HOW DOES HAWAIIAN LAND GET STOLEN?
Here's How The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs Actually Helps The Process
The Maui News - Sunday, October 8, 2006
LA`AU POINT, Molokai - A crowd of up to 400 Molokai residents walked or rode in boats Saturday to Laau Point to protest plans to develop million-dollar estates in the southeast corner of the island.
"It was the biggest march we've ever had on Molokai," said Hawaiian rights advocate Walter Ritte, who was reached by cellular phone Saturday afternoon.
Protesters built a 16-by-24-foot Hawaiian hale (house) as symbol of their protest of the proposed development.
Molokai Ranch owner Molokai Properties Ltd. has applied to the state Land Use Commission to have 613 acres near La`au classified from agricultural to rural to allow development of 200 two-acre residential lots.
Protesters object to the development, according to Ritte, because they believe it will impact traditional fishing grounds and because of the social impact of 200 wealthy families moving to Molokai with values and attitudes that can clash with the lifestyle of residents.
According to Ritte, Molokai will lose nearly six miles of its best fishing grounds if the subdivision is created on the slopes along the coastline.
"It's a clear message to Molokai Ranch that they should not have this development," Ritte said, referring to Saturday's protest turnout.
He said protesters wore red T-shirts with the words "A`ole La`au" (no to La`au) printed on them and marched in high 80-degree temperature...
The protest did not end on Saturday.
Ritte said he and others plan to take actions against the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which he said approved a resolution to support Molokai Ranch's development plans at Laau Point.
Ritte said a protest at OHA's Molokai offices will be held in the future.
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