Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 8, 1 August 1989 — Auwe! a riviera that says it's Hawaiian [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Auwe! a riviera that says it's Hawaiian

by Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawaii

In early July, I met with group of 30 Hawaiian adult residents of Miloli'i and members of the group Pa'a Pono O Miloli'i and some of their supporters. Several of their leaders appeared before the OHA Board of Trustees at their July 1 community

meeting in Kailua-Kona. Shirley Casuga, a fisherwoman, and Willie Kaupiko, a storekeeper, requested OHA's kokua against the Hawaiian Riviera Resort complex that they and others feel will destroy their home community, Miloli'i — the last remaining Hawaiian fishing village in all of these Hawaiian islands. The added eoneem is that such a vast development will also impact Ka'u and all of South Kona. velopment will also impact Ka'u and all ot South Kona. The proposed Hawaiian Riviera Resort will be in Ka'u several miles south of Miloli'i. This complex will entail four hotels with almost 2,500 rooms, almost 1,500 single and multiple family units, a support community of 800 residential units, and a 400boat manna. Charles Chidiac, who is Lebanese, is one of the developers of Palaee Development Corporation. They are presently before the Land Use Commission for an applieahon to rezone eonservation and agricultural land for urban use. As resident Kaupiko pointed out, "the land is now worth $20 million, if rezoned it will be worth $200-$220 million." Amazing this speculation game, the planning commission and County Council changed zoning on paper (yet the 'aina is not changed a bit). As you change the paper worth (zoning), the 'aina increases more than 10 times in value. Recently on the Big lsland, there have been a rash of incidents where developers eame in to request zoning changes. Then, upon receiving these changes, developers would almost immediately turn around and resell to some Japanese investor profiting millions with not a change to the 'aina. Last month, I told you about Kohanaiki "Pine Trees", outside of Kailua-Kona, as one of those instances where millions were made immediately after a zone change. C. Brewer, after receiving rezoning from the county, recently sold Punalu'u Ka'u to a Japanese developer after Mufi Hannemanconned C. Brewer employees and bused them down to eouneil hearings to change zoning. It was also a Texas firm that made a huge quick profit of millions before they sold Japan Chalon Corporation over 15,000 acres of North Kohala 'aina from Pololu Valley to Mahukona. It is feared that this Hawaiian Riviera may be another one of those "get the rezoning, sell to the Japanese, take the money and run" situations! There is mueh eoneem in Miloli'i about the 400slip boat marina that is a part of the Riviera proposal. As fishermen from Miloli'i have stated, their fishing grounds for generations are near the proposed development. It is rightfully feared that eonstruction of this marina will be a threat to Miloli'i, their livelihood, and our Hawaiian lifestyle. The marina dredging will spread the outbreak of ciguatera already plaguing the West Hawaii coastline today. In a bylined article on the front page of the July 2 issue of West Hawaii Today, Mary Kaniho re-

ported the following: " 'We oppose the marina,' Kaupiko said, 'because fishing is our livelihood, whether commercial or (for) sustenance.' Kaupiko, Casuga and others contend a development of that size would adversely affect the delicate balance of Miloli'i's fishing grounds. Kaupiko went further and said he foresees charter boats, whieh may charge exorbitant fees, depleting the well-protected fishing ground. 'You think we ean compete with people who have money and high tech boats?' Kaupiko rhetorically asked the OHA Trustees. 'We love Hawai'i. This is our land, our culture.' " And they don't want to be squeezed off their 'aina and out of their home fishing grounds. State Planning Department head Harold Matsumoto has taken a position against the rezoning for the Hawaiian Riviera because of the high cost of infrastructure, most of whieh would be paid by you the taxpayer of this state. Because of the remoteness of this proposed resort, it is said it may cost $80-$90-$100 million or more in infrastructure alone for this Hawaiian Riviera. The developers have stated they will pay $9 million toward their own infrastructure. Of couse that means the taxpayers would have to pay the balanee. Apparently we would be burdened with this financial obligation in order to destroy this mueh beloved and unique fishing village, Miloli'i. At first, Hawaii county planner Duane Kanuha took a position against the Hawaiian Riviera as had state planner Harold Matsumoto. Charles Chidiac then attacked and tried to intimidate the state and county as well as unleashing a public relations campaign using persuasive tactics including telling the Hawaii Tribune Herald that "John Waihee promised before his election as Governor that he would make sure this Hawaiian Riviera Resort went through." However, when the Governor passed through Miloli'i several weeks ago, Shirley Casuqa asked Waihee about Chidiac's statements to the Hawaii tribune Herald. John Waihee stated he made no such promise to this developer. This Chidiac is full of shibai! I've been told that for the past two years, Charles Chidiac has been going throughout Ka'u and Miloli'i using ho'omalimali, "soft selling" the community by making all kinds of promises (many of whieh could never be fulfilled) in order to get support for his grandiose Palaee resort. I was told by Miloli'i villagers about a gathering last year to whieh Chidiac brought down coolers full of steaks and beer and promised the fisherman that if they now eam $2,000 eaeh per month fishing, and if after his resort is built their ineome goes down to say $200 a month, that he would compensate them personally up to the $2,000 they made before the resort was built. Charles Chidiac also told the Miloli'i people that he would have poliee boats patrolling and protecting the Miloli'i fishing grounds from the 400 boats at his marina. Who is kidding who? No way could this or any developer have poliee powers makai. I was told that all the while Chidiac was making these promises to the Miloli'i people, his lawyers and aides continuously warned him not to make such (wild) promises. This developer also divided Miloli'i by sponsoring a volleyball team — only supporters of the development are allowed to join. At the last Land Use Commission hearing on this applieahon, Shirley questioned the developer's staff lawyers on the stand about the above-mentioned promises they had tried to wam Chidiac not to make! Though they attempted to skirt the issue, or denied being present during the mentioned eonversation, I heard that state employees were amused and were laughing as Shirley's questioning probed on. Also present at out Kailua-Kona community

meeting was artist Herb Kane. After hearing statements and concerns by the Miloli'i people, he shared his own experience and apprehension about Chidiac and stated, "I'm convinced it's a scam" and that he thinks Chidiac is out to make "fast bucks," as reported in West Hawaii Today. This Trustee had said the same thing to our Hawaii County Council at their meeting in Kona several months ago. Kane went on to say that "Before we hand out zoning land permits we have to make sure resort developers have financing in plaee. If they don't, then obviously they're scammers." He also wisely shared that "OHA should be entitled to take a position (on issues affecting Hawaiians) if there's a sociological impact on its constituents." For years, I have been trying to encourage my fellow Trustees that this too is our responsibility. The Land Use Commission continued its hearing on this Hawaiian Riviera July 13-14 at the Hotel King Kamehameha. Pa'a Pono O Miloli'i the intervenors in this case, hoped to get developer Chidiac on the stand. Let us remember nothing is free in this world! Miloli'i would be devasted by this outside takeover. Social changes for Miloli'i must eome from the community of Miloli'i and not from "pie in the sky" speculators. Malama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono.