(BIVN) – The woman fighting plans to develop a timeshare project near Kahalu’u Bay presented her efforts during a July 4th Democratic Party event in Kona.

Speaking from the stage of the Maka’eo pavilion during the Hawaii County Democratic Party’s “Malama ‘Aina for the Keiki” event held on Independence Day, Simmy McMichael explained why she is taking a stand against the Ocean Villas at Kahalu’u Bay.

McMichael held two large home-made signs as she detailed how she was granted standing in a contested case, opposing a Special Management Area Use Permit that is currently before the Leeward Planning Commission.

The contested case hearing has already gotten underway, and McMichael says county planners want the contested hearing to be reopened in order to receive more testimonies from witnesses.

“I have a lot of time from now to the end of the year to build up more signatures from people opposing,” McMichael said, “because this will make a difference. The people’s outcry can change the difference.”

McMichael has recently launched an online funding effort to “Save Kahalu’u”, with a goal of $1.8 million. The money would be used to purchase two private lots that serve as “the main access” for the project. “Without this the project will be stopped,” McMichael states on the webpage.