HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL-SMA-2023-000038 01.16.24 Kilihea InabaDISTRIBUTED AT LPC 1-18-24 HEARING
Item #3 Kona Hawaii Development LLC
1-16-24 Kilihea Inaba Testimony
From:
Kilihea Inaba
To:
LPCtestimonv
Subject:
Opposition of SMA 2023-000036 & SMA 2023-000038
Date:
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 10:05:58 PM
Attachments:
Kona Hawaii Deve.docx
Phil Tinauelv.docx
Aloha Commissioners,
Please find attached letters.
Mahalo,
Kilihea Inaba
Aloha Commissioners,
My name is Kilihea Inaba, I am a Native Hawaiian descendant, and of Kaloko, Kona.
I am opposing the SMA Use application by Kona Hawaii Development, LLC for TMK (3) 7-5-
018:011 for a few reasons listed.
1) As a first responder who has worked in busy Kailua town, I can only imagine the effects
of adding more people to an area that is already overcrowded. There are three county
ambulance units responsible for covering the area of Maniniowali/ Kua Bay all the way
south to the 93 mile marker, which is a few miles north of Miloli'i. On a busy day in
Kailua, Kealakekua's ambulance is required to respond to calls in Kailua, making them
unavailable to respond to any calls in their own South Kona district, which is made up
primarily of long-time local residents. In addition to the issue mentioned, traffic is
sometimes at a standstill, making 911 response times longer than they should be. We
are directly affecting the health and well-being of Hawai'i island people by constructing
development that increases tourism without the appropriate resources.
2) The existing infrastructure in Kona, namely our septic system at the Kealakehe
Wastewater Treatment Plant, is lacking the capacity to efficiently support the current
population in Kona. It would be ill-advised to build more units (that we know will not
house the people who need it most) along an already very congested Ali'i Drive. Most of
us are aware of the suit brought upon the County of Hawai'i because of the inadequate
and illegal operation of the Kealakehe WWTP where most of Kona's septic waste goes
and where this project's waste would go to as well. In the background report under
Wastewater and Solid Waste, it states that "the applicant intends to discharge the
project site's wastewater to the existing sewer line along Ali'i Drive" and that "solid
waste generated on the property will be disposed off -site in conformance with the
Department of Environmental Management Solidy Waste Division." With 1.6 million
gallons a day of partially treated sewage being dumped into a pit and evidently draining
into our waters outside of Kaloko/ Honokohau, a 100-hotel room would absolutely add
to the desctruction of our coastal and ocean resources that is already occurring. We
must put the needs of our local residents first; specifically clean water.
3) 1 understand that the Kona Hawaii Development, LLC is not responsible for the
irreversible damage done to the property based on the statement that "the site was fully
disturbed when the original SMA application (No. 388) was approved in 1998." It can be
implied that no study was ever done on this area prior to the construction of the
concrete slab that is now there. Further construction on an area that is not guaranteed
to not have archaeological or historial sites due to the negligence of previous owners as
well as state and county agencies should not be approved just because there is a
concrete foundation present.
I urge you, the Leeward Planning Commission to consider the unfavorable effects that this
development would have on the Kona community and environment.
Mahalo for your time,
Kilihea Inaba
Kaloko, Kona