HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-09 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Donnamarie Pabre Opposition Testimony From: Donnamarie Pabre
To: WPCtestimony
Subject: Punalu"u
Date: Saturday,March 9,2024 11:47:45 AM
The people of Ka'u are as rugged as the land. Ka'u was the only district that Kamehameha
couldn't defeat. Most of the Kanaka Maoli ohana in Ka'u are related and it's said that our
ancestors fought extra hard because they fought alongside family. I am the 39th generation of
a Ka'u Lineal Mokuauhau, or genealogy chart. There were four generations of Kanaka ohana
attending the recent mtg in hilo. N folks from near n far joined us in support. I started going to
public mugs since I was barely 18. I was the kid watching my kupuna. Today, I'm nearing
kupuna stats myself n my heart is full to see the nx gens step up. We by been fighting this
fight for too long.N it's still sosdd. We by evolved. Have you? We know the county, state,n
fed playbook well.N our leaders have advanced degrees in ivy league schools. Plus, our lahui
is more organized n we are winning legal cases n setting legal precedents for more. One in
particular is kuleana lands n allodial titles. Punalu'u has kuleana lands n the descendants are
being aided by a Maui group who have successfully challenged the state n won. The county n
owner had 3 yrs to clean up the mess left by the previous owner n fix the broken infrastructure
incl leaking water tank,manual water pump, 8 out of 18 fire hydrants not working.. in a show
of good faith. Instead, she chose to seduce leading members of the community w her money n
cause division among lifelong friends n family. It's lk a bad Netflix movie. This is the largest
beach for Ka'u ohana n we will fight for it. We will go thru legal avenues knowing full well
that it's all rigged. But if we can't prevail, then we will stand in the way with our bodies.
Within one week,we got I Ik sigs on a petition n got people from near n far to attend the mtg
n support us. We are tired of the fake state tyranny n we aren't afraid of being arrested. This
project is no less shoddy than the rest. If there's one thing that brings all the different people of
Ka'u together- it's protecting n defending her from you. The attendance on Thursday was
peanuts compared to what you will see in Naalehu. Brace yourselves. Punalu'u is a Lahaina in
the making but y'all are clueless about our drying ohia in the upland forests that feeds the
lowlands. N just like Lahaina,the county n business interests by done more harm than good in
drying out our lowlands.No more. We will not allow it. We can turn this into another Mauna
Kea if need be. Our Hawaiian communities are strong n united now n we can get thousands to
stand w us. This is not a pono project n will destroy our way of life. Punalu'u is a community
place for locals not a playground for tourists. Pls make the pono choice. Ka'u over kala.