COM 1000.000 2014-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

15. Flood Zone: Zone "X", an area determined by FEMA to be outside the 500-year flood plain. 16. Flora/Fauna Resources: The property is heavily forested with a relatively closed canopy of`ohi`a and a dense understory of hapu`u ferns with a few koa and a dense understory of`ohelo, pukiawe, and hapu`u ferns with the occasional stands of hapu`u ferns. In the areas of the small kipuka near the corners, the vegetation is more open and the surface covered with grass, although soils in these portions were extremely thin. Wildlife observed on the property consists of feral cats, pigs, mongoose, turkey, and other common introduced birds. Common native Hawaiian birds inhabiting the property include the `amakihi, `apapane and `elepaio. The federally endangered Hawaiian Hawk inhabits the general Kaloko mauka area. The federally endangered Hawaiian Crow disappeared from the area in the 1970-1980's, although the area remains to be potential habitat for future species recovery efforts. The Hawaiian Forest Bird Recovery Plan (1983) identified the upper slopes of Hualalai, above the 3,000 foot elevation, as "essential habitat" for the endangered `ake`a and Hawaiian creeper. These bird species feed from `ohi`a lehua and koa. 17. Archaeological/Historical Resources: The subject parcel is located in the upper elevations of the Kaloko Mauka Subdivision, in a forested area between the 4,360 and 4,600 foot elevation and nearly all of the ground surface of the property consist of portions of the 1800-1801 Ka'upulehu 'a' a lava flow. There is no record of historic sites on this property in either the National or State Register. The property was the subject of a reconnaissance survey and test excavations in 1970 and 1971 by Hu`ehu`e Ranch, the developers of the Kaloko Mauka Subdivision. In addition, the National Park Service published a report in 1991 entitled, "An Ahupua'a Study: The 1971 Archaeological Work at Kaloko Ahupua`a,North Kona." This study also identified remains of an agricultural field system up to the 3,500-foot elevation at certain locations. An archaeological field inspection was conducted of the full property by ASM Affiliates. The archaeological report found no archaeological features on the parcel and concluded that, given the minimal soil accumulation on the property, the presence of subsurface archaeological deposits would be extremely unlikely. Accordingly, the State Historic Preservation Division issued a letter of"no-effect"regarding the proposed rezoning of the subject -3-