2024-03-04 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Kelley Olival Opposition Testimony

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From: Kelley Olival To: WPCtestimonv Subject: Opposition of rezoning and commercial development at Punalu"u Beach Park Date: Monday,March 4,2024 3:14:30 PM Aloha Windward Planning Commission, Manono Comer,LLC AT&T Mobility &. Black Sand Beach,LLC I am Kelley Olival,and I have been a part of the Ka'u community for 10years from Honolulu.I am malahini and my husband is kanaka maoli. I oppose the application from Manono Comer,LLC(PL-REZ-2023-000053)for a change of zone from single- family residential 10,000 sq ft(RS-10)zoning district to an Industrial-Commercial Mixed 20,000 sq ft(MCX-20) zoning district I oppose the application from AT&T Mobility (PL-USE-2023-000008)for a permit to build a telecommuication facility with a 150ft tall `monopine'tower and related equipment and improvements in Ka'u I oppose the application from Black Sand Beach,LLC(PL-SMA-2023-00046)for a Special Management Area Permit to allow for the development of a residential and commercial community and dedication of a portion of coastline as a conservation area. I want to see Punalu'u beach protected for conservation land just like Honu'apo,which received that recognition and protection in 2010. I remember the very first time I visited Punalu'u beach.I was in complete awe of the black sand,it was black and like nothing I'd ever seen,but what really got my attention were all the local families set up throughout the beac park fishing,barbecuing,laughing and enjoying life.I recall thinking to myself, `I look forward to gathering here with family and friends in the coming years.'And so we have.... My daughter is in 5th grade at Volcano School of Art&Science,her name is Kyrah Ka'imi Recolan,and she is a descendant of this land.Together we volunteer with Hawai'i Wildlife Fund&`O Ka'u Kakou to help remove invasive species from the pond and surrounding areas. She is a steward of this `aina,with commercial development and an influx of tourists it will no longer be a safe place for our Keiki to continue this kuleana.Her class was fortunate to have the opportunity in 2023 to learn and observe from the dedicated volunteers at Punalu'u beach about the Hawaiian Hawksbill sea turtle.It was added to NOAA Fisheries `Endangered Species Act'in 1970,over 50years ago,and the population is continuing to decline at a rapid rate. Somethings I learned that I'd like to share about our beloved Hawksbill honu,is that the majority of them will stay in the areas in which they were birthed, some females will even lay their eggs on the exact same beach they hatched on decades earlier.We have an average of 15 female Hawksbills that nest per year,and they reach sexual maturity at twenty years old(at the earliest)The odds are not in their favor for rapid reproduction,that's why it's crucial to protect them.Punalu'u beach is one of the few beach in the Hawaiian arcepelago where endangered Hawaiian Hawksbill sea turtles nest. There are different programs and volunteers that camp throughout nesting season to protect the eggs and hatchlings from invasive mongoose and feral cats,which are a continued threat the population of Hawksbill honu.This proposed re-zoning and development will increase the foot traffic tremendously and is the wrong direction for the success in environmental protection of the native floral and fauna of Hawai'i. Punalu'u Beach is one of the few,if not the only beach in Ka'u that is easily accessible for our community. Our community needs Punalu'u,we greatly benefit from what Punalu'u offers to us recreationally,educationally spiritually,and most important culturally.This proposed development would be detrimental for our community in all ways.