2024-03-15 Punalu'u John Broward OP

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From: John To: W PCtesti mons Subject: Opposition to Punalu'u SMA Date: Friday, March 15,2024 2:02:21 PM Thank you for the opportunity to provide this letter in opposition to the proposed development of a 225 residential and short stay units village and wellness center at the Punalu`u Black Sand Beach location. The applicant requests a Special Management Area (SMA)permit to construct the proposed facilities on land considered to be sacred to many native Hawaiians. In addition, I believe the development will cause significant environmental impacts to the ecology of the area in the following manner: 1) Increased population density and construction activities that will adversely impact the federally listed endangered Hawaiian green sea turtle (Honu) as well as the federally listed endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal. 2) Increased pollutants that may contaminate the nearby ocean and freshwater areas that depend on pristine water quality. 3) Withdrawal of fresh water from the aquifer that may adversely impact the salinity content of inshore areas and thereby threaten groundwater dependent ecosystems such as the Opae Ula(Halocaridina Rubra) and other species along the Kau coastline. 4) Construction activities and increased facilities will impact protected and sacred archeological sites and deny customary and traditional practices to native Hawaiian groups. 5) View Shed issues-this section of the Kau coast is one of the few places left in Hawaii where one can view an amazing coastline that has very little impact from humans. The Punalu`u area has been an important resource for me and my family. My daughter grew up on the beach and took many field trips there when she was a student at Volcano School. We would consider it a tragedy to not preserve this area, as it is now, for future generations. Please deny the SMA permit for this project. Mahalo for your time and consideration, John Broward Email: thejbroward(cr�.gmail.com Address: PO Box 34, Hawaii National Park, HI. 96718