Kamehameha Schools want to develop Keauhou Bay 

Kamehameha Schools Bungalow Resort Development WILL Have 43 Buildings with 150 Rooms X 3 People Per Room = 450 or More Visitors Added to Small, Historical Keauhou Bay. See their plan on this link: https://www.ksbe.edu/keauhou-bay.

Please See Keauhou Bay Community Photos Below.

Actions You Can Take

SIGN AND SHARE THESE 2 OPPOSING PETITIONS

• Help Save Keauhou Bay Petition Link https://www.change.org/p/save-keauhou-bay-from-becoming-a-big-crowded-resort?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=92a53560-1e91-11e5-b4ef-b94e90cedbdd

• Help Big Island Resources and Infrastructure https://www.change.org/p/help-big-island-resources-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and-visit/dashboard

1) Please watch for the last meeting where we ALL can oppose this resort. It should be shown on this link when it’s scheduled https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/about-us/planning-department-calendar. You will be able to send letters. Showing up in person is best, and being on their Zoom link during the meeting date to OPPOSE is great as well. 

The meeting to look for on the above link will be about ʻĀina Pauahi - Hawaii Real Estate Group at Kamehameha Schools applying for their Special Management Permit. This is the last permit they need to create a Bungalow Resort in Keauhou Bay. The more of us who keep an eye out for this last meeting, the better, and the more of us who personally show up to this meeting either in person, or via Zoom link, and show our opposition, the BETTER! Mahalo for your time!

Please email me at bigislandtalk@gmail.com if you see this meeting because the more of us who look for this meeting the better chances we all won't miss it. Mahalo! 

2) You can save the photos below and attach them to emails. You can copy and paste letter below and email Tiffany Grace at tigrace@ksbe.edu, the Vice President's secretary of ʻĀina Pauahi - Hawaii Real Estate Group at Kamehameha Schools, and tell Vice President Kāʻeo Duarte how you feel about their Bungalow Resort in Keauhou Bay.

Ask for an in-person meeting with him to discuss why you oppose their Resort. The more people who want to meet in person to OPPOSE the BETTER! Mahalo for your time! 

Email Kāʻeo Duarte ideas of how KS can make money other than developing Keauhou Bay into a resort development because he told me he would appreciate new ideas.

For example, KS purchased over 650 acres in Naalehu in 2023. Why not develop that land? 

Such as building simple and nice homes for Hawaiian people so they can pay rent.   https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/01/05/kamehameha-schools-takes-over-more-than-650-acres-land-hawaii-island/

Hale Laau is already developed, so why not open that property for hula shows and... to make money?

KS has 364,000 acres all over Hawai'i. They could develop other lands to make money. Please, let them know.

3) Call Marissa Harman Kāʻeo Duarte, KS Rep for Keauhou Bay Development, and OPPOSE their Resort

4) Call the KS Main Office and Ask Them if They are Receiving Reports of All the Opposition to Their Bungalow Resort Development in Keauhou Bay 8085236200

5) Set Up a in Person Meeting with Marissa Harman and Stand for Saving Keauhou Bay, Helping Endangered Species in the Bay, and Saving Community Practices

6) Copy, Paste, Email, and Send a Personal Mailed Letter of the Scientifically Researched Letter you can use as your letter and add to it if you like 

8) More Actions to TAKE Explained Below

Mahalo for Your Time and Efforts

Kamehameha Schools has submitted their EIS Draft to develop Keauhou Bay into a Bungalow Resort Development.

The next and last comment period is very soon. If you find information on this meet, please let me know because it can be hard to find meeting information.

Email me at bigislandtalk@gmail.com. 

Start showing opposition early to ensure we get heard, and I will keep emails to resend them during the last comment period. 

Kamehameha School's Rep, Marissa Harman emailed me this information. I'm not sure how true this is, "The next public comment period will be tied to the Special Management Area Permit submittal. We don’t expect that submittal to be until late spring/early summer. There will be a public notification and a public hearing process that all are welcome to participate in."

IT WILL TAKE ALL OUR EFFORTS to SAVE Keauhou Bay

IF YOU Do NOT STAND and OPPOSE, YOU WILL BE AGREEING to a Bungalow Resort Development that WILL POLLUTE KEAUHOU BAY AND ADD OVER 450 MORE TOURISTS TO THIS EXTREMELY SMALL, HISTORICAL BAY.

There are many ways to help Stand and Protect Keauhou Bay.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

#1 The last thing Kamehameha Schools will need to do is apply for a Special Management Permit with Hawai'i Planning. Please Call Hawai'i Planning and ask to get on their email list to know when the meeting will be to OPPOSE their Special Management Permit and Help Save Keauhou Bay. Call Raimee 8089618288 Ext: 8038. . All homeowners within 300 to 500 ft. of Keauhou Bay should receive a letter about when this meeting will be. Please make sure to get EVERYONE you know to this meeting. 

#2 Please copy, paste, and email the below letter as your own and add to it if you'd like:

Aloha Hawaii County and Kamehameha School Representatives,

I want to email you all before the comment period because I do not want to miss the opportunity to speak on saving historic Keauhou Bay from a bungalow resort development, as your meetings come up with very short notice. 

Please help in preserving Keauhou Bay from the proposed development of Kamehameha Schools Bungalow Resort. This development would result in the displacement of Keauhou Bay from its traditional cultural practices, exacerbate the already limited capacity of the bay due to its high boat traffic volume, and contribute to pollution that could adversely impact the water quality of Keauhou Bay, which is currently designated as “Impaired Water” by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the identifier #HI713293:

https://mywaterway.epa.gov/waterbody-report/21HI/HI713293/2020

There are hundreds of passengers that join all the boats in this bay daily because this bay is an extremely high-traffic boating area in a very small bay. There are land markers there that mark the boating lane that is right in the middle of the bay, and there are already many resorts for tourists that surround the entire bay; if another resort is allowed, it will add over 450 or more tourists to this very small bay and put these snorkeling tourists in danger because they will not understand where the boating lane is and how to stay out of boat traffic. This would create a lot of lawsuits should an accident happen, and that would most likely go to the county for allowing another resort because this bay is already overcrowded and does not have room for another resort.

Your assistance in preventing this development is crucial, as the consequence of this unchecked economic growth and development would lead to significant pollution, disrupting the habitat of endangered species such as the Monk Seal, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, and Hoary Bat. This development violates the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which was enacted to safeguard critically imperiled species from extinction as “consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.” 

Please see the following on the ESA Act of 1973:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Act_of_1973

Please read this article, "20 Endangered  Animals Pushed to the Brink by Habitat Loss" because the Hawksbill Turtle is on this list and has been seen in the Keauhou Bay area. Keauhou Bay is one of the Hawksbill Turtle's habitats, and a bungalow resort development will pollute its habitat forever from pavement runoff pollution, as well as sunscreen washing off from the over 450 or more tourists that will stay in this resort and swim in this bay.

https://rarest.org/animals/endangered-animals-pushed-to-the-brink-by-habitat-loss

"The Hawaiian hoary bat is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.[9] The Hawaiian hoary bat faces threats including habitat loss, collisions with man-made structures such as wind turbines and barbed wire, pesticide impacts on primary food sources, predation and competition with invasive species, roost disturbance, and tree cover reduction."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_hoary_bat

The endangered hoary bat roosts in Keauhou Bay every evening, and the green sea turtle and monk seal frequently swim and rest in the bay.  Numerous endangered species have perished due to the disruption of their natural habitats from development impacts. We must stand up for these species and ensure their survival on the Big Island.

 The following studies demonstrate the detrimental impact of developments, damaging coral reefs and marine life:

Zooplankton, an integral component of marine life, will be adversely affected and potentially eliminated if the proposed resort development is permitted. These microscopic organisms serve as a primary food source for manta rays, which are commonly observed in Keauhou Bay, feeding on zooplankton on a daily and nightly basis. The demise of zooplankton due to pollution generated by the development will result in the cessation of manta ray visits to this bay.

For further information, please refer to the article titled “An Ecosystem Under Threat,” which highlights the significant global and local threats faced by Hawaiʻi’s reefs, including overfishing and sediment and nutrient pollution caused by sewage and stormwater runoff.

https://coral.org/en/where-we-work/hawaiian-islands/#:~:text=Hawai%CA%BBi's%20reefs%20face%20major%20global,into%20Hawai%CA%BBi's%20waterways%20every%20day.

Additionally, please consider watching the video and joining the Coral Reef Alliance in their efforts to protect Keauhou Bay’s coral reefs from the proposed Kamehameha Schools Bungalow Resort Development.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak5KdbkVQC8&t=76s.

The land designated for development has historically served as a buffer against golf course pollution, safeguarding Keauhou Bay. Notably, the Hawaiʻi government reports that natural ground cover exhibits a 10% runoff rate, while development-related areas have a significantly higher 55% runoff rate. Even with the presence of storm drains, the pavement created during development will generate more runoff into Keauhou Bay compared to the current natural ground cover, which has effectively mitigated pollution from golf courses for years.

Link to the supporting study:

https://health.hawaii.gov/epo/files/2013/09/Stormwater-MS4-Presentation-HEF-7.15.14.pdf

"Coral Bleaching is occurring more frequently in Hawai'i. Across the Hawaiian Archipelago, coral bleaching has increased in frequency and severity since  1996. The last major bleaching event in 2014-2015 had catastrophic Impacts state-wide…  This was the third major bleaching episode in Hawaiʻi over the last 6 years. The frequency of these events is unprecedented in the archipelago. NOAA scientists and partners have determined that the key drivers of the bleaching were environmental factors (such as heat stress, depth, and surface light) and human impacts (sewage effluent and urban run-off). "

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/cautionary-tale-2019-coral-bleaching-event-hawaii#:~:text=Coral%20Bleaching%20Is%20Occurring%20more,had%20catastrophic%20impacts%20state%2Dwide.

Preserving Keauhou Bay is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it violates the Cultural Impact Statement Law, as the Hawaiian people and the local community utilize the bay daily for their cultural practices. Overcrowding the bay with tourists would adversely affect all cultural practices, not only the canoe racing, fishing, volleyball, baptisms, life service celebrations, yoga, and anonymous group meetings but the mana of this sacred place.

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2020/bills/SB3152_.HTM

Having hundreds of tourists in the bay will cause issues with canoe training, fishing, baptism services, anonymous services, yoga practices, and the Celebration of Life services held in this bay. This bungalow resort development will affect all the cultural practices of the entire community.

This historic bay will become jam-packed with tourists, which will have significant adverse effects on the cultural practices held in this bay, which is against the Cultural Impact Statement Law because this Law determines "whether an action may have a significant effect on cultural practices, particularly native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices expressly protected under article XII, section 7, of the state constitution."

Please read this Opposing Petition with the comments as well. There are thousands of signatures on this petition from the Hawaiian people, locals, and tourists https://www.change.org/p/save-keauhou-bay-from-becoming-a-big-crowded-resort?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=92a53560-1e91-11e5-b4ef-b94e90cedbdd 

Kindly refer to the following links for comprehensive scientific evidence that underscores the imperative of conserving the historically significant Keauhou Bay. This conservation should be prioritized over the development into a luxury bungalow resort catering to high-end tourists:

https://bigislandsupport.com/kbayinfo/

https://bigislandsupport.com/savekbay/

Kamehameha Schools Representatives, please forward this to the trustees so they are aware of all the opposition and can fully assess the scientific evidence that their bungalow resort development will harm the bay and the entire community that enjoys it. 

Thank you,

Sincerely, 

(your name)

Copy & Paste these Email Addresses and Send Your Letter to ALL of them (my email is included because I will be saving all sent letters and resubmitting them during the last comment period as we need a lot of different names supporting this effort): 

ksrc@ksbe.edu, maharman@ksbe.edu,  planning@hawaiicounty.gov, Alex.Roy@hawaiicounty.gov, bigislandtalk@gmail.com, 

Subject Title: Please Conserve Keauhou Bay as a Historical Park, Endangered Species Habitat, and Community Cultural Practices Area 

You are welcome to copy any of this page's information and add it to any letter you send, and share on Facebook https://bigislandsupport.com/kbayinfo/

#2 Mail a paper letter and ASK for a MEETING with The Trustees to OPPOSE What They Want To Do:

Kamehameha Schools

Office of Trustees 

Kawaiaha‘o Plaza 

567 South King St.

Honolulu, HI 96813

#3 Call and Oppose their Bungalow Resort:

Call and MAKE a MEETING with Marissa Harman 8088951865 (Rep in their Keauhou Office)

Call West Hawaii Office and Oppose their Bungalow Resort Development 8083225400 

#4 Go directly into the Kamehameha Schools office at 78-6831 Alii Dr, Suite 239, Kailua Kona , and speak to them in person. 

If you want Support Standing, I WILL GO TO MEETINGS AND STAND BY YOUR SIDE! Just email me at bigislandtalk@gmail.com, Rebecca Melendez

Please set up a meeting to oppose their bungalow resort. Bring your friends and family to the meeting because the more people who oppose this bungalow resort together, the better!

Making Comments on the ABOVE Petitions is Extremely helpful because your comments are shared in emails. Mahalo! 

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IGNORING THE THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES ON THE ABOVE PETITIONS OPPOSING THEIR BUNGALOW RESORT. THE BEST THING TO DO IS VOICE YOURSELF IN PERSON BECAUSE KEAUHOU BAY NEEDS YOUR VOICE AND MAKE COMMENTS IN THE NEXT COMMENT PERIOD IN EARLY 2045.

#6 Help spread this information by writing letters to newspapers, posting to all your Facebook groups, getting this information into newspapers, and telling reporters about what is happening. 

There are many ways to help; STANDING UP with emails and getting this info out by contacting newspapers and news reporters, emailing, calling, making a meeting with Marissa Harman KS Rep, and SHARING this website everywhere to help spread the word that Keauhou Bay MUST be Conserved.

Thank you for your time and efforts!

Please ask your Facebook family and friends to help.

Please also send letters to these links as well:

https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/mayor/comments-and-concerns

https://governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/contact-the-governor/ 

https://ltgov.hawaii.gov/contact-us/contact-the-lieutenant-governor/

https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/submit-news-story/

https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/letter-to-the-editor/https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/letter-to-the-editor/ 

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/letter-to-the-editor/

Kamehameha Schools say they want to build a bungalow resort in Keauhou Bay because they need money.

They have around 364,000 acres all over Hawai'i, and their Endowment was valued at 14.6 BILLION in 2023. THEY HAVE MANY OTHER OPTIONS  to make money than to POLLUTE and OVERCROWD Keauhou Bay FOREVER. 

Kamehameha Schools HAVE Lands 2 miles from Keauhou Bay that they've ALREADY DEVELOPED, and they HAVE FENCED OFF to ONLY USE FOR THEIR PRIVATE EVENTS.