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From: James and Laurai Dumaouin <br /> To: W PCtesti mono <br /> Subject: Opposition to the Ka"u Development <br /> Date: Tuesday, March 5,2024 11:31:47 AM <br /> Please do not allow Ka'u to become another Kona! <br /> My name is Laurai Dumaguin. I am a long time Kona resident but was previously a <br /> Ka'u resident for 12 years. Sadly, over the years, I have witnessed the effects of <br /> unaccountable developments in Kona. I have become deeply saddened, especially <br /> with regard to our shoreline access in Kona being diminished or restricted by <br /> developers who have control because their roadway has been deemed the only <br /> access to the shoreline. We had access roads long before the developers existed, <br /> what happened to them? Developers provide a limited amount of parking stalls and <br /> when those stalls are full, the beach or shoreline access is closed. Who gave <br /> developers the power, the right, to determine how many people can access our Kona <br /> shorelines daily!! <br /> This is Hawaii! Many of us depend on the ocean as a sustainable lifestyle. Aside <br /> from gathering food from the ocean, for many of us the ocean is "our happy place". A <br /> place where we go to surf or to watch surfers, both young and old, to watch fathers <br /> teaching sons how to fish, to meditate, to rejuvenate, to find peace and tranquility as <br /> we find joy in a new sunrise or sunset, an increased appreciation for the beauty of <br /> these Islands and especially for the culture that is uniquely Hawaii. In 1986, part of <br /> the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of the concept of "lifestyle" included <br /> individual patterns of behavior determined by sociocultural factors. In Kona we have <br /> been forced to change our individual cultural patterns of behavior due to sociocultural <br /> factors because access to our our "happy place" (the shoreline) is being limited and <br /> therefore control by developers. <br /> One of the unique things I loved about Ka'u was that it was unspoiled and residences <br /> had unlimited shoreline access. They could continue to practice individual cultural <br /> patterns of behavior. If the developer is permitted to follow through on their present <br /> proposed development plan for Ka'u, all this will change. While I am not opposed to <br /> development, I am opposed to the changes that may be forced upon the people of <br /> Ka'u due to sociocultural factors if the developer's proposed plans are approved. <br /> I propose the developer be held accountable by doing the following: <br /> 1 . Build away from the coastline <br /> 2. Build further away from the Tsunami Zone <br /> 3. Complete an updated Environmental Impact Study, focusing on the impact that this <br /> development will have on Wild Life, especially the famous Punalu'u Sea Turtles <br /> 4. Increase the amount of access roads and main road routes. Having the traditional <br /> "one road" route is insufficient! Kona residents can testify to this fact. <br /> 5. Do a study on infrastructure focusing on whether the county system presently in <br /> place is sufficient to handle the increased emergencies that may arise especially with <br /> regards to fires, etc. <br /> 6. Complete an updated study on how this development will impact the freshwater <br />