HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-16 Deanna Wentworth From: Deanna Wentworth
To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv
Subject: Leeward Planning Commission Meeting 1/16/25
Date: Thursday,January 16,2025 2:13:55 PM
Aloha Dear Planning Commission,
I am writing as a concerned citizen of Big Island. I have called Opihikao Hawaii on the
eastern tip of Big Island my home for the last 35 years. I have raised 4 children here and own
a lovely home and worked for DOE for 20 years and am now retired and have 12
grandchildren on island.
I am very committed to this place and this culture and would like to express my concerns
regarding the general plan.
I attended the last meeting the commission had in Pahoa a few months back. That was the
first time I had heard of the plan as well as many in our community. At that meeting I was
told to either register to testify in the beginning or speak after the council and General Plan
team spoke. I chose to speak after I heard what they had to say. Unfortunately I felt rudely
ignored and finally at the very end had to jump in and really advocate for myself to be heard.
They listened but said they would have to get back to me and closed the meeting with me
standing there with my mouth open...
Zendo Kern is the head of this team and Pahoa is his hometown. Yet neither myself nor any
of the people in my community even knew this General Plan 2045 existed 2 months ago when
we were alerted by some friends from Kona about this meeting in Pahoa to review and ask
questions.
I wish to enter into record the following facts pertaining to the General Plan.
It clearly states in this General Plan that any industries considered for particular areas would
be carefully vetted to be aligned with the community character. My question to them is I have
lived in the shadow of the Puna Geothermal venture for 35 years. I am regularly exposed to
toxic fumes from them pumping chemicals into the wells. I was evacuated after a blowout
they had for 3 weeks. At the time of that blowout cows were found dead the next day, women
had miscarriages, and many were sickened by the exposure to the fumes. This is all
documented. Also I have attended 3 large protests put on by many in the local Hawaiian
community in Puna to try to bring attention to our thoughts that Puna Geothermal drilling into
this sacred land where Pele makes her home and where the Hawaiian people revere and
worship her is an act of terrorism in my opinion.
The last administration has further given Puna geothermal more licences to drill here. Why?
Sincerely
Deanna Wentworth