South Kohala Community Development Plan developed by the Waimea community to
maintain the core values and culture of our town. Additionally, the goals of the County
General Plan are much too broad to achieve the strategies and overall intentions of
the Waimea Town Plan.
Policy 1: Preservation of Waimea's sense of place through protection of important
lands, resources, cultural sites, agricultural lands and open space areas.
The proposed project directly conflicts with preserving Waimea`s sense of place by
destroying one of the last remaining open spaces and unobstructed views of revered
Mauna Kea in our neighborhood and along the highway corridor. Constructing
commercial and residential spaces with a country character does not equate to
preservation of place, destruction is destruction.
Policy 2: Moderating the pace of growth and change in Waimea by providing
adequate infrastructure before any large-scale new residential or commercial projects
can be considered by the County.
The proposed project contributes to the rapid commercialization of Waimea rather
than moderating the pace of growth based on the carrying capacity of our `aina
resources.
Policy 3: Wise management of natural resources and important agricultural lands.
The proposed project site was a family farm for the better part of the last 100 years
and prior to that it was a native forest ecosystem that continued into Waimea from our
uplands. In the past year a pair of `lo (Hawaiian hawk) have been seen regularly in
the vicinity of the proposed project site demonstrating the importance of the area as
habitat to a revered native bird species not found on any other Hawaiian island. The
agricultural and natural resource land uses are highly valued by our community and
replacing these lands with commercial development directly conflicts with wise
management of our natural and agricultural resources.
Policy 4: Development of affordable housing projects for low and moderate income
people of Waimea.
Contrary to Policy 4, the application for the proposed project does not include any
plans for affordable housing.
Policy 5: Timely construction of transportation and circulation improvements to
alleviate severe traffic congestion impacting Waimea Town.
The proposed project is expected to contribute a large amount of additional vehicles
to already daily gridlock traffic without providing adequate transportation and
circulation improvements.
The Planning Commission has a kuleana (responsibility) to the `aina and people
of Waimea to uphold these principal values by rejecting projects that directly
conflict and should therefore OPPOSE all applications submitted by Kaupulehu
Land LLC.
Waimea should be the strongest voice we all listen to. When I listen to her I hear her
cry. She is saying my streams are running dry, my forests and kula lands are overrun
with disease, invasive plants, and ungulates, my food systems and farms are
dwindling, and the influx of people are overdeveloping and dramatically changing my
fertile landscape. For these reasons I say enough, I say NO this project should
not move forward, I OPPOSE all applications submitted by Kaupulehu Land
LLC.
I submit my final plea to the Leeward Planning Commission with my family at my side
and my kupuna at my back. I ask you to restore faith in this system that was
established to listen to the people and has not. I urge you to listen to the `aina and the
people of this place. In closing, I will say it again and again, I OPPOSE all
applications submitted by Kaupulehu Land LLC. I am asking all Commissioners
to represent to my family and my community and reject these applications.
Me ke aloha `aina `oia`i`o,
Mia Akau-LaClair