HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-05 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Laurai Dumaguin Opposition Testimony From: James and Laurai Dumaouin
To: W PCtesti mono
Subject: Opposition to the Ka"u Development
Date: Tuesday, March 5,2024 11:31:47 AM
Please do not allow Ka'u to become another Kona!
My name is Laurai Dumaguin. I am a long time Kona resident but was previously a
Ka'u resident for 12 years. Sadly, over the years, I have witnessed the effects of
unaccountable developments in Kona. I have become deeply saddened, especially
with regard to our shoreline access in Kona being diminished or restricted by
developers who have control because their roadway has been deemed the only
access to the shoreline. We had access roads long before the developers existed,
what happened to them? Developers provide a limited amount of parking stalls and
when those stalls are full, the beach or shoreline access is closed. Who gave
developers the power, the right, to determine how many people can access our Kona
shorelines daily!!
This is Hawaii! Many of us depend on the ocean as a sustainable lifestyle. Aside
from gathering food from the ocean, for many of us the ocean is "our happy place". A
place where we go to surf or to watch surfers, both young and old, to watch fathers
teaching sons how to fish, to meditate, to rejuvenate, to find peace and tranquility as
we find joy in a new sunrise or sunset, an increased appreciation for the beauty of
these Islands and especially for the culture that is uniquely Hawaii. In 1986, part of
the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of the concept of "lifestyle" included
individual patterns of behavior determined by sociocultural factors. In Kona we have
been forced to change our individual cultural patterns of behavior due to sociocultural
factors because access to our our "happy place" (the shoreline) is being limited and
therefore control by developers.
One of the unique things I loved about Ka'u was that it was unspoiled and residences
had unlimited shoreline access. They could continue to practice individual cultural
patterns of behavior. If the developer is permitted to follow through on their present
proposed development plan for Ka'u, all this will change. While I am not opposed to
development, I am opposed to the changes that may be forced upon the people of
Ka'u due to sociocultural factors if the developer's proposed plans are approved.
I propose the developer be held accountable by doing the following:
1 . Build away from the coastline
2. Build further away from the Tsunami Zone
3. Complete an updated Environmental Impact Study, focusing on the impact that this
development will have on Wild Life, especially the famous Punalu'u Sea Turtles
4. Increase the amount of access roads and main road routes. Having the traditional
"one road" route is insufficient! Kona residents can testify to this fact.
5. Do a study on infrastructure focusing on whether the county system presently in
place is sufficient to handle the increased emergencies that may arise especially with
regards to fires, etc.
6. Complete an updated study on how this development will impact the freshwater
system of Ka'u
I plead, Do not allow Ka'u to become another Kona statistic! Let us be wiser and
learn from past experiences when it comes to development in Hawaii.
Thank You
Laurai Dumaguin
73-4340 Napala Place Place
Kailua Kona, HI 96740