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My name is Kevin Seiter. I am a Hawaii County resident, a member of the State of
<br /> Hawaii Marine and Coastal Zone Management Advisory Committee (HRS 205A-3.5), a member
<br /> of the Kailua Village Design Commission, and a conservation advocate for the protection and
<br /> preservation of our coastal zones in the County and State of Hawaii.
<br /> The new State Public Advisory Committee's purpose is "to advise the lead agency" and
<br /> "network agencies", including Hawaii County, on the Coastal Zone Management Act ("CZMA").
<br /> Tonite 1 am here in an effort to build bridges, not burn them, in recommending protection a~w~.
<br /> preservation of the few, valuable coastal ecosystems in West Hawaii. By-•---
<br /> C'_c~unty Cauncil i-'C.
<br /> The Coastal Zone Management Act, Chapter 205A, sets forth objectives and policies
<br /> which must be followed by the County in finalizing the General Plan. The Federal CZMA, after
<br /> which the State Act is modeled, was developed due to the "low priority given to marine matters
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<br /> by local governments, the diffusion of responsibilities among various state agencies, the inability
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<br /> of states to assess their interests in their coastal zones, and the failure of states to develop and
<br /> implement LONG-RANGE COASTAL MANAGEMENT PLANS." As you know, Congress
<br /> devised a program of incentives in the form of grants-in-aid to encourage states to develop and
<br /> implement CZM programs for the better management of their coastal zones. Hawaii's
<br /> entitlement to these grants and funds depends upon the implementation of our CZM program.
<br /> Our State CZM program MUST "...determine specific uses and special geographic areas
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<br /> based on resource capability and suitability analyzes, socio-economic considerations and public
<br /> preferences." Applying these concepts to remaining open, coastal space in West Hawaii, the
<br /> best way to protect and preserve the few remaining coastal ecosystems, including Kohanaiki and
<br /> Wai'aha Bay South of Kailua town, is to designate as much open space as possible, and maintain
<br /> the remaining, valuable coastal ecosystems in West Hawaii for public, recreational uses.
<br /> West Hawaii's coastal resources have been stressed by increasing development pressures.
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<br /> Considering almost half of the peak weekend recreational activity in this State occurs at offshore
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<br /> and shoreline areas, we must do everything reasonably possible to protect and preserve the
<br /> remaining, undeveloped Kona coastal zones for public and recreational purposes. The policies of
<br /> the Act require the State and Counties "Provide adequate, accessible, and diverse
<br /> recreational opportunities in the coastal zone management area. This means protecting
<br /> and preserving our vanishing coastal zone open spaces in dVest Hawaii by keeping our
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<br /> valuable coastal ecosystems open to a1L"
<br /> Resource protection, in this case, means the government provide beach protection, or, in
<br /> the words of the CZMA, "Protect beaches for public use and recreation; provide coastal
<br /> recreational opportunities accessible to the public; protect, preserve, and, where desi~•able,
<br /> restore those natural and manmade historic and prehistoric resources in d~Vest lE-Iawaii,
<br /> especially North and South Kona, that are significant in Hawaiian history and culture; to
<br /> protect, preserve, and, where desirable, restore or improve the quality of coastal scenic an
<br /> open space resources; to Protect valuable coastal ecosystems, including reefs, from
<br /> disruption and minimize adverse impacts on all coastal ecosystems, and to promote the
<br /> protection, use, and development of marine and coastal resources to assure their ~
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