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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0021.142 - Testimony - CA-7 - PONC fund and Maintenance fundJohnPatrick Carroll 7th grade Volcano School of Arts and Sciences Volcano, Hawaii 96785 February 5, 2019 Charter Commission Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Commissioners, Regarding the 2% land fund program Aloha, my name is J.P., my parents names are Jonathan Carroll and Jessica Carroll. We live in Fern Acres, Mt.View. I love going to Kawa two times a month because we get to do hands on work, learn Hawaiian history, and learn about plants. Another thing I like about Kawa is its solitary location, so all you can see and hear is nature, not people or cars. When my relatives visit from the mainland we always show them interesting and fun stuff all over Hawaii. Most of the places we show our family everybody knows about, so I'm glad we take trips to Kawa so when people visit I can show them the real Hawaii with heiaus, other artifacts, beaches and ponds, all of which I might add, are not covered in plaques or full of tourists. I think it's important that Kawa stays the way it is because of all of the history that happened there. Three times 63 percent of people voted to keep the 2 percent land fund. If we lose the 2% land fund we will not be able to purchase Waikapuna and will probably become covered in hotels and airbnbs. If that happens the house prices will go up because more people are moving here and there is no space for houses. That's why other islands houses are so expensive, because there are too many people and no space. Comm. No. 21.142 The average price for a house on the Big Island is around $400,000, Kauai is about $550,000, Maui $660,000, and O'ahu at $800,000. My point is that the Big Island is the cheapest island to live on and if we don't get Waikapuna the Big Island will jump up in price. If we lose the land fund, we won't have money to buy land, and if we don't have enough land to plant and grow many species of plants as naupaka, alahe'e, wiliwili and more. Along with plant problems, people could have trouble earning money. For example, Kumu James Akau, Uncle Duane, Clarissa Pua and Uncle Kaui Felder work at Na Mamo o Kawa, and if Kawa gets sold because there is no money to keep it going, all of the people above will have to find another job. I hope that in the future I will always be able to go back to Kawa and see it the way it is today. Sincerely, J.P.