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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-09 Ainaaoloha Ioane From: MAHA INC To: WPCtestimony Subject: Comments for the Hawaii County FINAL RECOMMENDED DRAFT GENERAL PLAN 2045 Date: Sunday,March 9,2025 10:22:50 PM Attachments: 2025 HAwaii county General Plan.pdf Aloha Please find attached the written comments from MAHA Community Association on the FINAL RECOMMENDED DRAFT GENERAL PLAN 2045, Hawaii County. Mahalo nui Ainaaloha Ioane MAHA president MAHA: Malama Ka Aina Hana Ka Aina PO Box 11331 Hilo, Hawaii 96721 The Honorable Zendo Kern, Director County of Hawaii Planning Department Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Director Kern: RE: MAHA Comments on the County of Hawaii 2045 General Plan M.A.H.A is the democratically elected governing body representing the Native Hawaiian beneficiary on the wait-list residing and stewarding the lands of King's Landing, Keaukaha Tract II, Hawaiian Homestead Lands. My name is 'Alnaaloha loane, I am MAHA's President. I was born on the homestead of King's Landing, and raised in the subsistence village, and I oppose this plan. MAHA is providing testimony in opposition to the proposed new roads shown on page 274 (image 2) of the Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2025. Image 2 shows a proposed road that drives right into the heart of the King's Landing Kuleana Subsistence Agriculture Homestead. The King's Landing Settlement Plan, Final EA and Land designations was approved by the Hawaiian Homes Commission on September 16th, 2024. This historical accomplishment is a multigenerational, 45 year long land solution journey that the beneficiaries have endured alongside the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. The beneficiaries of King's Landing have stewarded the land, and rehabilitated as native Hawaiian on the 'aina of Kings Landing. For us to see a proposed road that utilizes our quiet community road, and turns our tranquil, pristine Hawaiian Homestead community into a zig zag of County roads, is offensive. Looking at these maps, I conclude that the County's goal is to expose the secluded coastline of King's Landing for further exploitation of our natural areas, and shows to restrain or regard for the native Hawaiian beneficiary and small communities directly affected. This is an assault on our livelihood, on our community and only seeks to further develop and commercialize our hometown, and not for the benefit of the community. The King's Landing Settlement Plan and final EA was sent to the County of Hawaii Planning Department for early consultation. No comments of a proposed road were ever MAHA: Malama Ka Aina Hana Ka Aina PO Box 11331 Hilo, Hawaii 96721 mentioned. I provided early testimony on an earlier version of the General Plan, and seen No mention of new roads! Please understand, These roads cut right into our homestead lots! `A`ole! Pursuant to the HHCA §206, Hawaiian home lands are not subject to zoning or other land use controls by the County. In addition, the MOA between the County of Hawaii and DHHL states. III B. The County will consult with DHHL over the appropriate designations of DHHL property in the Hawaii County General Plan LUPAG maps, and shall give due weight and consideration to the comments of DHHL, and to officially adopted DHHL plans. Chairman Kali Watson, explicitly provided testimony in opposition to Bill 107 Hawaii County Council Meeting. 1/19/2023, which proposed a Puna Makai route through the Homestead of Panaewa. The beneficiaries of MAHA King's Landing, the larger Hawaii Island beneficiaries, as well as the Commissioners of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands have not been notified nor consulted on this matter, and we have not had an opportunity to discuss these long lasting effects as a native Hawaiian community before seeing it discussed on a larger, resident, Island wide scale. We have fought for, and diligently advocated for land settlement of King's Landing with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands for 45 years. We are the first Hawaiian Homestead community of beneficiaries to work collaboratively with the Planning Department of DHHL in the design, and creation of our Settlement Plan, we put community thought into it. We abided by the laws, Kapu and Kanawai of our kupuna, and we will not abdicate. We will not relinquish our rights to a peaceful, secluded rehabilitation for our beneficiary and the protection of the pristine coastline of King's Landing. One of the proposed roads, extends the current quiet Nene Street into Keaukaha's last secluded County beach Park of Lehia and further into the DHHL 'aina of King's Landing, opening up our "back ponds" to even more extreme human pollution and tourism exploitation. `A`ole! And further extends right up to my uncle's house on DHHL 'aina. `A`ole! Is the County of Hawaii really proposing to relocate Native Hawaiian beneficiaries again? This is not the 70's, This is not WWII we are not reliving the Hilo airport! MAHA: Malama Ka Aina Hana Ka Aina PO Box 11331 Hilo, Hawaii 96721 We are not relocating ever again! Another "new road" will bring in an unreasonable amount of traffic into the small, quiet community of Leleiwi, turning our "back roads" where our kupuna walk every morning and our keiki ride their bikes into a major intersection and highway. `A`ole. This erroneous attack on Hawaiian Homelands is a disrespectful approach and a land snatch of trust lands. MAHA is in communication with DHHL and Chairman Kali Watson to bring attention to this matter. In looking at the map, I ask myself who is it that these new roads benefit? What is the narrative behind its shape? Hilo has been living life at a comfortable pace. Yes it takes us longer to get out of Keaukaha, but if you are truly asking us, the residents of these affected areas. I would rather sit an additional however many minutes in my car, then to have these additional roads gut into our communities and expose our wahipana. Please do not take us for fools, because when I see these maps, I do not see hope, I do not see a future for my keiki. I see investors, eyeing up my community, and my 'one hanau! In summary, the proposed County "new roads" running through King's Landing, will place extensive irreplaceable, irrevocable harm upon the native Hawaiian beneficiaries that currently reside in, and steward the lands as well as the future 74 Hawaiian Homestead Leases of King's Landing. The "new roads" will place extensive irreplaceable harm upon the pristine quiet coastline of Lehia. Lastly, the "new roads" will place lasting irreplaceable harm upon the quiet coastline community of Leleiwi, exaggerating an overcrowded, over tourism visited coastline. In closing, the Planning Department had a kuleana to reach out to the beneficiaries and to DHHL. The Planning Department had a kuleana to reach out to the affected communities of Panaewa, Keaukaha and Leleiwi. Looking at this map, I see possible solutions that can benefit all of Hawai'i County, the beneficiaries of King's Landing, as well as East Hawaii residents, So let's do a better job as a community and talk about this? With strong opposition and disappointment, MAHA: Malama Ka Aina Hana Ka Aina PO Box 11331 Hilo, Hawaii 96721 The beneficiaries of the Kings Landing Kuleana Subsistence Agriculture Homestead. MAHA, Malama Ka Aina Hana Ka Aina Community Association representing the Hawaiian beneficiaries residing in Kings Landing. President `Ainaaloha loane In addition, MAHA supports the written testimony and comments provided by the Department Of Hawaiian Home Lands and its Chairman Kali Watson dated February 28th, 2025. Specifically comment 1) Highlighting the MOU between the County and DHHL that recognizes the unique status of the Hawaiian Homes Commission's land use authority over DHHL lands and the need for current and future County staff, elected officials, and future members of the public continue to have an institutional memory of the relationship between DHHL and the County, and that Incorporating a reference to this document in the 2045 County General Plan Update will better guarantee that this institutional memory is perpetuated in future generations. Comment 2) DHHL requests that its 2022 DHHL General Plan Update be referenced and/or included in the 2045 County General Plan. Comment 3) That their be specific policies that articulate that DHHL Plans will be the authority on land use that will guide County policy regarding land uses and projects surrounding DHHL lands. Comment 5. The County should not be articulating proposed roads through Hawaiian Home Lands in its General Plan without first consulting with DHHL and its Beneficiaries. Comment 4) strongly encouraging the County to begin its process to develop a County Community Development Plan (CDP) for the South Hilo District. Because They serve to provide a forum for community input to reflect the character of each community.