Sample Testimony

TESTIMONY OF [YOUR NAME]  IN STRONG OPPOSITION OF THE ___________

AGENDA ITEM

Aloha Chair Chang and Members of the Board,

My name is [FILL IN YOUR NAME] and I am writing in strong opposition of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation’s (DOBOR) staff recommendations to either

[FILL IN PERSONAL INFORMATION, Where do you live, Are you a paddler, boater, or surfer that uses the area? What does this place mean to you?]

Mahalo for your time and consideration,

[YOUR NAME]

Mahalo to the hundreds of supporters who testified to the Hawaii Senate carried protest signs and wrote to their legislators.

Scroll down to read a few of the 233 testimonies from individuals supporting SB1034 to preserve the 300 Surf and recreational parking stalls. You can research this bill at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov and click SB1034 to read the testimonies.

Individual Testimonies

Juanita Aguerrebere, Support 

As a longtime resident and local of Hawaii, I support this bill to have free and safe public access. Free parking is essential to have safe access for all especially the youth of Hawaii. My children are Native Hawaiian, they surf and canoe surf as their ancestors did before them. We must keep safe places where young and old natives can gather that does not require a pay to play transaction like the rest of Waikiki. 

Parker Sage, Support, age 17

Hey I'm a surfer from Oahu, I live in Mililani and surf often at bowls, the parking lot makes surfing at bowls possible and makes the water sports accessible. I'm 17 years old and have a huge passion for surfing and this will drastically effect my self and many many others. This is my first time ever testifying for anything and it's really important that the parking lot stays the same. I'll keep it plane and simple. Don't let the money makers change the island land any more this is outrageous. 

Jill Shirley Chapman, Support 

IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
SB1034 – RELATING TO PUBLIC PARKING AT ALA WAI BOAT HARBOR Aloha Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Honorable Members of the Committees,

My name is Jill Chapman and I am writing in strong support of SB1034 to guarantee at least 300 parking stalls free of charge for the public at the Ala Wai State Boat Harbor (AWSBH). I live in Moiliili , and am a surfer that uses the area. I have been using the area for the past 16 years. I made friends here, learned to sail and surf here, and came into adulthood and had my first date with my now fiance of 9 years here under the Friday night fireworks. Please keep this area free for the next generations to come, for them to learn, and make lifelong relationships and connect with the aina, to have the opportunity to experience what I have graciously been afforded the opportunity to do. 

Kahealani Enoka, in support of SB1034 

Aloha, my name is Kahealani Enoka and I support SB1034. Myself and my 'Ohana have been longtime recreational users of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and to this day still continue to use this parking lot. As a member of the Rockpiles, Bowls, Kaisers, and 3's surf communities, I believe that the preservation of these 300 stalls is necessary for our keiki and future generations to have access to our oceans and recreational activities at no outrageous expense. With the Ala Wai small boat harbor and Ala Moana beach park being two of the most occupied open lots, it is imperitive that we save and mālama what little we have left with these open spaces. It is our responsibility to protect our communities from any further development and save da lot

Mahalo, Kahealani Enoka 

Jun Shin, in support of SB1034

This bill/measure is important because first and foremost, the public has a right to access our oceans. The Ala Wai harbor serves as an important gathering place for local families, surfers, sailors, paddlers, and swimmers. Removing free parking will frankly block access to the ocean. If free parking is converted to metered parking, working people who want to relax by themselves or with their families with the little free time they have will find it very difficult to consistently go to the beach as costs will add up over time. 

Lisa Abbott, in support of SB1034

I am in support of SB 1034. This bill is simple and clear. My support for this bill is to honor my husband Goro Sulijoadikusumo. On August 18 2021 I went to work and my husband went for his morning surf. He never came home that day. He was an athlete and a surfer. But he was also an engineer with Department of Transportation. He loved all things to do with roads, highways, cars and most of all he loved preserving our Hawaii and making Hawaii a better place to live and work. He and his friend parked at AWSBH that morning and many mornings likeit. He was teaching me to swim there. I walked around on the one year anniversary of his death and I saw tons of kids and families and surfers, paddlers and everybody respecting and doing what they love. DOBOR says the AWSBH needs to be developed to make money. I say a harbor has its own value. Make it the best harbor for the boaters, paddlers, surfers and swimmers. We don’t need to “develop” it for visitors who don’t live here and might not even want to come to visit if we don’t preserve what makes Hawaii special. We saw no visitors during the pandemic-but our people were in the water. This is why many of us sacrifice to live here, caring for our State by working for the State and by taking care of it’s infrastructure and it’s people. Please do this simple thing and pass the bill to preserve the parking. Thank you. 

Kai Hoshijo, Support 

I’m writing in support of SB-1034 for the maintenance of public parking at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. I write in support as a 25 year old surfer, voyager, avid ocean user, member of the ocean community and a native Hawaiian scientist. My experience in the ocean like many others throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago is extremely reliant on access, zoning, legislation, and community. I have spent a lot of time using this space, frequenting this space, and creating relationships within the community at the small boat harbor.

I write in support of this bill because it is a form of organized legislation representing many public stakeholder groups who recognize that removal of ocean access is important enough to voluntarily come together and enter into advocacy. This measure is aligned and congruent with Mrs. Hobron’s will and vision for the use of the boat harbor coastal lands; for ocean recreation. The access that the current and previous free parking provides for the strong ocean community, generational Hawaiian families, and the opportunity for our future keiki in Hawai ‘i is constantly threatened by private initiatives for the parking areas. It’s time that we come together to forge something that would protect the place and people.

With respect to culture, the past and current planning initiatives DOBOR has introduced for new parking rates inevitably alters the incentives to utilize facilities and space, and thus, the demographic of users. It has been shown in other places that increase in monetary demands and privatizing ocean areas has resulted in a loss of connection for many ocean users, especially native people’s (Hack, 2021) (Justine-Domingue, 2022)(Burell, 2022). The legislation here not only protects public ocean access but ethics and culture where racially-biased planning can find its way into management plans and proposals.

Ian K. Lee, in support of SB1034

Aloha Chairs, Vice Chairs and Honorable Members of the Committees,

My name is Ian Yee, and I am writing in strong support of SB1034 to guarantee at least 300 parking stalls free of charge for the public at the Ala Wai State Boat Harbor (AWSBH). I live in Nuuanu, and surf 4-6 times per week at the spot known as Kaisers, right in front of the parking lot on the beach. I have surfed at this spot for 45 years, back when the helipad was there. There is no other close, free, and easily accessable parking in this area. I am also Native Hawaiian, and believe it is my right to easily and regularly access the ocean. Converting the free parking stalls to paid would only marginalize many people who cannot afford to pay to go to the beach. Do not let the rich, or non-local people steal our ocean access merely by using money as a bludgeon for exclusion. Keep these same stalls in the same locations for free. And do not make them free, but locate them far away or difficult to access. We are an ocean going community. It is why tourists come to Hawaii. It is in our culture, heritage, and imbedded in the beauty of our

islands. To take away this basic right is to deny our local people a basic need that is a part of Hawaii. Would you prohibit Olelo too? And for me, another beach or surf break is not an option nor should it be a choice I am forced to make.

I am not asking for non-locals to be excluded from this beach, so why should anyone ask for locals to be excluded by way of fees or money or limitation of access? It is disgusting that this is even a potential option and that I need to write this testimony in order to keep what has been a life long right to access the beach I choose without restriction.

Mahalo for your time. Ian K. YeeOver the past two decades, DOBOR has repeatedly tried to privatize the parking at the boat harbor, and recently drafted a partnered proposal with UH Manoa School of Planning Students that would commercialize the entire area. The plan includes a good amount of environmentally forward language and green-washing to justify commercialization to “solve” and fulfill the objectives they have set forth. The racial bias of climate adaptation along with a departure from acting in public interest by land owners or managers is a dynamic that has been studied in other places within coastal management with much criticism. DOBOR’s stakeholder process has been criticized by the BLNR multiple times in past meetings (2020 and previously). I would suggest reading through previous BLNR recommendations to DOBOR and their previous plans, specifically the most recent proposal that was heard a few years ago. The public voices of support for maintaining free parking areas have always been well organized but seemingly not enough for the department and agency level to include in their process’ to reach some form of collaboration with the public voice. This is a large reason why passing this Bill at a Senate and House level is so important for members of the public.

The issues of managing the harbor itself are long drawn out and do not go unrecognized by current harbor users. In fact, a good amount of management is through informal methods such as cleaning the beach, emergency-care and life-saving, directing first-responders, shower maintenance, and more. Much of the management is carried out by long-time recreation users themselves. While not included in the stakeholder process, many of us are still willing to collaborate for a better future in this special place we care about and SB-1034 is the first step to allowing the community to do so.

My support of SB-1034 is also grounded in legal precedent this bill can set for ocean communities and coastal areas throughout the State. I hope that the large public support for this bill speaks loudly that the public can collaborate with State and City here and throughout the islands to manage and maintain our areas fairly.

I am hoping that the Senate will agree to hear this highly organized effort to protect the public and enable a wonderful opportunity for citizens to take care of their places and work with government and agencies.

Mahalo Nui, Kai Hoshijo

Adam White, in support of SB1034      

I support saving the free public parking at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor. The public deserves access to our ocean waters.

It is so difficult for most of us to make ends meet on the island already. After bills, taxes, rent, work is taken care of, the place that I (and many others) go to relax and connect with Ke Akua is the ocean. Making our free public parking spots fee-based is just another way to keep the middle/lower income residents from having access to our best surf spots. Surfing has saved my life in so many ways. The ocean has taught me Malama Honua. For many, the ocean makes us better versions of ourselves and hence, better community members.

Please allow us to continue parking at this sacred place for free. Aloha Ke Akua, Adam