2024-03-05 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Anne Celeste Opposition Testimony

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From: Anne Celeste To: WPCtestimonv Subject: Letter opposing proposed SMA for Punaluu Beach--below and by attacgment Date: Tuesday, March 5,2024 3:03:42 PM Attachments: PUNALUU-LETTER TO COUNTY.docx Anne J Celeste PO Box 669 Pahala HI annejceleste(Zi)gmail.com March 5, 2024 Windward Planning Commission County of Hawai'i Aupuni Center, sos Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 To the Members of the Commission: We oppose this development plan, because it would be devastating to the aina,the wildlife, and our people and their way of life. We respectfully request in no uncertain terms that the SMA be denied. We are grateful that County Planning Director Zendo Kim stated that his opinion can change after the public hearing because the residents of Kau are outraged. We believe that 95-99%are opposed. The community had no awareness of to SMA meeting. In the 5 days since the community learned of the county SMA meeting, Soo residents have rallied in protest... over 117o people have signed the petition opposing development...and many will show their opposition in a caravan to the county meeting March 7. If necessary,there are plans to bring the locals'brothers and sisters from the other islands, as at Mauna Kea,to stop this development. Our thoughts are below.We ask you to please save our beloved Punaluu. This development takes the heart of Kau, and destroys its quiet, natural wildness which is so important to the people of Kau. We live here for the quiet. We don't want a resort. It takes the last undeveloped area in all the islands, and one of the very last undeveloped beaches, and turns it into profit-making machine for foreign investors. There are other places to make money.There is only one beach.And when it is gone, it's gone. Please save Punaluu. We already lost beautiful beaches in Puna to Pele. Let's not lose this one. It takes a sacred, cherished land and desecrates it. Keep it safe for those who love it. These grounds are sacred—they are not to be desecrated to fill the pockets of foreign investors.The developer has already desecrated the bones of the ancestors, a great crime. The proposed development at Punalu'u would sacrifice many cultural, ecological and spiritual benefits for all Hawaii Island residents to enrich a very few people involved with the development. This land is for the people of Hawaii. Many families rely on these areas for food and cultural practices. We don't need another tourist attraction built by foreign investors to make them richer.