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To: Hawaii County Council, Chair J.Yoshimoto and Council members <br /> From: Tony Sylvester, Chairperson-Game Management Advisory Commission (GMAC) 7=1 c) <br /> .� on <br /> L.-CD <br /> Date: May 19, 2014 `— <br /> Subject: Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission-Annual report <br /> _LI-- <br /> Background: r" <br /> In 2012, concerns and issues related to sustainable food resources and access to them led to a char _- <br /> amendment proposal by the Hawaii County Council. It proposed that the county establish a game <br /> management advisory commission.The purpose of the commission would be ". . . to advise County, <br /> State and Federal agencies on matters related to the preservation of subsistence hunting and fishing, <br /> protection of traditional and cultural gathering rights, and the taking and conservation of aquatic life <br /> and wildlife . . ." <br /> The electorate agreed that such a commission should be established. Almost 60 percent (58.6%or <br /> 37,380 voters) agreed that such a commission should be enabled. In early 2013, Mayor Kenoi nominated <br /> the commission members and following council confirmation, the commission was seated. <br /> Since April of 2013 your GMAC has been organizing itself, learning to work within the legal framework of <br /> county government, becoming more familiar with the natural resource agencies in the state, federal and <br /> international venues, and building its capacity in the world of natural resource management and <br /> conservation.This report will present to the council a description of our findings and actions. <br /> Description: <br /> Section I State DLNR <br /> Some of our primary activities for FY 2013-2014 were subject to us better understanding "The Rain <br /> Follows the Forest" watershed protection plan and identifying the impacts that this initiative will have <br /> on our sustainable wild food resources.To improve our knowledge and provide more accurate, concise <br /> and factual data on said impacts and the communities that rely on them, <br /> A)We requested the presence of DLNR Chairman William Aila to attend one of our meetings to discuss <br /> the following: <br /> • The Hawaii State Game Management Plan; <br /> • The Pu'u Wa'awa'a and Pu'u Anahulu Habitat Conservation Plan(s); <br /> • The Dollar contribution made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to DLNR programs, <br /> and the percentage this represents in the DLNR budget; and <br />