Comm 25-036 re STU.26-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comm 25-036 From: Pualei To: PONC Testimony Subject: Support for Stewardship by Kupa'Aina O Keauhou Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 1:54:39 PM Aloha PONC Commission, My name is Pualei Mahiai, and I am a Native Hawaiian with generations of ancestors indigenous to the island of Hawaii. Despite being a past member of the Keauhou Canoe Club, I am writing in support of Kupa `Aina O Keauhou's application for stewardship. When I joined the Keauhou Canoe Club, it was because I love Keauhou and wanted to be involved in canoe paddling activities and in taking care of the area. But even as a club member, I witnessed access to the area as limited exclusively to paid members of the club, rather than for the community as a whole or for Native Hawaiians who simply wanted to connect to the `aina and perpetuate its culture and history. There was an unspoken message that the space was for"the club" and whatever activities "the club"board members decided, even if activities were not cultural or were held without true cultural intent. As a Hawaiian, in a Hawaiian place, that was NOT pono. This is why I strongly support Kupa `Aina O Keauhou. I am intimately familiar with and love their style of stewardship, which is open, welcoming, and rooted in culture. They invite lineal descendants to share mo`olelo. They provide opportunities for all people to edify themselves and reconnect to a place without a membership barrier. They follow County guidance. And most importantly, they center Native Hawaiian presence not just Hawaiian aesthetics. What is disheartening is knowing that the canoe club is aware of Kupa `Aina O Keauhou's ongoing cultural and stewardship activities for many years,yet there was NO outreach by the Club to collaborate or support Kupa `Aina's goal of perpetuating the unique culture and history of the Keauhou area. If the goal is truly to care for Keauhou, then working alongside the Native Hawaiian group already doing that work should have been the first step not submitting an application that could displace Kupa `Aina and negatively impact the work that has been done in the past and for the future. Stewardship of this `aina should prioritize: • Native Hawaiian and lineal descendant voices, • community access, • and cultural protection led by those with generational relationships to this place. For these reasons, I believe the most appropriate and culturally grounded steward for this site is Kupa `Aina O Keauhou, whose mission and work clearly align with PONC's purpose. Mahalo nui for your time and consideration. Me ke aloha, Pualei Mahiai