HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-04 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Denise Attwood & Ric Conner Opposition Testimony From: Denise Attwood
To: WPCtestimonv;Council Remote Testimony
Subject: Development of Punalu"u Black Sand Beach
Date: Monday,March 4, 2024 5:20:15 PM
To: The Windward Planning Commission
March 5, 2024
To Those at the Planning Commission:
My husband Ric Conner and I have been visiting the south part of the Big Island of Hawaii for
the past several weeks and were introduced to the Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. What an
amazing and special place, from the black sand to the turtles & butterflies, to all of the
magnificent pools formed in the lava. This place is such a treasure and should be a National
Park! We were so thrilled to be able to enjoy this special spot several times during our stay.
It was with great sadness, then, that we heard that this beautiful beach and surrounding area
is being considered for development. Development can go anywhere, but you could never
replace this unique spot. To develop this area would be a travesty to the island community
and also to this incredibly unique and spectacular place. The turtles here already seem like
they are dealing with enough human population and to add more would more than likely
make them disappear.
We have spent a lot of time on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico and watched as well-spoken
developers came into a spectacular beach saying how they would preserve the area, only to
have it destroyed by their buildings and the influx of even more people. You have a highly
developed tourist area in the North, keep the South wild, pristine, rugged and beautiful. Don't
destroy it with more "development". The beach already feels like it is at capacity. It seems
better to petition to make it into part of the National Park and keep it protected forever.
As visitors to this special place we would ask that you deny the Special Area Management
Permit PL-SMA-2023-00046. Protect all the species that call this place home and preserve it
for future generations. This area once developed would never be restored.
Thank you for hearing our written testimony and thank you for sharing this beautiful wild
place with us. It will stay in our hearts forever.
All the best and Aloha.
Denise Attwood & Ric Conner
13212 South Austin Road
Spokane, WA 99210
509-499-3320
co-founder Ganesh Himal Trading 8t Conscious Connections Foundation
Fair Trade from Nepal since 1984!
509-448-6561
Member Fair Trade Federation, Green America
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