HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL-REZ-2022-000039, PL-SLU-2022-000008 06.12.23 A. AKAU-LACLAIR TESTIMONY DeVera, Ashley
From: Anela Akau-LaClair <anela.akaulaclair@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2023 10:34 PM
To: LPCtestimony
Subject: Testimony for Ka'upulehu Land LLC
Attachments: Testimony for Ka'upulehu Land LLC - Anela Akau-LaClair .pdf
Aloha,
My name is Anela Akau-LaClair and attached is the PDF of my testimony.
Mahalo,
Anela
1
Anela Akau-LaClair
64-1003 Malu`iaenapu`u PL
Kamuela, HI 96743
My name is Anela Akau-LaClair, my address is 64-1003 Malu`iaenapu`u PL Kamuela,
HI 96743 and I'm writing this testimony on behalf of myself. I am 17 years old and a recent
graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai`i. My parents are Mia Akau and William LaClair and
we live in Pu'ukapu, Waimea, where my family has been living for 50 years and counting. I have
great connection to the `aina of Waimea, specifically in Pu'ukapu and I OPPOSE all applications
submitted by Kaupulehu Land LLC.
I'd like to start off by saying we do not need, nor do we want more commercial space in
Waimea, especially at the entry to town, in that specific lot. This development is being met in
opposition because of the following reasons: it will create traffic risks in an already busy area, it
is not pono (morally correct, especially since it has already been met with opposition before),
and there are many other places for commercial use. In addition to that, I do not support turning
agricultural land into commercial or residential lots. We have enough of that happening already
across Hawai`i island, and this will only promote more loss of agricultural land, which we need
to work towards using to benefit the sustainability of aina and not for commercial business.
Traffic is already a huge problem here in Waimea, from the beginning of town out until
the end. At 7:30 in the morning the pileup in front of the driveway towards our house can take
15-20 minutes just to pull out of the driveway onto the highway. That same pileup happens at the
end of the day when everyone is coming home from work. This building project will add to the
busyness on the road in the morning and the afternoon. If these applications get approved, what
proposals do the applicants have to deal with the added traffic? The specific location of the
proposed project does not warrant a traffic light nor a four way stop, it will be just another lot the
same as any other that poses more risks to the wellbeing of the people living around the area and
the people who use the highway to get home.
Just like many other businesses, this project could be conducted just about anywhere. I
understand the "need" for investing in property and getting money off of people who rent on that
specific land, but you can take that and go somewhere else. It's not pono business to be
exploiting that plot, while changing the purpose of it from agricultural land to commercial, to get
money just so people can stay in the same place they work. On top of that, there are many other
buildings in Waimea alone that are leasing or renting out commercial and retail office space,
including both of the shopping centers and many other commercial buildings around Waimea.
Choosing to conduct business in a place already meant for business is a choice that will have my
support and the support of the people in this area. We intend to fight for this `aina just like any
other `aina across Hawai`i.
As people, living on Hawaiian lands, it is our responsibility to conduct ourselves in a pono way
because that is the way it is supposed to be. Pono is the embodiment of everything right in the
world. When you ask yourselves if this project is going to truly help people, you should first ask
if the project is pono. But I'll answer that question for you; it is not right to conduct a business in
this manner, it is not pono.
I ask the planning committee to reject these applications.
Mahalo for your time,
Anela Akau-LaClair