Many have already committed to waving signs on April 6th in support of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP).
The CMP will be heard before the State Land Board in Hilo on April 8th and 9th.
Richard is encouraging others – including you – to meet them by the Kamehameha Statue at the Hilo Bayfront between 4 and 6 p.m. on Monday, April 6th. He’s even providing a pint of his Hamakua Springs grape tomatoes to each of the first 150 people who arrive (limit one per family).
He helped gather people for some radio spots that are about to hit the airwaves, too. The radio spots were done by five native Hawaiians, all explaining in their own words why they support the Mauna Kea CMP.
“This is what we have to do for the future,” says Richard, of the CMP. “We need to talk to each other, and keep our community tight. It’s not a fight between ourselves. The process is a way for people to say what they need to say, and then we’ll do the best we can for everybody. This is what we have to do.”
“It’s the process,” Richard says. “Everybody is contributing to the process. We’re all in this together.”
Listen to the six short radio clips here:
Audio: Richard Ha, farmer, Hamakua Springs Country Farms
Audio: Patrick Kahawaiola’a, President of the Keaukaha Community Association
Audio: Michael Kaleikini, Manager, Puna Geothermal Venture
Audio: Lehuanani Waipa Ah nee, Young Hawaiian Leader
“There are going to be labor people and business people there who don’t naturally find themselves on the same side, and Hawaiians and every other kind of people,” says Richard. “The labor union guys are telling me, ‘This shouldn’t be the only time we do this; that there will be other issues when we could join together for the common good, and other times we will disagree philosophically, and that’s fine. But that doesn’t mean we can’t agree when it’s mutually beneficial.’
“That’s why I’m so excited about this,” he says.
“It’s really exhilirating when you think about it that way. And that’s why I am encouraging people to bring their kids. It’s a real civics lesson for young kids.”
Final audio clip: Composite of voices supporting the CMP
Please consider joining the sign-wavers – on Monday, April 6 between 4 and 6 p.m. near the Kamehameha Statue on Kamehameha Avenue – to support the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan.