COM 0687.000 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Stacy Higa, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 7 A Cultural Impact Assessment was completed by Maria Orr on December 11, 2003. No burials were discovered in the Petition Area. According to the assessment, important cultural resources on the site include: • certain habitation and agricultural features • petroglyphs and trail segments • lava tube cave habitation features and caves with evidence of water collection practices • botanical resources important to Hawaiian practitioners including a significant regenerating lama forest containing important native tress and plants • land forms and view planes of geographic features important in this portion of the Kekaha region. While the archaeological study of Dr. Robert Rechtman and the Cultural Impact Assessment by Maria Orr found that no traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights exercised on the property, the consultants suggested specific measures for protection and management of these resources. The applicant agrees with the consultants' suggestion that the resources should be protected and managed. The applicant has submitted a plan titled, "Integrated Natural Cultural Resource Management Plan (INCRMP)" dated March 2005 to address these issues. The INCRMP addresses preservation, mitigation, management and stewardship measures for the resources at Palamanui. Implementation of the INCRMP is intended to protect and manage preservation areas and the important cultural places and practices in Palamanui. Valuable cave areas and certain view planes will be managed under an Integrated Natural Cultural Resources Management Plan (INCRMP) as part of this project. According to the applicant, the INCRMP will be a framework which protects and provides access to important cultural places and natural resources at the project site and will address preservation, mitigation, management and stewardship measures for the resources at the site. Implementation of the plan is intended to protect and manage the important cultural places and practices. The applicant will initially maintain the INCRMP but will subsequently be maintained by the Palamanui Master Association. A cultural advisory committee consisting of Native Hawaiians, kupuna and other cultural practitioners, will meet with the applicant twice a year or more frequently, if warranted. The North Kona Dryland Forest Working Group which includes natural resource experts, will be consulted regarding preservation efforts of the Dryland Forest Preserve. In addition, a Biological Assessment of the lava tubes in the project area was conducted by Hawaii Biological Survey and completed in December 2003. Five lava tube segments contained significant biological and cultural resources deserving protective management. The assessment recommended the development of a resource management plan to address mitigation measures to minimize the impacts upon the cave ecosystems.