HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0021.051 - Testimony - CA-7 - PONC fund and Maintenance fundFrom: Donald Rudny <mkea13800@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2019 5:48 PM
To: Charter Commission
Cc: Kim, Harry; Poindexter, Valerie; Chung, Aaron; Lee Loy, Sue; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; David, Maile;
Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Villegas, Rebecca; Eoff, Karen; Richards, Tim
Subject: PONC Fund
Attachments: imagel.png; ATT00001.txt
Aloha Commissioners,
I planned to give testimony at tomorrow's meeting in Hilo about the charter question to reduce POCN contributions and
take away the perpetuity clause so important to preserve our Island for generations to come, but I understand that
won't be permitted.
I was going to read excepts from a recent letter to the HTH from a prominent Big Island citizen. The letter did a
wonderful job of expressing the importance of preserving and protecting the special places that the Island has. He
wrote about the commitment to the public by both government and local residents to preserve and protect the
Wai'opae Tide Pools of Kapoho , and living up to that commitment. And, most important, the "promise" that was kept.
That letter as you probably already know was written by our Mayor, Harry Kim. I have attached a copy in case you didn't
see it.
As evidenced by this effort in Kapoho and the resounding passage of the 2% Charter rule for PONC, the direction that
the citizens of the Big Island want should be obvious. This movement to diminish the fund and leave open the future of
PONC lands is short sighted and ignores the will of the citizens. Land here is not getting cheaper, and reducing the PONC
contribution creates a double whammy on ensuring preservation of those special places Mayor Kim wrote about. We
couldn't prevent the loss of Wai'opae, but we can prevent the loss of many similar areas around the Big Island.
As I wrote in an earlier email to you, preservation of "special" places in our Country was the subject of Ken Burns' "The
National Parks: America's Best Idea". I offered to lend my DVD set to any of you who hadn't seen it, but I received no
response. We have a chance here on the Big Island to pursue a similar "best idea". These efforts to reduce our PONC
fund are going to be known as "Big Island's worst idea".
I would appreciate getting some kind of response from you. There seems to be a reluctance to address and debate the
issues.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Don
Don Rudny
P.O. Box 106
Pepeekeo, HI 96783-0106
1 Comm. No. 21.51
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our island of abandoned
vehicles and enforcing the
law with regard to expi
inspection stickers, the lines
for which could be a huge
source of revenue to pay for
additional salary increases
for the county employees
responsible for dealing
with these two problems.
So, you see, there are
ind other issues in
our lives here that are
important enough to talk
about, other than the mess
in Washington, D.C.
yronies disease anyone?
Carl 1'4', Goebel
Naalehu
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'Beautiful memories'
ho property
owners: To all who lost me
thing of such s a ialness,
such be ty, such warmth
and so impossible to rep
this message is for you.
The Wai'opae Tide
Pools — the tide pools of
Kapoho were established
as a marine life conservation
district, which hibited the
fishing, the taking or injuring
of any marine life. uhibited
a
activities also included any
commercial activities and
the taking of any coral.
This marine life conser-
vation district designated by
the state d signed into law
by Gov. Lini I Lingle was
accomplished in MB. This
was after a six-year effort
led by our 41401'herd, Jim
Blakey, because of his love if
a s place and witnessing
such senseless destruction
of marine life for years.
The residents of
Vacationland committed to
the community and the state
government that the Wai‘opm
Tide Pools, if designated
a marine life conservation
district, would be kept open
to the public to enjoy the
beauty and wonderment
of the tide autis, Not only
was the so mise kept, but
signs, portables d a.1 k-
ing areas were developed to
accommod the visitors.
This was all done with no
government assistance.
This commitment to
the public was of such sin-
cerity that when access to
and p:1 ing at the ponds
were disrupted by Tropical
Sto Belle, the community
nded, I marvel at and
homemade signs
and cades that guided
visitors to the areas for p k-
ing that were developed for
them, as the previous ones
were 11 troyed. This was
done is i..pite attending to
their own property damage.
loss of this place
of beauty and warmth will
always leave an empty space
to all who loved and c: d
for the Wai-op, - Tide
In this sadness,, know
of the tens of thousands
who enjoyed this gift of the
Wai'opae Tide Pools and wi
forever have beautiful mem-
ories. This, because you kep
your promise. Thank you.
Mayor I rry Ki
Hawaii C01111
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