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Home My WebLink About2024-03-04 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Mahina Lorenzo Opposition Testimony From: Lori-Lee Lorenzo To: WPCtestimony Subject: Testimony of Mahina Lorenzo OPPOSITION TO BLACK SAND BEACH LLC. Date: Monday, March 4, 2024 9:59:12 PM Attachments: Testimony of Mahina Lorenzo OPPOSITION TO BLACK SAND BEACH LLC..pdf Testimony of Mahina Lorenzo March 4, 2024 OPPOSITION TO BLACK SAND BEACH LLC. Aloha Members of the Windward Planning Commision, I am writing this letter in OPPOSITION to this planned development of Punalu'u. I am Mahina Lorenzo and I was raised in Ka'u and still live in Pahala. My great grandmother is Holo Kahiki Pinao and my great grandfather is Charles E. Stone. I have relatives that are buried in the little chapel graveyard overlooking the ocean at Punalu'u. I feel it is unfair that foreign entities have the right to decide what is best for the people who live in Ka'u. Many of us have been taught since we were little children to respect and protect our aina and our precious natural resources, as well as the native species, many of them endangered, and to stop development from taking these away forever. Ka'u is one of the last isolated and pristine areas left in the state, and we who live here sacrifice convenience and "nearness to the cities and stores" because we like the country lifestyle and being able to spend our days being close to nature and living sustainably. There are more than enough resorts statewide or worldwide, for those people who wish to work in them or live near them. They can very easily move there, if they can afford it. However, once our pristine and beautiful landscapes and oceans are developed and changed, they will never be brought back to their original state. Also, the development will raise our property taxes and make rents and prices of homes even more unaffordable than they already are. It is a sad fact that local residents are forced to move away from their homeland because they cannot afford to live in the place where they were born and raised. Please vote NO to this planned development at Punalu'u. Mahalo, Mahina Lorenzo