“You’re the first person to come here to learn what we’re up against,” Jeff Silva said in response to Gary Cordery and some of his campaign team, meeting him on his beautiful property in Kailua Kona. Silva’s property sits on prime land in the heart of Kailua Kona on Ali’i Drive. In Silva’s own words, “this area is the Waikīkī of the Big Island.”

Jeff and his wife, Kolina, showed us several ancient burial sites on his property, and his plans to create a cultural site for the community, placing barriers around the burial sites to protect them. He has already invested in gaining assessments from archaeologists and Cultural Resource Management firms to validate the signicance of the burial sites and archaeological artifacts on site.

The state has refused to grant the Silvas a permit for his plans on his own property. Yet, they have permitted a property right next door for development. We could hear the progress being made by heavy equipment allowed next door while we were standing on the Silva property untouched and over-restricted.

The Silvas want to preserve the iwi at his burial site and create a cultural access property to which the state is not allowing him. He said he would have thought they would support such an idea to promote Hawaiian culture, but they are doing the opposite. Giving him the run around, Jeff said “the state and DLNR are probably waiting me out.” But Jeff has stated that he will not back down and will fight them all the way.

Silva is ready to go public with this struggle and expose the continued corruption the state and DLNR are commiting against his family.

During the time with the Silvas, Gary Cordery, in his commitment to the people, took the position of listener and learner to see for himself the real, tangible mess DLNR creates for the people of Hawaiʻi.

Silva has invited others to come and see and learn about his plight with the state and no one has taken him seriously or shown up.

But Gary Cordery did. 

Gary is serious about correcting the stateʻs bad behavior and meeting the needs of the people. 

Gary explained, “The Silvaʻs vision is to create a legacy property and they long to share its treasure with the community. It should be the stateʻs position to enhance this vision both for its preservation and development. Jeffʻs heart for Hawaiian culture is authentic and passionate. It was a blessing and a joy to stand on the Silva ʻohanaʻs land and hear his heart for it. As governor, I will provide leadership and direction for DLNR to discern and implement the lawful and appropriate use of the land belonging to the people. The approval process required will be simplified and streamlined to minimize cost and shorten the time for the approval process. This is what Iʻm stating when I say, ‘We must have new policy makers in Hawaiʻi.’ This is a policy matter and Jeff’s struggle reveals the indifference of state policy makers toward the individual citizen. This is unacceptable. It’s time for change.”