HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOR-16-107527 • Testimony Outline
My name is John Kaye, and I am testifying on behalf of the Hakalau Point Preservation
Association("HPPA"), a non-profit organization established to preserve and protect the habitat,
scenic views, and natural beauty of Hakalau Point for the benefit of residents,citizens and
visitors to Hawaii County. I am one of the Directors of the Association and have been asked Xc
testify on behalf of the Association. > cn
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HPPA supports Hawaii County in its efforts to acquire this historically significant and scenics 'L
coastal parcel of land for public outdoor recreational and educational purposes. We envisi€n,a,
memorial park on Hakalau Point to honor and commemorate the legacy of the sugar plantation.
workers who labored and lived along the Hamakau Coast for several decades and we intend to3
provide support to the County to help maintain the proposed memorial park. We oppose '
commercial activities and/or private development of Hakalau Point. D z co
• One of the primary and critical objectives of the Hamakua CDP is to preserve and
protect coastal views,and open spaces from development and to protect and preserve
historic sites along the Hamakua Coast.
• We also know that after many hours of public testimony and written statements, a
strong consensus of Hawaii County residents expressly indicated that it is critical to
discourage and oppose construction of new homes along the cliffs of the Hamakua
Coast and that it is the community's desire to preserve the beautiful ocean front views
and public access for recreational and sustenance practices for the citizens,residents
and visitors to this Island.
• It is for all these reasons that we opposed the 2016 draft LUPAG map for the
Hakalau/Wailea community. The Draft LUPAG MAP,would have dramatically
revised the 2005 LUPAG Map by replacing the designation of most of Hakalau Point
from Open to become Low Density Urban. This change would have invited private
development of ocean front homes to be constructed along the bluffs of Hakalau
Point.....all to the detriment of the public. Moreover,changing the Open designation
to Low Density Urban would have been wholly inconsistent with the articulated goals
and the mission of the CDP.
• It is important to appreciate that the 2005 LUPAG map, designates most of Hakalau
Point as Open. We applaud this designation as the Open designation obviously
conforms to and is consistent with the community desires as well as the CDP. As you
are aware more than 600 residents of Hawaii Island,have signed petitions in favor of
preserving Hakalau Point as a public park, and vehemently opposing private
development at Hakalau Point.
• In light of community desires and the articulated goals of the CDP,we urge the
Steering Committee to designate all of Hakalau Point as Open. We realize that in
doing so, Hakalau Point will retain its current zoning of"Industrial",but we would
hope that the change in Land Use Designation to all"open"will accurately reflect the
community's desire to preserve Hakalau Point for public access and use.
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