Majority Supports Envision Lā’ie
The voice of the majority was heard at the Ko’olauloa Neighborhood Board Meeting on July 30, 2009. A motion to support Envision Lā’ie’s plans to preserve land for BYU-Hawaii to grow passed by a 7-4 vote and the majority of residents in attendance voiced strong, positive support. According to Koolauloa News, “Hundreds of community residents filled the school cafeteria to overflowing, and dozens of them testified before the neighborhood board, the overwhelming majority speaking in favor of the proposal.” The outcome of the neighborhood board reflects findings of the Priorities and Values Survey of Ko’olau Loa residents conducted earlier this year. In that survey 74% of residents across Ko’olau Loa said they supported changing the Ko’olau Loa Sustainable Community Plan to allow BYU–Hawaii to grow and to place faculty and staff housing along with affordable housing in Malaekahana.
As you can see on the video, Laie Community Association President Pane Meatoga talked first about the importance of allowing entities of The Church of Jesus of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints room to grow and become sustainable. “The loss of these [Latter-day Saint] entities would be devastating, not only to Laie, but to Ko’olau Loa.”
Here are just a few positive comments that you can view in the video:
“My name is Raymond Magalei and I was born and raised here in Laie 40 years ago. The number one reason why I do [support Envision Lā'ie] is to keep the locals that are from here, here, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Thank you.”
“It is hard in such hard economic times to even imagine going into a mortgage of a million plus just to stay in this area, specifically Laie. We’re at the point now where I have to go back to work and leave five kids here to be independent, and I travel to town to do it. As we’ve considered the times before us, I want you to know—it makes sense to me.”— Tamara Ulima
“I strongly support this proposal for Envision Lā’ie.”—Harry Brown
“My name is Ipolani Hyrum Thompson, and I was raised right across the street. Of course I’m for the plan, for Envision Lā’ie.”
“I am a seventh generation descendant of this town. Our ancestors were here before Kamehameha conquered Oahu, they were here before the Church purchased the land in 1865. I took part in all of the Envision plans and I give my support to all of them.”—Gladys Pualoa-Ahuna
“Problems—we will always have them. From today until the end of time. That’s why we come here to face the problems. We will not be judged by how many problems we have but how we address them and overcome them. Mahalo ia ‘oukou pakahi a pau! I am in support of the growth.”—Cy Bridges
Perhaps the most poignant reminder of the urgent need for sustainability was BYU–Hawaii psychology professor and 40-year Laie resident, Inoke Funaki. Here’s how the Koolauloa News summarized his comments:
“ ‘I may not be a beneficiary of the plan, but I believe my children and grandchildren will be,’ he said. As did several others who testified, Funaki also said he already owned a little land in Laie — plots at Laie Cemetery.”
2 Comments
Dorothy Fiso-Faasou Says:
I too, born and raised in Laie, Hawaii, and served on the Laie Community Board. In all these discussions and presentations being made, my hope is that we truly do have fair representation in these close doors meetings with these developers. It all looks good from the outside, with the rally of our community people to fight and push these different expansions for the different entities with our Laie Community, but is it really going to help our people? Are these houses really going to be affordable homes? We really need trust worthy people who are there for the people, by the people, and of the people. Please note that while I do support these expansions, I’ve had in the past have to hold my vote on certain issues which the 2 other entities, PCC & BYU-Hawaii would ask of our community, only because they were really only doing things for their own special interest, and not in the best interest of our Laie Community. LCA has got to be more vocal, more visible, more pro-active in rally our community to ensure that with all these developements being done, that these entities do give back something to our Laie Community. And not just ask us for our support, then when all is said and done, they close off their facilities to our community. Why not invest in a Laie Community Recreation Center as a in kind donation for all the support our community is giving these entities? A lot of developers in the States do this as a right off and to show their appreciation for everyones support. Of course, they will throw at us the “L” word, LAIABILITY! But with the University there, why can we not do like an internship program for all P.E. majors to work at such facility if there was one? Then they could work a program in for hiring these graduates, huh? But this is just my opinion. I close with this, while it has been the practice of the past, where HRI has always needed our community support to pass all or any type of developement within our community, first and foremost, is that we truly need to have fair representatives in these close door meetings with all these elite members of the President for the PCC/BYU-Hawaii/HRI for our community. Not people who sit on the LCA and are there as YES people, or act as puppets for these entities. Take this comment for all its worth, because this is the honest truth. The one thing we don’t want to happen is like what happened in the past, where the land deal cost of homes, which our HRI representative made with the LDS Church Leaders, said that they were affordable, when truth be revealed it was not affordable with the type of income our locals made being employeed at the PCC/BYU-Hawaii/HRI. Please be ever on our guard with having people there in on all these meetings with the Presidents of the different entities, and the developers. I am a strong member of the church, but I have seen how people take their authority and exercise it the wrong way. The scriptures warn us of being the natural man on to God, and because of this, we all need to be alert and attentive to all this developement. Thank you, Lisa, you are doing a great job. So proud of you, take care. May god bless everyone who are a part of this great Envision Hawaii. Ofa lahi atu.
August 18th, 2009 at 8:57 amTupou Naeata-Taumoepeau Says:
What an emotional, yet exciting time for Laie and it’s residents. I only pray that the plans for developing Laie and expanding into certain areas of it; will profit its people and future generations.
For those that are directly drawing the plans and working with the contractors, may they use good judgement and skill; as far as who they hire to labor on this project.
I also hope that those residing in and around the surrounding areas will be prepared for such changes.
It is vital that those participating and creating this project; put into deep consideration those that it will effect, now and into the far future.
In any given time in history change has always been difficult.
There will be a great deal of sacrifice, of mistakes, of difficulties and challenges in fulfilling this project.
I do however believe that this will be a good change and a profitable one for the community and it’s residents.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:42 amLeave Your Comment