2019-12-29 HCDP Community Action Guide FINAL REV COVER

Home

Community Action 4: Support the organization of a community-based hui for the fisher people of the Hamakua Coast. Need: Diminishing access to public hunting, gathering, and shoreline areas and the closure of the Planning Area's only boat ramp in Laupahoehoe have eroded the community's ability to hunt, fish, and provide supplemental nutrition to their families. The boat ramp is an important asset to subsistent fisher people and recreational boaters. The boat ramp has been officially closed since June 2009 to protect public safety. Parks and Recreation makes minor repairs to the rebar protrusions when they are reported and local residents have, at times, taken it upon themselves to make repairs and continue to use the ramp on a limited basis and at their own risk. It is commonly thought that the location of the ramp is part of the problem and until the ramp is relocated to its original position and orientation in the bay, the problems of significant wave erosion will continue to manifest themselves. The County has been assessing the ramp's condition since 2009 in an attempt to develop a plan for restoring the ramp to a usable/safe condition. Currently there are no funds allocated for the repairs of this project. A community-based group could serve as a liaison to the County for the project as well as exploring other options for managing resources at Laupahoehoe Point. Fishers are also concerned about the potential of over -harvesting and want to limit access for hunting and fishing to people who live in nearby communities. Pursuant HRS section 188-22.6, DLNR may designate community based subsistence fishing areas and carry out fishery management strategies for those areas for the purpose of reaffirming and protecting fishing practices customarily and traditionally exercised for purposes of native Hawaiian subsistence, culture, and religion. Pursuant to this law, the Miloli'i Fisheries Management Area and Ha'ena on Kaua'i have been designated as a community-based subsistence fishing areas. Proposals to DLNR should include a description of the area, justification for the designation, and a management plan. Potential Community Lead: Action Committee Potential Community Partners: Potential Allies: Hui Malama o Mo'omomi, Hawai'i Community Stewardship Network, DLNR Potential Next Steps: The Action Committee can provide leadership by: • Facilitating a meeting of local users and community members of Laupahoehoe Point • Enlist help from the Marine and Coastal Zone Advocacy Council. • Encourage the hui to become part of a Locally -Managed Marine Area Network LMMA and or prepare a proposal to DLNR for a Fisheries Management Area Organizational Considerations: It can be cumbersome and expensive to obtain and maintain tax-exempt status, so it may be wise to use existing organizations when possible. However, there may come a point where more sophisticated, community -managed organizations are needed. Cooperatives, community development corporations (CDCs), non-profit social enterprises, and Updated May 2018 15