If we have ANY hope of burning the phoenix at Rebirth 2008 we NEED the community to come together RIGHT NOW to make Mayor Harry Kim change his mind and grant us a burn exemtion. They are telling us that we can NOT burn the phoenix based on an emergency proclamation banning all outdoor fires. The Mayor can give us an exemtion but will not give us the time of day as we are nobodys.

We NEED you the community to send in a mass of emails (please personalize to your liking but hit on the same points) to help them understand just how much the community is invested in the burning of the phoenix.

Time is running out, please send this in to Mayor Kim at RIGHT NOW! Thank you for your help, with your input we might actually pull this off.

Here is the email we need you to send (please personalize it and delete everything above it, thank you):

Aloha Honorable Mayor Kim,

I am a participant in the annual Rebirth festival in Pahoa. I have learned recently that the centerpiece of the event, the ceremonial burning of the phoenix, may be prevented by your emergency proclamation prohibiting non-cooking fires.

The ceremonial burning of the phoenix has a lot of meaning to me. It is the culmination of an event that has:

-Brought me closer to my neighbors and community
-Helped to support local art and artists
-Become a boon to a economically troubled part of the island

The ceremonial burning of the phoenix is the formal end to Rebirth. Without it I leave empty and unfulfilled. Please grant a burn exemtion to Rebirth 2008 so we can continue our tradition.

Mahalo nui loa for your time and kokua,

Your Name