CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Molokai protesters peacefully demonstrated yesterday during start of OHA's 14th biennial investiture ceremony. New and existing trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs were sworn in at Kawaiahao Church. CLICK FOR LARGE
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Molokai protest focuses on OHA
At issue is a proposed luxury development near fishing grounds
By Audrey McAvoy
Associated Press
About 40 protesters filed though Kawaiahao Church during the swearing-in ceremony for Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees yesterday to demonstrate against a plan to build 200 luxury estates at Laau Point on Molokai.
Demonstration leader Walter Ritte said the development supported by OHA would deplete and destroy the best fishing grounds on Molokai.
"It's going to be very detrimental to our cultural lifestyle," said Ritte. "We're here to ask the ... Office of Hawaiian Affairs to support Hawaiians."
Ten protesters flew over from Molokai for the event while the rest joined from Oahu.
Ritte said they want OHA trustees to withdraw a resolution they passed in support of the development in September 2005.
The proposal by landowner Molokai Ranch would transform 500 acres of pristine beachfront land at Laau into a 200-lot luxury subdivision. At the same time, the ranch would set aside about 80 percent of the Molokai land it owns -- or more than 50,000 acres -- for open space and conservation easement.
The ranch also wants to use revenue from the Laau project to renovate Kaluakoi Resort and reopen a 144-room hotel there that closed five years ago.
The protesters, many wearing red T-shirts, walked through the central aisle of the church sanctuary in silence. They had wanted to carry signs with them but left them outside at the request of church leaders.
The protesters also waved to passing traffic outside the church while holding signs saying "OHA insults Molokai" and "OHA represents developers."
Colette Machado, trustee for Molokai and Lanai, said after the swearing-in ceremony that the project would build only 200 lots at a time when other communities, like Kau on the Big Island, were facing developments that would build thousands of new homes.
She said the plan also would end commercial hunting forever and provide for the careful management of resources in the Laau area.
"You can't get it any better from any court settlement or any kind of future litigation," Machado said. "It's a reasonable and just approach."
Ritte scoffed at the idea of a trade-off.
"Give up your daughter to save the family -- let her be a whore. That doesn't sell on Molokai. That's basically what the deal is," Ritte said. "We're not going to give up anybody in our family. We need the whole family to survive."
Haunani Apoliona, board chairwoman, said the demonstration showed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was very open.
"It points out that there can be differing opinions and different points of view in our community. And it's the way we handle it and treat each other that's critical," Apoliona said.