HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-01 Kathleen Mumme SU From: Kathleen Mumme
To: W PCtesti mono
Subject: Punalu'u Village
Date: Wednesday, May 1,2024 2:15:19 PM
Dear Planning Commission:
We are writing again in support of the project above. Much has been said on social media and
after nearly two months of this all I can feel is a mixture frustration and sadness. The
frustration comes with all of the misinformation being promoted. The sadness comes from
many of us who feel as though we have no right to an opinion because we are for it or because
we weren't born and raised here. This does not promote the Aloha spirit.
We hope that at the next meeting on May 6th more time will be allotted for Black Sand
Beach LLC ito present its project in a public setting. This seems the only way to achieve
fairness.
FACTS:
1. Black Sand Beach LLC owns the 400 plus acres in Kau where the proposed addition sits.
2. Less than half that acerage is within the footprint of the area that was excavated and
developed over fifty years ago and which comprises this project.
3. Personal property rights should be as important as the opinions of those of us who call Kau
home.
4. There has always been a community at Punalu'u and Ninole. There have been over 100
residences in the area and in the Kalana Estates for decades.
5. A sewer and water system has served this community for decades.
6. Black Sand Beach LLC,who also owns the private sewer and water system, has spent the
last four years here in Kau listening to people who call it home.
7. BSB has adjusted its plans based on that input and taken steps to reduce the number of
units,while still enabling them to seek the capital to complete its project, and to insure that
critical maintenance is done to the sewer and water system. This maintenance will insure that
the system is safe and functioning in the future.
8. Homeowners and condo owners in this area have mixed opinions on the future of this
project, but all of us are very concerned about the future of our sewer and water system,
including the fire hydrants.
9. Punalu'u's Sea Mountain Resort was approved and building began in about 1970. Since
then, at least three different corporations have tried and failed to add units to this development.
All of them were huge projects and none of them asked the people of Kau what they could
accept in the way of development.
10. The area around Sea Mountain and Colony One saw four decades of neglect. Everything
from non-native plants choking out the grounds, dilapidated buildings, over-growth in the
parking and walking areas and in the upper nine holes of the closed golf course, all adding
danger in an area where people LIVE and where people recreate every day. BSB has
spearheaded efforts to clean it up and invested many dollars to do so.
11. Despite the neglect that surrounds it, and its heavy use, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
thrives. The people come—both local families and tourists and so do the turtles, the birds,
the monk seals and the fishermen.
12. Opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurial enterprises for our local people are a part of
this plan.
13. Between Volcano NP and South Point, Punalu'u is the only developed area and one of
very few privately owned coastal parcels . While all Hawaiians are given access to the shores
of the state BY LAW,this additional fact means that almost the entire coast line here
BELONGS to Hawaiians and with diligence, can never be developed. That is a huge benefit
and not one found in other parts of Hawaii or the US!
14. Black Sand Beach LLC is also proposing that that a public foundation (501c)be formed to
protect its 30 acres of shoreline.
As full time residents of Punalu'u,we do not relish the thought of the possible increase of
traffic, the noise of construction and the idea of more people here if this project is approved.
We feel there could be some compromises made. Maybe five bedroom bungalows are not
necessary? Could some of the building near where the old restaurant is be moved farther from
the beach? Perhaps residents need to see actual renderings of buildings? The bigger concern,
however, is what will happen if is is NOT approved. How can anyone who is concerned about
the environment and the protection of Punalu'u' not see the importance of maintaining a
sewage system that is already there and 50 years old?And furthermore, if this fails, can we
expect a new owner to invest in its infrastructure without capital return of some sort? We don't
see how. What is next for Punalu'u?
Thank you,
Kathleen and Chris Mumme
95-1175 Alahaki Road
Pahala