HomeMy WebLinkAboutIndividual Comment - C. NorrieKa'awaloa Makai Pasture
Post only:P.O.Box 339 E-mail:Norrie826@aol.com
Captain Cook,HI 96704-0339 tel. +1 775.393.9175
Hawaii Planning Department
Re:Comprehensive Review of LUPAG Map
o: C7 a
Dear Sirs,February 9,2016 n C"y
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As owner ofTMK 8-1-10-2,I write in support ofthe proposed larger change to the LUPAG Map rd.1 ;v
affecting all relevant lands in South Kona makai of the 1,000 ft.elevation lying north of the Honaunau -1'v
Valley. I cannot speak to such demarcation going south because the Honaunau Valley has a different 3.
micro climate. I can attest to the fact that the subject property has the same microclimate as the Northry y Er-
Kona lands below 1,000 feet elevation redesignated to Extensive Agriculture in the last GP
comprehensive review(2007 or thereabouts). TMK 8-1-10-2is separated from such North Kona landsl'b '
the recent lava flow over parts of Keopuka,but is otherwise identical in characteristics.
I have been a property owner in Ka'awaloa since 1984,when I purchased 70 acres from the Ethel Paris
estate. Such properties were vacant at the time of my purchase and covered in impassable Guinea grass.
Please see the old Tax Map attached showing TMK's 8-1-9-2 and 14,which made up such 70 acres. The
dotted lines on this map indicate old leasehold farms where unirrigated coffee was attempted by the
former Paris tenants,prior to WWII.As set out in the affidavit ofWilliam Paris Jr.,attached,the coffee
was successful on the leaseholds at higher elevations closer to Napo'opo'o Road and failed on the lower
portions of tax map 8-1-9 which has always been the lowest demarcation between attempts at crops and
ranching below. We should not argue with Mother Nature!
In the 1980's I had a fruit farm on the upper portions,mostly Lychee and Rambutan.While the crops
were reasonable in most years,the costs of doing business were not,and these trees are now in the
stewardship of smaller lot owners who continue such agricultural activities as a sideline.Avocado and
coffee have also been planted in the area,but require greater irrigation as the altitude descends.
In the 1990's I acquired 8-1-10-2 and with that assistance of an Australian horticultural specialist planted
a 1/4t acre test plot at the bottom of this parcel.Our main thrust was various cultivars of mango which
like heat.It was too dry to even attempt true tropicals like rambutan,mangosteen and attemoya. Our
experiment with mango failed,because;a)the trees required inordinate irrigation to survive and b)more
importantly;they lost their flowers to the dry air so that the fruit did not form well. This would have
requiered the installation ofmisting system the costs ofwhich were deemed prohibitive.
Please find attached the subject property approximately superimposed on a USGS map showing its upper
elevation to be approximately 960 feet,and another map with the TMK superimposed on Google Earth.
Both the Google Earth map and the attached photograph of the long existing cattle pens at the center of
the parcel facing mauka to ranch gate in distance above show its natural dry state.This property has
always been used for grazing and that is its most appropriate agricultural use.I do not request special
treatment for this parcel,but rather that you equitably apply the existing policy that the bottom of the so
called Kona coffee belt is at the 1,000 ft. elevation.
Sincerely,
Christopher Norrie
103845
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AFFIDAVIT OF WILLIAM J.PARIS
STATE OF HAWAII
SS.
COUNTY OF HAWAII
WILLIAM J. PARIS,being duly sworn on oath,deposes and says:
1. I am a resident of Kainaliu,North Kona,Island,County and State of
Hawaii and the following statements are based on personal knowledge unless otherwise noted.
tleuetWat4C1;ket,leo a\a narnk ona.le-a ialieJL
ix/j g2. 1 was born William Johnson • • Paris,Jr. tkif
in 1922 and raised in land of Lehu'ula(Kainaliu) in North Kona,Hawaii.
3. I am a kama'aina ofthe Kona area ofthe Island of Hawaii as my
Caucasian forebearers circta•been residents of Kona for over 150 years and my Hawaiian ancestors
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have resided in these islands since time immemorial.
4. I am familiar with the 44.806 acre property owned by Ka'awaloa Makai
Pasture LLC,designated on the tax maps of the Third Taxation District as TMK No. 8-1-010-
002(the"Subject Property")also referred to as Lot 9-A situate in Ka'awaloa, South Kona,
Hawaii as shown on the current tax map attached hereto as Exhibit"A"and made a part hereof.
5. The Subject Property was previously owned by my paternal aunt, Ethel
Paris,and before her by my grandfather,John D.Paris.
6. To the best of my knowledge and belief,the Subject Property has never
been used for any agricultural purpose other than grazing and pasturage during my family's
tenure,except for a briefattempt at pineapple cultivation which quickly failed for lack of
moisture.
7. Prior to World War II,the lands directly mauka of the Subject Property
were divided into 14 separately-leased parcels which were leased to farmers who grew mostly
coffee. These 14 leasehold parcels(mauka ofthe Subject Property)are shown on the old tax
map attached hereto as Exhibit"B"and made a part hereof.
8. The leasehold farms closest to Napo'opo'o Road particularly the Koba and
Nakamoto Farms at the highest elevations had some success,but the leasehold parcels running
laterally to Ka'awaloa road(Lots 7-14)which are directly above the Subject Property proved not
to be viable,because ofinsufficient rainfall. The rainfall in this area decreases with the
elevation. Therefore there is even less natural rainfall on the Subject Property.
9. I am also familiar with that certain other 26.634 acre property owned by
Newpark Hawaii LLC and Mahina Aina LLC,designated on the tax maps of the Third Taxation
District as TMK No.8-1-010-003(the"Lava Lot")also referred to as Lot 10-B situate in
Ka'awaloa,South Kona,Hawaii)which lot was also previously owned by my paternal aunt,
Ethel Paris,and before her by my grandfather,John D.Paris.
10. This Lava Lot lies on the North side ofKa'awaloa Road(a.k.a.the trail to
Cook's Monument). This lot is almost completely covered by a lava flow and to the best ofmy
knowledge and belief has never been used for any agricultural purpose whatsoever.
11. My family presently owns other lands in North Kona which are similar in
soil type and rainfall to the Subject Property.These lands have also been traditionally used for
grazing and pasturage,and not for intensive agriculture.
12. The Planning Director ofthe County ofHawaii has recently agreed that
lands below the 1,000'elevation should not be a part ofthe Kona coffee belt and has initiated an
interim change in the General Plan to classify these lands,shown on the map attached as Exhibit
C"and made a part hereon as"Extensive Agriculture".The Planning Director's reasoning for
General Plan change,which is designated E-6 and shown on Exhibit"C",is set out below text.
E-6 Extensive Agricultural and Orchards to Important Agricultural Lands
Location: Area between the 1000' elevation and Mamalahoa Highway. from
Keahou to Holankano
Rationale: In this area ofkona, the lower limit ofthe "Important Agricultural
Lands"should be the lower limit ofthe "Coffee Belt." In a prior council
resolution, this was identified as the 700'elevation. However, after receiving
testimonyfrom kamaaina landowners at the workshop, the PlanningDirector
believes that the 1000'elevation is a more accurate levelfer the dividing line.
13. The testimony from other kama'aina landowners which the Planning
Director refers to is based on an agricultural use and rainfall study by Belt Collins,dated
November 21,2003 addressed to the Chairperson ofthe County Council Planning Committee
and in the file originating such interim change to the LUPAG Map ofthe General Plan,initiated
by the Planning Director in 2005.
14. For the reasons stated above, I see no valid reason for either ofthese lots
8-1-010-003 and 8-1-010-005 to be classified as Important Agricultural Lands for the purposes
ofthe County General Plan and/or State Designation.
And further Affiant sayeth naught.
WILLIAM J.S
Subscribed and sworn before me
this 3 day ofJuner200S ganuar1 , av°7
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15117/71'***4,,
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Name: Helen M.Nagata
Notary Public,State ofHawaii f.f ?• = =
JANUARY 4,2009 tr E
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NDate: February 24,2006
Keauhou - Hokulia Area
LEGEND
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Important Ag.Lands
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Agriculture below the 1,000 ft.level in
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Uncle Billy Paris remembered as paniolo, historian
By Graham Milldrum West Hawaii Today gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com November 24, 2015-9:22am
William Hauwawaikaleoonamanuonakanahele Johnson Paris Jr., better known as"Uncle Billy,"died Nov. 14.
He was 92.
The paniolo is remembered for his love of the community, historical knowledge, abiding faith,and love of the aina."He
devoted his life, in essence,to his community,"his daughter,Wilma Paris,said.
Born Dec.28, 1922, in Honolulu, his family descended in part from John D. Paris Sr.,one ofthe first missionaries to
the island. His family married Native Hawaiians and entered ranching. His Hawaiian name means"the noise of the
birds as they sing in the forest,"which was his grand uncle's Hawaiian name.
This mixture of Caucasian and Hawaiian produced Billy,a blue-eyed, brown-haired boy, as fair skinned as any
Englishman, but endowed with Hawaiian sensibility and a deep respect for his Hawaiian heritage,"wrote Riley
Melrose in a biography.
His parents were ranchers and farmers,which Paris followed. He enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Manoa,
studying agriculture and participating in the Reserve Officers'Training Corps.That service pulled him into the Hawaii
Territorial Guard. His first service was a"nerve-wracking night guarding Queen's Hospital,"according to Melrose.As
the war continued,the Territorial Guard was inducted into the U.S.Army.After breaking his shoulder in Ranger
training, he transferred to a tank unit that fought under both generals William Simpson and George Patton. It was
under Patton that he was wounded while fighting in Germany.
He was on lookout and a shot by a German anti-tank gun hit him in the chest,sending shards of his field glasses into
his body and leading to his medical evacuation.
Despite injuries to his chest and his arm in a sling, he returned to duty, knowing heavy engagement was coming.That
next day his division totalled 19 enemy tanks,wiped out enemy resistance and took 29 prisoners.He earned a bronze
star and purple heart during his service,which led to active involvement with the American Legion and the Disabled
American Veterans. He told Melrose in 2015 the shoulder injury still troubled him.
He returned to the Big Island,where he would become part of the expanding fabric of the community. He married
Bertha Hermann,and the two had a daughter,Wilma"Wee-J" Paris, now of Lehuula Nui.A paniolo and ranch
manager, he began at age 6 helping his father with chicken and milk calves. In 1938, he helped load the animals into
the ships at Kealakekua Bay. "What a thrill that was leading my first steer into the Bay on a horse named'Grey.' My
cousin Kapua Heuer and I are the last living persons to have taken cattle out to the ships at Keauhou,"he was quoted
in the 2003 citation for his induction into the Paniolo Hall of Fame.
He was one of the initial members of the Hawaii Cattleman's Association,which became the Hawaiian Cattleman's
Council. He served for three years as president, lobbying for Hawaiian beef producers locally and in Washington,
D.C. He was the founding director of the Kona Jaycees,working to decorate the community and hold a large
fireworks display. He worked with the county transportation commission, planning commission and planning board of
appeals.
One of the major projects of Uncle Billy,Wilma Paris recalled,was ending the Kona Coffee Schedule,which let
children out of school to work in the fields.After years of wrangling,the schedule was ended and the students joined
the statewide program."He's one of the icons who only come into our lives once in a lifetime,"said Joe Tina,funeral
director for Dodo Mortuary and acquaintance of Billy Paris.
He spoke both Hawaiian and English,and interwove the two in his speech. For military funerals families would often
call upon him to sing"Kona Kai Opua,"Tina said,which he was always glad to do.What was especially important
was that he could explain what the song meant, he said,so the listeners weren't merely surrounded by Hawaiian
words.
Wilma Paris remembers her father as a deeply caring man,one willing to drive cross-island if a sick person needed
prayers. His faith was deep and abiding,and he would always do his best to aid those who wished it. He blessed
many homes, businesses and babies,Wilma Paris said.The community honored him by celebrating his 90th birthday
in the 2012 Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade.
When he was in the hospital,the doctors and nurses had to struggle to make sure he stayed in bed, instead of going
around to pray for the sick,Wilma Paris remembered. Even in his final days he was singing along with visitors.He
was a very giving man, said Tina,and only wanted to see a good result from that giving."I didn't see him asking for
anything in return,"Tina said.
He was honored by the Kona Historical Society for his extensive knowledge of Kona's history and campaigning to
preserve Kona's history."He loved god, he loved Hawaii,and he was a keiki aina,a child of the land,"Wilma Paris
said.
Friends can call at the family home at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at 79-7345 Mamalahoa Highway in Lehuula Nui.The
celebration of life will be at 10 a.m.The family requests casual attire.A private funeral will follow.