LEO 'ELELE - TRUSTEE MESSAGES

Keeping Moloka'i Hawaiian

Colette Y. Machado Trustee, Moloka'i and Lāna'i

On Feb. 22, 2008, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted its second critical review of the Draft Environmental Impact Study for the proposed development on the west and south shores adjacent to Lā'au Point, Moloka'i.

I hope that the opponents of the proposed Lā'au development will honestly acknowledge that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has, in fact, maintained a principled position on Lā'au.

First, the resolution passed by the Trustees on Sept. 29, 2005, NEVER DID give a blanket endorsement of the proposed Lā'au development. The resolution expressed appreciation and support to Moloka'i Properties Limited (MPL) for working with the community and for their generous donation of lands to the community.

Second, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has submitted critical reviews of both the first and now the second Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS).

As for myself, I remain committed to the implementation of the overall Community-Based Master Land use plan for Moloka'i Ranch. This must include a thorough Environmental Impact Study that addresses all of the valid concerns raised about potential impacts to the cultural and natural resources of the shorelines adjacent to Lā'au Point.

I support honest and constructive criticism of the new MPL (DEIS). For example, it was helpful for the OHA staff to point out that the DEIS disclosed that a maximum potential dwellings in the proposed development could be 300 rather than 200. I personally followed up on this with MPL CEO, Mr. Peter Nicholas. He informed me that this was an unfortunate typographical error, and I can now clarify that the actual MAXIMUM IS 200, NOT 300 dwellings.

As the process for review of the proposed MPL development unfolds over the next months I am committed to approach the public dialogue with honesty, respect and aloha and hope that this is reciprocated.

For example, one important distinction that we should all honestly acknowledge is that Lā'au Point itself will never be developed and will always be conserved. Lā'au Point and a total of 51 acres surrounding it are owned by the federal government and is zoned conservation. In fact, the area where the Save Lā'au group constructed their “occupation” hale is located within these 51 acres which will never be developed. Many of the cultural sites and features that our outstanding cultural resource practitioners have expressed concern about will never be touched by the proposed development because they are in the area controlled by the federal government.

To acknowledge this in no way diminishes the importance of the west and south shores adjacent to Lā'au which will be affected by the development. These coasts also have important cultural and natural resources, which are important to protect.

One other point of significance is that under the current Moloka'i community plan, 1,500 houses can be built. However, the proposed plan will build a MAXIMUM of 200 units. And these units will be set back 250 feet from the certified shoreline. A lot of comparisons are being made between MPL's proposed development and what has happened at Wailea and Kīhei and Kā'anapali. But let's be honest, those developments involved two to three times as many single family houses plus townhouses and high-rise hotels, with no setbacks.

I love Moloka'i. It is my 'āina hānau … land of my birth; land of my kūpuna kahiko ... ancestors; and my kulāiwi … where I will remain when I hala. I still believe and remain hopeful that the Community-Based Master Plan for Moloka'i Ranch is the best strategy to Keep Moloka'i the Last Hawaiian Island.