Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021

    Earl Louis, of Kaʻū Preservation, who was involved in opposing the Sea Mountain V project, fronted by the son of Jacque Cousteau, said, "We need to be thankful for Eva. We need to work as one. We need to malama Punalu'u.... It's time to work as a community."
    Pernell Hanoa, who has also supported preservation efforts, said it is very refreshing to see Liu "come out here and talk from her heart." He said the last developer "had a front man" without concern of cultural and environmental issues - "just make money."'
    Sophia Hanoa said Liu "get good heart" and that it is time to "mana up together." She urged Hanoa and her team to look to the kupuna for guidance. "We like keep everything how is, how was." She said the kupuna have been neglected and pointed to their knowledge that goes beyond what can be learned from books and college.

Pernell Hanoa and Palekapu Deadman share ideas and came out in support of the community working with Eva Liu on the future of Punalu'u. Photo by Julia Neal

    Olivia Ling told Liu''s development planning team that "Whatever you do, you are going to be flushing toilets." She said she worried that "Eva cannot afford" to do all the projects proposed and will bring in other people who will not be as sensitive to the environment.
    A woman who identified herself as Refana said she hopes Liu and her group are not "greenwashing." She urged the team to consider affordable housing, involving local businesses and going to schools to ask the young people about their dream for the future of Kaʻū.
    Evan Enriques said most of the plans put forth are geared toward commerce or tourism. He noted that over 150 units of accommodations are planned. He urged the team to look into affordable housing and other community needs, such as those worked on by O Kaʻū Kakou, like senior housing and a dialysis center.
    Kamana Kapele said his tutu man was from Makanau and that he wanted to make Liu aware of land issues, including his view that the U.S. illegally annexed the Hawaiian Islands. He said people coming here to buy land are "purchasing a fraud." He gave Liu a copy of a letter from Queen Liliuokalani protesting the 1893 U.S. "invasion," along with other documents concerning the Hawaiian Kingdom movement.
    George Leap said he is concerned that some of the condominiums planned will be three stories high. He said he is also concerned with too many tourists coming here and suggested making Punalu'u more geared to locals.
    Thomas King of Honu'apo said he is also concerned about "greenwashing" and giving an appearance of sustainable practices. He asked if the development would seek LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. He also asked for creation of  a non-toxic work environment, unlike the sugar plantation, which required workers to be exposed to toxic chemicals, said King.
    Angus Bruce Wright said he doesn't want Punalu'u to be a Kona Coast; Kihei, Maui; or Princeville, Kaua'i. "I love this land, its beauty, isolation, climate, and culture." He said he supports Liu's project "if we go slow and get input from the community." He called her "kind, giving and sincere."

Black Sand Beach, LLC planning team shows a zoning map of Punalu'u. Photo by Izaskun Levy

    Amy Thomas who works with hawksbill turtle preservation said she is concerned with lights from the resort interfering with their nesting. She urged the developers to move the restaurant away from the shoreline.

    Sandra Reha said, "What I hear from people is that you are too close to the ocean." She suggested making the land around the Punalu'u pond a walking, natural and peaceful place. She also recommended not building anything along Ninole Loop near the Black Sand Beach.

     The development team responded to community suggestions, saying that the plans were an early concept and that more community ideas are welcomed.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

     She also mentioned that her work helped to block the Four Seasons from digging four swimming holes along the coast for its resort. Another effort stopped a seven-story condominium on Ali'i Drive where developers "didn't give a rip" about an archaeological site, "a wahine complex." The land was purchased for preservation, all before the days of PONC, the Preservation, Open Space & Natural Resources Commission program. 

David, who is the councilwoman who represents Kaʻū, described Eva Liu, who owns 434 acres at Punalu'u, as "unlike any other developer I've met in 40 years." David said her advice to Liu is to work with the community, engage and commit and "there must be some aspect of giving back."

    She noted that she has been talking with Liu about the possibility of the county purchasing Punalu'u coastal areas outright or buying a conservation easement. A Kaʻū nonprofit would malama the shoreline. She also noted that the county recently bought land at Mahukona and is working with a nonprofit there to take care of the place.

    David talked about the county, developer and non-profits managing the shoreline with help and advice of local families.

      She said the session in Pāhala, sponsored by Liu, "should not be the last community meeting" and that she hopes "something very sensitive" can come out of them.