Forum

April 29, 2012

Memo: Public Meeting To Get Input on Updates Ocean Resources Management

Aloha,

CZM Program seeking my Hawaiian input on the usage of my ancestors relationship and how I have continued on their practice.  My gathering of food, sea shells, and living by the sea for seventeen years without electricity helped the environment and the future generations.  My ‘ukana’ are ‘used’ things that I have treasured and loved over the years.  People give me things they no longer want or need, I consider these things as gifts.  Why fill up the landfill when I can recycle and reuse other people’s throwaways.  I’ve lived at and nearby Keeau’s for seventeen years.  My parents were, particularly my father, would take us down to the beach and fish as a family.  We did ‘paipai’ as a family, “what ever we caught we shared with others first—that was the way things were in those days.”

Today, I am 56 years old and living on the beach at Keeau bush, I am grateful to ‘Jesus’ and all what he has given me.  You see, although I had my tubes tied—I had a baby boy.  We are both alive today and it is the love of Jesus, I believe are why we are here.

Going to Nanakuli Elementary and Waianae High School, but although, I did not graduate, I am grateful for the education I got.  I had to stay home and help my father work in the pig farm up Hakimo road to make ends meet for our family.

Living off the land, it doesn’t matter for I am grateful for the people giving us food, such as the food bank. “I thank all the people. I have a little scrubbing board to wash my clothes near the bridge.  To cook, I cut my own Keawe wood. I do everything by living off the land.”    

Keeau is my home and I want to continue gathering my food, fire wood, sea shells for I am a good steward of my ancestor’s aina.  My parents taught us kids, what was taught to them. I feel that I have given my life to all the changes that came my way.  At this time, I prefer not to go to a shelter because I a self-sufficient and can provide for myself like with what my ancestors had done as well as my parents.  I do not choose to burden the welfare system anymore than what I presently have.  I have medical, and eight months ago, I received services for EBT.  I am very grateful for these services for they have helped me.  When I was a little girl, one time my parents did not have money for Christmas.  I gave my mom three menehune bottles full of money that I earned for parking cars.  My mom use to make plate lunches to sell and she knew how to make money too. 

As you know my home was destroyed.  The government agencies together gave me notice that said, I needed to leave my home that I have known for all of my life.  My gifts from people were taken, tagged, or bulldozed over.  My shells that I have gathered are in disarray at this time.  I am living on the side of the road directly across my former place at Keeau bush which is away from the high water mark.

We, the people of Keeau a self-sustaining community would like to have access to our natural resources to better provide for ourselves.  We thank you for providing us with information about our shoreline usage as well as the near by ocean.  We would like to continue practices of what we have inherited from our parents and them from their parents.  I consider the Keeau people to be good stewards, conscious gathers and sharing people.  Thank you for your time.

Mahalo,

Sharlene Sotelo

Keeau resident