Speak out for MAKENA

December 7, 2008

G. Riki Hokama

County Council Chair

200 S. High St. Wailuku

Dear Mr. Hokama & Maui County Council

My Name is Kehaulani Rand. I’m writing to testify against the change in rezoning for Makena resort. I testified on November 19^th. during the County Council Land and Use Committee meeting, and was very surprised to find that it was a 7-2 vote, to give Makena Resorts the approval need for the controversial luxury development to move forward.

As stated in my previous testimony regarding my beliefs that this project will destroy the last beautiful area of South Maui. It is my plea that the County Council will take into consideration that the decisions made will not only devastate the sacred area of Makena, but it will segregate the maka ‘āi nana (Common People) from their land.

It seems to me that the justification used to approve this project is that it will create much needed jobs for the residents of Maui throughout this economic crisis. However, if that’s the rationale than I don’t think it would be uneconomical for the Council to request that the affordable housing be built on the proposed site, so that the commoners (maka ‘āi nana) will have a chance to reside on their land, and to live closer to their place of employment! Do you think Mr. Dowling cares enough about the residents of Maui to agree with this request?

In closing I would like to mention that on Oct. 14, 2008 I attended the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce Candidates' Forum held at Lihikai Elementary School, and I was impressed that most of you who hold these positions on the Council exuded a genuine love for the land (a’ina) and it’s people the (maka ainana). However, I don’t feel that way about most of you anymore, I feel afraid for our land, and future generations.

O wau me ka ha’a ha’a

Kehaulani Rand