HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-05 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Julie Enriques Opposition Testimony From: Julie Enrioues
To: WPCtestimonv
Subject: Proposed Punalu"u Village Development
Date: Tuesday, March 5,2024 2:10:22 PM
Dear Windward Planning Commission:
I am a resident of Punalu'u and OPPOSE the SMA Application submitted by Black Sand Beach LLC.
Ka'u and Punalu'u are unique and beautiful. They are treasured by the residents who live there and the tourists who
visit. People like to see"Old Hawai'i"rather than the congestion of larger cities and a conglomeration of buildings
found in resorts. Our Black Sand Beach is already heavily used at times and our community is not even completed
built out. There are many vacant lots in Na'alahu(Mark Twain Estates,Discovery Harbour,Green Sands
Subdivisions)as well as Hawaii Ocean View Estates,Hawaii Ocean View Ranchos,Kona Garden Estates AND then
all of Volcano Subdivisions. Those community will look to enjoy Punalu'u as well. A HUGE RESORT will
overwhelm this area and ruin the charm and beauty the community loves.
This plan was not presented to the Community as a whole. The applicant has stated they have met with the
community and have the support of the community. That is not true.
Please refer to the Community Development Plan.. -hat is the voice of the Community. If there is a doubt in your
mind,please host meetings in the Community to listen to all the voices.
This Developer previously hosted 3 Public Meetings in Dec 2022&Jan 2023 which were for an earlier SMA
Application. Those meetings were contentious and it showed there was not consensus of support,thus they
withdrew that application. Since that time they have only held small personal invite meetings to people of their
choice and are trying to convey that is the community support. The most recent application the broader community
has just recently heard about in the last month or so and the people in the community are coming out on Social
Media,Petitions,Rallies and writing letters like myself and planning to testify on 3/7/24. Please LISTEN!!
Ka'u does have needs.....but it doesn't need a Huge Resort. We need affordable housing for the people. We need
Senior Housing. We need improved medical facilities,more services,but not at the expense of allowing a foreign
developer to benefit from the land without measurable benefits for the people who call this home. Listen to the
voices of the Community AND the voices in the Community Development Plan!!
The people who live in Ka'u CHOOSE to live here. We are PROUD to live here. There is a huge sense of
Community unlike anywhere else in the world.
Please deny this Proposed Punalu'u Village Development Plan. It is not what the community needs or what the
greater community is asking for. This will destroy and change the treasures of Punalu'u forever.
Sincerely,
Julie Enriques
julieenriques l @gmail_com
808-937-4990