HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0021.134 - Testimony - CA-7 - PONC fund and Maintenance fundIkaia Hirata
7th grade student
Volcano School of Arts and Sciences
Volcano, Hawaii 96785
February 5, 2019
Charter Commission
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Aloha Commissioner,
Regarding: 2 percent Land Fund Program.
My name is Ikaia Tekashi Hirata, my parents names are Heather Jill
Hirata and Brad Tekashi Hirata. My mom, my sisters, and I live in Mt.
View, Hawaii, and my dad lives in Kurtistown, Hawaii. Going to Kawa is
important to my class, my community, and me because we get to restore a
historical place and there's a lot of culture, also we get to go there every
three Wednesdays. My class goes there every three weeks because the
other two classes have to go.
When we stop beach erosion, clear paths, plant natives , malama aina,
and aloha aina to keep Kawa like it was in the past. Before Kawa was
overgrown, there were lots of invasive plants, trash was on the ground, and
the spring was full of sand. Now Kawa is not overgrown, less invasives
covering the natives, the trash is picked up, and the spring isn't full of sand.
If Kawa is not funded we would have done all this work for nothing. We
restored Kawa for the visitors/tourists or family that want to visit.
Comm. No. 21.134
When the people voted for the Land Fund Programs two percent of the
money of land payments, 63 percent of voters said, "yes". This happened
three times, all over 50 percent saying, "yes". The goal for the Land Fund
Program is 180 properties and they have only bought 14! If the Land Fund
Program bought all 180 properties, the islands would be even more
beautiful and more tourists would appreciate the real Hawaii. I don't want
the two percent of peoples land payment to go somewhere else like hiring
police officers until the government can find another way to get money for
the Land Fund Program.
Sincerely, Ikaia