HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0021.138 - Testimony - CA-7 - PONC fund and Maintenance fundCheydon Kaluahine-Salmo
Volcano School of Arts and Sciences
Volcano,Hawaii 96720
February 5, 2019
Charter Commission
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Aloha Commissioners,
Aloha my name is Cheydon Kaluahine-Salmo, I'm a student at Volcano
School of Arts and Sciences and my parents are Sheldon Salmo and
Cheyenne Kaluahine. We live in Pahala, Ka'u and my dad is a police
officer. At VSAS we go down to Kawa with Na Mamo o Kawa with Kumu
Akau, Uncle Duane, and Clarissa Pua. Kawa is important because the
sacred families of Kawa honor and respect that place a lot. I'm honored to
go there and to learn what people learned from their kumus and their
peres. I love going down there not only helping but enjoying the riches and
beauties of the aina.
Kawa is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Big Island which means
this helps with the tourist rate. I hope Kawa will stay undeveloped, but
also hope that the trash will get cleaned up as well. I'm hoping this
because the tourist and the next generation of Hawaiians can learn about
the history and value of Kawa. Kawa is very special to me because I had
family probably living and learning there.
Majority of voters (63%) voted to keep land funds for undeveloped
Hawaiian places and sites. I think they're right because Hawaii is beautiful
just the way it is without any hotels and condos on the natural and historic
sites and places. And keeping places undeveloped is good for the locals
because if there are more houses, the more people come visit and, the
Comm. No. 21.138
more it costs, and the sad thing is locals can't afford and don't get paid
enough for it. If it's undeveloped we can learn more history, language,
chants, songs, tools, plants,etc. all from the ancient Hawaiians.
Some of the plants we're planting and helping are very rare and helpful for
the `aina and Hawaii. Some are alahe'e, milo, 'awa. Just like Kawa, which
means the canoe or canoes, 'awa is called the canoe plant because
Hawaiians used to drink out of the gourd or use this plants leaves. Honu,
the Hawaiian sea turtles also come to swim around in the waters of Kawa,
and it is very special when that happens. Most of the plants and animals
that live and grow there are very rare to see on the Big Island and the rest
of the islands.
In the future, I hope that Kawa and other historical sites and places stay the
same and undeveloped, so I could show my family and my kids one day.
In the future, I hope it'll be even better and cleaned up more than before
and now. I would love to help because I know that Hawaii deserves better
and deserves to look the best it can. Hawaii is a very special place and it
should be known as a very special place not only for the historic people
and gods, but the `aina as well. And that's why I think Hawaii is amazing.
MAHALO,
Cheydon Kaluahine-Salmo