HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-03 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Jennifer Van Arkel Opposition Testimony From: Jennifer Van Arkel
To: WPCtestinnonv
Subject: Punalu'u
Date: Sunday,March 3,2024 6:01:39 PM
Hello.
My name is Jennifer Van Arkel. My husband,two children and son-in-law live in Ocean View.
We have been a part of Malama Pono Punalu'u since its inception.We were also able to see Punalu'u prior to,
during and after the pandemic.
Prior to the pandemic there were often 5-20 honu spread all over Punalu'u Beach.There was a handful of locals
fishing,boating,camping,enjoying the pavilion and having fun in the water.During the pandemic all of that slowed
down.After the pandemic it was like there was a memo that went out to everyone visiting the Big Island to make
sure they stopped by to"see the turtles on the black sand beach".There were suddenly HUNDREDS of people and
very few turtles.
Since we started Malama Pono Punalu'u,I have never seen more than 5 turtles on the beach at a time.I have only
seen a turtle outside of the rock enclosure twice in the past 2.5+years both as volunteering and visiting the beach.
This tells me that the turtles do not come on the beach as a result of the huge increase in visitors to the beach.
I have seen people trying to touch the turtles,attempting to walk through the rock enclosure,going inside the roped
off area and agitating the Hawaiian monk seals.I have seen people snorkeling and swimming in very rough waters
that I would not attempt to go into-all after the lifeguards have left.They have attempted to take sand,coconuts,
anything they can carry from the beach. I have seen a woman dislocate her shoulder holding her toddler daughter in
her hands to get a picture on the algae-covered rocks. I have seen several others fall and hurt themselves and
countless others put themselves in danger.
I can not imagine this little beach holding even more people that the proposed"resort"would bring. There are
simply not enough resources in our little countryside to manage this resort.
My personal experience is that the developer has promised to clean up the area and other than clearing foliage once
and putting up rocks to block parking-I've seen no"improvements"as promised.I don't feel that we can trust that
the resources needed will be provided to help with the influx of people,traffic,waste,etc that will come with the
proposed resort.
We are a family that picks up rubbish from every beach we go to.We are not kanaka,but we respect the culture and
the aina we live in.We have found Olive Ridley hatchlings at a beach here on Big Island,we volunteer in our
community regularly.My husband coaches baseball from Little League to varsity here in Ka'u.We see the needs of
the community and a resort does not-in any way-attempt to meet the needs of this community.In fact,it scares me
what it will mean for the Olive Ridleys,the Hawaiian green sea,the Hawksbill,the Hawaiian monk seal,the people
struggling to make a safe living here in the country that we chose for its peace and ruralness.
There are resorts on the island.Look at those areas.We don't need more.They don't answer the needs of the local
people or wildlife.They bring in people who do not help the community.I know this is not an easy choice. I hope
the choice goes to the people who malama this aina-not to the person who wants to make money off of the land.
This is not progress.
I fervently hope this proposal does not go through.
Thank you for your time,
Jennifer Van Arkel
Jenfred23 @hotmail.com
808-987-5796