COM 0493.054 2000-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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On Friday, November 3, 2000 Judge Ibara found that the class AA waters and the marine environment were so seriously jeopardized that he issued a TRO stopping all construction activity at the I-3okulia Project. Given the damage and violations of the law that have occurred only two miles from Kealakekua Bay, should we take a chance on allowing the same developer to damage the resources at Kealakekua Bay? Data in at least three reports clearly document that ocean currents, freshwater inflows and land topography are important factors in the diverse ecosystem of Kealakekua Bay. (1~I.S. Doty, December 1961, Biological and Physical Features of Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii. University of I°Iawaii Botanical Science Paper No. IVIaPine Environmental Monitoring Program, Kealakekua Bay, South Kona, I-Iawaii, Report 2-~, 1990; The Kealakekua Bay State I~Iistorical P~.~°k Conceptual Plan prepared for the DL.'tiiR by Belt Collins.) These studies demonstrate that ocean currents will carry effluent or runoff from the proposed conservation area (should it be developed) into the IO~Ianine Life Conservation District (1VILCD), Subzone A of Kealakekua Bay. Subzone A of the Kealakekua Bay MLCD contains one of the most abundant and diverse array of near shore marine species in the entire state of I•Iawaii. Equally important is the fact that any development of the area could significantly reduce the influxes of freshwater that occur along the coastline of Kealakekua Bay. The influx of freshwater is sufficient in quantity to significantly reduce the salinity of the ocean within Subzone A of the MLCD of Kealakekua Bay. The areas of reduced salinity (highest inflow) are precisely where the most abundant life within the bay has been documented. Therefore it can be postulated that this is one of the factors for this abundant life, if not the reason for it. Furthermore, the DLNR's Parks Division notes, development at Keopuka, "will have a significant impact on the parkin terms of visual impacts with substantial changes to the natural and cultural landscape and greater public access to Ka awaloa section of the park and Kealakekua Bay that may threaten the archaeological and marine resources, without proper management and visitor facilities." (Internal 1l~Iemorandum, August 16, 2000) The community wants you to protect this area. Over 1900 people objected to developing the area in comments on a Dn~.ft Environmental Impact Statement. Over 2,000 citizens have signed petitions opposing development of the area. I-Iundreds turned out at hearings to voice their support for keeping Kealakekua wild. III. ROOM FOR I1vIPROVEMENT I support the revisions to the general plan. They are not perfect, however. It would have been nice if the general plan: - prohibited any more gated communities, which are an anathema to the aloha spirit, reduce public access to natural resources and create a stratified society separating the haves from the have-Hots;