January 9, 1998
President Cysewski Cyanotech Fax: 329-3597Dear Mr. Cysewski:
I have been watching the conflict between Cyanotech and Alena Kaiokekoa for sometime. I was very disappointed at the decision of Judge Ibara and the way the facts of the case were obtained and delivered. The connections between the parties involved both on the defense and prosecution reminded me of the classic"set up". Everyone knows what is going on except Uncle Al.
You wrote me a letter once denying any wrong doing in site destruction and desecration at Ho’ona. You said that you supported Hawaiians and their rights. Through my own investigations, on sight inspection and talking with people, I know this is not true.
Instead, you try to stop an old Hawaiian man, in ill health, from restoring an area both rich in personal and Hawaiian history. Your bullying has only drawn more attention to Cyanotech and its questionable environmental policies, not to mention its immoral treatment of an old Hawaiian trying to protect the bones of his ancestors. The whole process you have made Mr. Kaiokekoa go through makes mockery of a judicial system already plagued by prejudicial treatment of Hawaiians and deserves only the highest contempt by anyone with an ounce of decency.
The issues here are not that Mr. Kaiokekoa has abused his responsibilities as curator of Ho’ona and may have used too much water, but that he drew attention to the destruction of archeological sites, the bones of his ancestors, and for this he must be punished. It seems to me that blasting and bulldozing Hawaiian burial grounds is acceptable business to Cyanotech. Any company practicing this kind of cultural insensitivity should not be allowed to do business in Hawaii, especially in the form of a publicly funded project. Because of your incompetent survey of the ground you are blasting, damage to the water table and reef shelf are occurring.
One of the richest fishing grounds in Hawaii starts just a few hundred yards offshore. The opelu, ahi, opakapaka, and marlin sustain both recreational and commercial fishermen. Your waste water, rich in nitrates, undoubtedly is increasing the cigutoxin levels in West Hawaii. If an adverse affect of your irresponsible blasting and dumping of nitrate damages our ocean resource, don’t expect us to look the other way. We support more than just 150 jobs.
Mr. Daniel’s assessment that discharges of nitrate rich water poses no threat to ground water is corporate "bull".
Cyanotech’s use of the lands at Ho’ona are both privileged and revocable. There are other businesses and more to come, that could utilize this resource. Maybe Cyanotech should concentrate on paying rent for a change. People that don’t pay rent get evicted.
NELHA and Cyantotech may have achieved its goal in this decision by Judge Ibara, but you have lost much more by stopping Mr. Kaiokekoa from doing his work on land. You also stopped his teaching of near shore ocean management, something we cannot afford to lose and you have lost public trust. You should learn what Aloha "Aina means and practice it. Cyanotech must not destroy or damage this area anymore.
I tell you these things because Mr. Kaiokekoa does not stand alone. You have wronged everyone in the community. I hope our elected officials and general public will see the damage Cyanotech is doing and prevent further destruction.
Sincerely,
Michael K. Trask, Pres. Big Island Fishermen’s Associationcc: