Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 4, 1 April 1998 — OHA Neighbor News [ARTICLE]

OHA Neighbor News

KAUA1 The Hawaiian Agencies Organization of Kaua'i has been asked to be the core organizational group on Kaua'i for the 1999 World Indigenous People's Conference. This conference will be held at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo and Hawai'i Community College, Aug. 1-7, 1999. The Kaua'i office has been active in facilitating the conferenee by coordinating mailing efforts and contacting other agencies on the island. HILO The recent controversy over the proposed prison to be constructed in Ka'u has brought a lot of activity to Hawai'i. On Feb. 28, Puhlie Safety ^ ;

Director Keith Kaneshiro and Senator Matt Matsunaga joined other state representatives and community members to hear concerns about the proposed development. According to OHA's Hilo CAC Jamie Kawauehi, 400 people attended the meeting. Those who favored the j prison development said the prison would bring employment and improved living conditions. However, they were also concerned about the size of the facility and the classification of the prisoners housed there. Those who did not favor the development plan said the prison would blemish the district and create hardships on already taxed eommunity resources. They also emphasizedl that the issue was dividing the community. ■