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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-23 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 Game Management Advisory Commission County of Hawaii Minutes Meeting Date: Monday, May 23, 2016 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Hawaii County Building – Council Chambers I. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order at 6:31pm. II. ROLL CALL: Per Bobby Command: Willie-Joe Camera, District 1 – here Dwayne “Ike” Yoshin, District 2 – here Manila Pollen – District 4 - here Thomas H. Lodge, District 5 - here Kenneth “Kalani” Dacoit, District 6 – not here at the moment District 7 Mark C. Bartell – District 8 – here Jonathan Bartusch – here District 9 Quorum established ALSO PRESENT: Belinda Castillo-Hall, Corporation Counsel B. Command, Deputy Planning Director GUESTS: Joey DeMello, Acting Wildlife Program Manager – East Hawaii, DLNR III. Announcements and Introductions: IV. Approval of Minutes: deferred V. Budget Report TL: OK. Very good, we’ll move on. You gentlemen all have a copy of the budget report in front of you and, ah, any questions on the budget report? 1 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 Ike: I move to adopt the budget report. TL: OK. It’s been moved to be adopted, um, as is, all in favor? \[The ayes have it\] TL: OK, so, except that we used 42% of our budget so far. BK: Chair Tom? TL: Yes, Ma’am? BK: I’d like to remind the commissioners to submit any expenses that you may have within the next couple of weeks because we end our fiscal year June th 30. TL: Oh, all right. BK: Please don’t wait till the last moment. TL: Who does that? BK: Thank you. No because someone else has to input all this information. TL: OK. BK: OK. TL: All right – so if anybody has any charges that you need to submit… You were discussing hunting while you were in Europe, is that right Jonathan? JB: Yes, I did and I saw some access deer, also. VI. Public Testimony of Agenda Items TL: OK. All right, is there anybody from the public who has any public testimony on the agenda items that we have this evening, which are primarily on the Game Management Commission? Anybody has any testimony? If no one has any testimony on that we will bring Mr. DeMello forward – who is taking over for James Cogswell and, um, Messrs. Cogswell and Smith, actually. So you want to introduce yourself. I think everybody knows you but if you… VII. Discussion 2 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 1. Department of Land and Natural Resources – Joey DeMello, Acting Program Manager JD: I’m Joe DeMello, I’m the Acting Wildlife Program Manager for East Hawaii. TL: Acting? JD: Acting still… TL: OK, so, um, I understand that you were – volunteered for this kind of at the last minute, so… JD: Yes… TL: I know you have a little bit of a background of some of the things that we have been discussing, but maybe not all of it so – do you mind questions from the public as we go through this? JD: I will try, but like you said, I was just notified today that I needed to come here for Jim, who apologizes for not being able to come by and I know, obviously, from background, ah, about what the idea is, but I don’t know a whole lot about the bill, I, I have a few answers and I’ll try to answer all the questions. TL: We have copies of the bill here. I’d be happy to share them with you. And of the bill, ah, there are two relevant parts that, ah, concern a lot of the hunters as we went into this. One of them was – who is going to be a commissioner? And, so, what does it take to qualify as a commissioner and since we have like copy – to paraphrase it – a commissioner needs to be a, um, a hunter license in the State of Hawaii and he shall have a leadership experience in working directly with local hunters or shooting organizations and then at least one member shall have knowledge of experience and expertise in the area of native Hawaiian cultural practices and no more than three can be members of any government organization – I think federal, state or whatever, so that, that is the background – so the question we have going in is 2) DLNR is going to be running this program, is that correct? JD: Correct. TL: OK. That was correct, right? JD: Correct, yeah. 3 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TL: OK. So since DLNR is running it – how do we in your – and I understand you might be a little flat-footed on this but how do you see DLNR getting names of qualified people into your hopper? JD: OK. The selection process will be determined by the Governor – from what Jim told me. We will give him input and we welcome GMAC input either through us or directly to the Governor’s Office. I don’t think – did the Governor sign – he didn’t sign, yet, did he? He was going sign sometime in June… TL: According to Cogswell – he said that he wanted to do a public signing. JD: OK. That’s what – that was my understanding, and, so, I guess it’s at that time – although we prep the stuff before – then we and the GMAC and any interested party can put in information. Jim said if it’s put in through us, we’ll run it through Kekoa – the Deputy Chair – and have him forward it up – so input on how to select – it’ll probably be by putting out a news release – probably through the department and then, um, maybe soliciting applications on line. TL: OK, um, the whole purpose of having this verbiage in here was to isolate just the qualified people – at least to start with. JD: Um-hum… TL: And to preclude any possibility of not having the local people, you know, we want people who represent these gentlemen out here – represent me, represent the public efficiently and, ah, with their interest in mind and that primarily is sustainable public hunting, ah, and, so, ah, the whole background of this thing was how do we get names to the Governor. The vision was that we would come to you or Kanalu or whatever with these names – or those that would volunteer to be a part of this commission and then have a vetting from people who know them, you know, in the area – hunters – people out here who know these – might know these people – and Maui – same thing – Oahu, Kauai, um, people that can vouch for them saying, “Yeah, well this guy is an upstanding – we want to have him as a commissioner.” And then have DLNR take those who are, ah, vetted so to speak, you know, have the backing of the community to send up to the Governor – that way if the Governor – whoever the Governor picks is somebody that’s OK with the hunting people. JD: The next thing that Jim said that kind of reflects that, um, is that we – both the public, i.e. GMAC, and ourselves, will give the Governor’s Office the selection criteria – he also said we don’t – we don’t judge the qualifications – I’m not quite sure what he meant by that – I need to clarify it – I got that in my notes. I think, um, you guys need to talk with Jim specifically about 4 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 the selection criteria because that’s where – that’s what’s gonna reflect on what you were talking about and you and I have talked about this in the past… TL: Right… JD: ….so I think that’s the opening where, um, for the Governor to get the right selection criteria is gonna have to come from input from the GMAC and other interested parties… TL: Yeah… JD: `….but I think the GMAC is instrumental in getting this thing going… TL: Do you have groups? I know Wild Turkey Federation – I know – there’s a lot of other groups, as well, that want to participate in this and, in fact, some of them want to have… JD: Their own representative… TL: \[Unclear\] So, and, the qualification part – for me – and I’m just speaking for myself – I don’t know if the public can \[unclear\] – it is important to me who is in front of the Governor for selection – it’s important that whoever he selects is somebody that the people trust implicitly from the various islands that they’re selected from, ah, it’s not that we don’t trust DLNR – it’s just, you know, we would like to have something, you know, straightforward where the people can stand up and say, “You know what – this is our guy.” JD: I agree. I think that’s important. That’s the whole background leading up to this was for to get the hunting community… TL: Right… JD: ….to select people and have the Governor select from those people, right? TL: Right. JD: Yeah. NP: Have you seen or heard of interest? JD: Ah, no, not a lot – just a few flippant comments, but I haven’t picked up any interest yet of – from anybody. 5 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TL: OK. Do you have any other? JD: Um, I have vague answers to some of the other questions, um, OK, ah, \[unclear\] the senate – about the senate meeting – so what Jim envisions is we hope to have and interim group up and running before the legislature. I do not believe they, they meet just to – what is it – what is the term? TL: Confirm… JD: Confirm, ah, so, he’s hoping that we have a group up and running and then hopefully they confirm the group, yeah, at the time, yeah… TL: \[Unclear\] That’s actually… JD: ….in existence. TL: ….I believe what people here would want. JD: OK. Yeah. TL: I think they want to get this thing going – I think they want to get their structure going and along with that structure what the framework. The other thing along those lines would be the application process, um, you know, again that application process should reflect the wishes of these gentlemen here in the audience and, ah, who have participated in this process and, so, would you entertain an application from the hunting community to use? JD: Ah, yeah, that’d be fine, yeah. So, um, you’d like to see it vetted out at the, um, on the districts. TL: Definitely. JD: And then we pass it on up, yeah. And we can make our recommendations as they go up the chain. We will not – when we say we will not – judge the qualifications but we can make recommendations, sorry, it’s been a long day. I’m just – making sure I make note to let Jim know the importance – I got it down twice – of the suggestions coming from the community, ah, on the way up but I would encourage you to talk to him about that too so it’s coming from two angles. TL: We’re gonna have some of our members here do that as well. JD: Yeah, OK. I fully support that. 6 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TL: You have a question from Rick… RS: Yeah, Rick Shaney, Hakalau regular. I guess I’m curious what you see as the main role of this commission for the DLNR – how it’s gonna work. JD: Um… I don’t know – it goes back pretty similar to what the, ah, what we talked about years ago with the first commission that lasted for about a year and a half where the statewide commission will make recommendations – take the ideas from the community and make recommendations to the DLNR at whatever level – whether it’s to the board or to the, um, the division head – that’ll be through Dave Smith, um, so whether Chair Case or Dave Smith and then the DLNR takes those recommendations and looks into, um, their possibility of implanting… TL: \[Unclear\] the Hawaii Hunting Advisory Council? JD: Correct, yeah. RS: So it won’t be a regulatory agency \[unclear\] to approve or disprove the regulation \[unclear\]. \[Not speaking in mic\] JD: As far as I understand it’s an advisory only council. TL: Advisory… NP: May I say something? But the purpose of the commission mainly is to prevent and off-set the loss of public hunting areas and hunting opportunity, right, so I was wondering if – with the commission – the state commission - will the DLNR consider increasing hunting opportunities since so much has been off-set by eradication? JD: Um… NP: And fending and \[unclear\] for enclosure. JD: Yeah, um, I’m sure, but that is something that would have to be taken up directly with Dave Smith at that level. NP: Yeah. That is the purpose of it… JD: Right… NP: And that’s what is stated the purpose of it is… JD: Right. 7 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TL: \[Not speaking in mic \] You know, I mean, you know, I’m spending hours and hours and hours on this but sustainable public hunting is \[unclear\] and it’s not just sustainable public hunting, you know, to where you have, you know, four or five animals in an area that’s \[unclear\]. It’s, you know, where, I mean, we have – there is here that hunting is part of the economy. Oh, I’m sorry… \[Speaks in mic\] Hunting is part of the economy for many people, you know, part of their economy and, um, so sustainable public hunting is really, you know, part and parcel of what this, you know, commission is – the purpose and the goal of the commission into, um, and that term opportunity, um, I’m wondering if you couldn’t maybe use other words. Cause an eradication is an opportunity. NP: That’s right. TL: You know, and – Lisa was kind of clever on that one – in that way, but… JD: Well, and, um, if I may interject, we were – we actually did that - to follow your facetiousness – with the cattle hunt too… TL: Right. JD: We created an opportunity and it really did become an opportunity but it’s still an eradication – you’re correct. TL: Well that – I think everybody here – will applaud. JD: So we did make an opportunity. TL: Well, yeah. JD: I have to throw that one. TL: No, no – that was – and I think everybody here applauds what’s going on… JD: Yeah… TL: ….with the cattle hunt. JD: But, but recognizing that it is finite… TL: Right. JD: And we know that and that’s the sad part as far as hunting – that it will end, right. 8 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TL: I don’t think… JD: It’s not sustainable, yeah. TL: ….you know, realizes that cattle in our forest areas are probably not \[unclear\] each other. JD: Yeah. TL: Um, yeah, and getting on Nani’s thing – I want to get back to that in a minute, but, um, the selection criteria to me is the – one of the main things of getting qualified people, um, into the commission – those that, ah, actually have a sense of how to do it as well. This is one of the reasons why we were asking for those in leadership positions because most of those in leadership positions here of both hunting and shooting groups all have experience and understand what the issues are – they understand, you know, that there’s two sides of the fence and, um, that, you know, we need the balance and whatever we recommend, um, you know, sort of provides a solution for both sides, you know, somebody who’s vehemently any environmentalism or whatever \[unclear\] that we want, you know, somebody who is, um, you know, strictly environmentalism is not what we want either, ah, we want somebody who can recognize that both sides needs to be working together – so it’s important to us that we get the right people. Anybody else have questions for Joey along those lines before we move on to… OK, um, Mark, you guys have any? MB: Yeah, we got a question from the audience here, Tom, from Teresa. TN: Hi, Tom, this is Teresa. How you’re going – I’d like to know what criteria you’re gonna determine someone who’s a hunter and a cultural practitioner? ?: It’s not a question to Tom necessarily. TL: That… TN: To Joey… I mean, I know you’re going through criteria selection but not all hunters are cultural practitioners and not all practitioners are hunters. TL: I understand that, um, and I don’t know how to answer that question, honestly, I mean, at this time, at this point, um, but we have people from Molokai, for example, who are probably very steeped in this – who are members of these organizations and who are leadership positions, ah, that would be one. I know there’s people on Maui, um, I can’t remember – the name of that club – I can’t pronounce it is Kahanaiki, ah, organization, anyway, they’re a hunting club over on Maui, um, that are working pretty 9 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 much with NARS, actually, um, but have provided for a sustainable public hunting and I do know that in their organization, cultural practices are in fact part of their practice up there so there are a couple of groups that I do know, um, that might be able to provide somebody and this is why we feel that the public is important to be involved in this selection process as well so that we get people that meet this criteria, but, you know, as a direct answer I don’t have an answer for that. TN: Are we going to be aware of what exactly all the criterias are gonna be before we do our, um, nominee? TL: The criteria… TN: Or is that something… TL: ….is in the bill in front of you. TN: I read it but it’s so, um, generalized, it doesn’t give specifics. TL: We’re actually, we’re trying to stay away from specifics as much as possible… TN: Uh-huh. TL: Any time you write a specific down you’re bound to that specific and, ah, that limits your opportunities, often times… TN: So out of all the members on the commission – just one of those members should be well versed in the cultural, traditional lifestyle. MB: The language says at least one… TL: Right… TN: At least one not… MB: At least one. TN: Not shall have, ah? TL: Well that’s a shall, I mean, you know… TN: Yeah. TL: At least one… 10 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TN: That’s a shall? At least one… MB: At least one shall have… TN: Shall have knowledge… TL: So it, it’s there and um, you know, part of that selection process is gonna be whoever makes the final decision is gonna have to chose somebody who meets that criteria. TN: OK. I just wanted clarification. Thank you, Tom. TL: Yeah, no, great question. Anybody else have any? ?: One more comment to that… TL: OK. ?: ….I notice on my notes that, um, Jim said that the Governor may want to set up a selection committee and just speaking here – you may want to request, um, each district to have a selection committee, ah, rather than a general statewide selection committee to make the – I’m not sure if he’s meaning to select, you know, the, um, each applicant or the final selection or what, but, ah, that would be worth discussing with Jim as well. TN: That sounds good, Tom. TL: I’m sorry? TN: That sounds good. MB: The comment was that’s not a bad idea, Tom. TL: Right. MB: Yeah. TL: And that’s actually how – what we had envisioned through our discussions all along. ?: Right. TL: Ah, I mean, it started off saying we’re gonna have separate groups on each island… ?: Right… 11 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TL: That was gonna, in which, you know appointed by the Governor and all this other stuff, which we didn’t want but the spirit of having people locally make that selection I think is really critical and if we don’t have the people of the island themselves choosing who they want represent them – we don’t have representation. ?: Right. TL: OK. Well, we’ll… ?: Did you want me to address the last – the infrastructure. The answer is yes, um, we can utilize DLNR conference rooms, um, to meet with the public but we do need a heads up and conference rooms aren’t always available, as you know and we do need a representative there, especially for after hours stuff – so – I think I’m the only one that works for free – if you can’t get me, you might not get anybody. TL: OK, yeah, no – that actually was an important question, um, in that, you know, a commissioner is out here but, you know, if he wants to meet with people to get information, groups or whatever… ?: He needs space… TL: ….we can’t always be doing it at McDonald’s and you can’t always be doing it at home \[unclear\] some of this stuff so that’s great news, OK. Anything else that you want to add to… JD: Um, that was it for that but I do have a couple more comments if you want me to go on. TL: OK. JD: So the rules update, um, Dave Smith informed Jim that the GMAC should work on creating the rules that they would like to see changed and submit those rules for change in writing with justification for the changes… TL: Right. JD: ….and then and I know he’s mentioned that to you again but he wanted me to mention it to everybody, um, and then we take it from there. TL: OK, that, that satisfied my question. The other part of that was there’s some – not here tonight – who feel that there needs to be a complete overhaul of the rules, ah, to, you know, have a purpose for the rules other than to regulate, um, yeah, no, it just – that really wasn’t part of what we 12 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 wanted to put you in the hot seat for tonight but, ah, no, I appreciate that and I know that Ike here also feels that we need to get a working group together and, ah, we will have a list, actually, of the most egregious, um, and now this isn’t, I, I, \[unclear\] as you probably know – \[unclear – sounds like Caliber\] and cross bows and a few other things that are important, um, but there are other things that are also in the rules that are confusing and, um, so, you know, they need to be addressed, you know, so whether now’s the time to do that as well is something we’ll bring those to you and so we can work at it from there. MB: Hey, Tom, this Mark? TL: Yeah, Mark… MB: Yeah, so, before we jump off on rules of about 1041, um, Joey give us the general timeline from, ah, I mean, from the – so the Governor’s not signed `041 into law, but give us a timeline for when it’s signed in the law when do we think that the commission can actually be up and running and the steps – just – from now until we think that commission is up, running and functioning. JD: I have no idea, um… MB: Yeah, OK. JD: Yeah, all I can tell you is we need to, we need to – you folks need to continually talk – and I mean you can do it through me, Tom, but, but we need to talk to Jim to get these – get this information up there, particularly the three comments that I have from you here and, um, and like I said, I know Jim wants it going because he wants it before the next legislature and that’s January – we’re halfway there, almost halfway there already so he wants it well before that. TL: Well there’s two parts… MB: All right, so… TL: Oh, I’m sorry, Mark… MB: So, in my mind, so Joey that, that, that – so let’s just break this down into chunks, right. So if Jim is saying, “He let’s get this thing up and running prior to the start of legislative session in January then we need to – we need to get the counties and then islands within Maui County to generate a list of candidates that the Governor needs to say yes, yes, and yes to. Those candidates need to get approved by the senate, correct? 13 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TL: That’s part of the question that we didn’t know, I, I – they referenced a section… ?: 26.34… TL: Right… MB: Right? So page 2, line 2, Section 26.34 – I’m assuming that refers to the Governor appoints and the senate’s got to approve. TL: Right. MB: OK? I don’t know that for a fact, ah, but possibly that, I’m pretty sure that’s what that means. TL: Yeah, I think you’re right. I think it’s a Governor appointment, senate approval. MB: OK. All right. TL: If we had to wait till the senate came in this section this is why I think Joey’s idea that we get… ?: \[Unclear\] TL: ….up and running… MB: OK. All right. I’m just brainstorming here. TL: Well… MB: So… TL: Yeah, well some of these already, you know, working, well we might as well just let ‘em keep going. MB: Well, yeah, as long as the Governor gives the nod, right? Right, I mean, so DLNR’s gonna have a pretty powerful impact on this saying we would like, you know, Teresa to represent Kona, right? We think she’s the person, so, um, but the Governor’s got to say, you know, Teresa will you do the job – but then the senate’s got to approve it, um, so in some way, shape or form, I think the best thing we can do – from Hawaii County – is, ah, we have an east side representative and west side representative is to work with is it gonna be Jim, Joey, that we generate that list and give to. Is it you, is it the island… 14 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 JD: \[Unclear\] Jim has graciously volunteered to be the director of – through Kekoa… MB: OK. JD: ….to the Governor… MB: OK. JD: ….ah, but you can also work through me or Kanalu as well. MB: OK. OK. OK. OK. I think just – just someone – because, I mean, well, maybe we’ll get a jump on it but we need, we need a whole bunch of other islands to get on the same bandwagon here, right? TL: Right. MB: OK. All right. So it probably can’t get up and running until we get some time in front of the senate to get it actually, ah, the members approved by the senate. TL: Have you watched any senate confirmation hearing? MB: Um… Yes, I have… TL: OK. Well, you know, it’s not potentially something’s that’s gonna breeze through the senate. MB: Well, it, it, you know, it depends on the topic, right? This one, this one I’m not feeling too stressed about right, cause there’s not a lot of contention. We have a great deal of DLNR support with Kekoa and Suzanne was, um, on board with this so to my feeling and, you know, if we got DLNR support to form this commission, it’s not like some very controversial divided subject matter. I hope that’s the case, but I could be wrong. TL: Well, you have read Suzanne Case’s testimony on this, right? MB: I have, but, you know, if Suzanne Case was dead set against this, Tom, she would have not let the representatives of DLNR speak positively about it, right, so, I, I, I’m, you know, I’m thinking that DLNR is in support of – I mean, we wouldn’t be talking about how to move forward, um, unless we felt pretty confident the Governor was gonna sign this bill into law. TL: Oh, I, from what I understand it’s gonna be a public signing. 15 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 MB: Right, so… OK, so, I guess your point is it could be contentious – it may not be contentious. TL: Right. MB: So I think if we pick balanced people who understand that yes, you know, sometimes we’ve gotta give to get and then I don’t know that confirmation should be too difficult. TL: Well, I, you know, on that, and I don’t want to belabor this but… MB: Yeah, nor do I, nor do I. TL: On that – that is the reason for like the criteria that we submitted… MB: Uh-huh. TL: Most of these people and most of these organizations are people that are balanced, you know… MB: Yeah. TL: ….they understand the situation, ah, and want to come to solution, I mean, this is the whole, the whole purpose of this so… MB: Yeah, right. TL: Yeah, um, OK, ah, anybody else have – Stanley? NP: I have one question – isn’t the DLNR going to generate applications and make it available so \[unclear\] can be presented with all these credentials… MB: 26-34… NP: I would like to have an application… JD: Yes, they, they will… NP: ….and be able to pass them to people… TL: \[Unclear\] NP: No, with, we, right, of course… 16 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 JD: To the selected, vetted out people, yeah. They will and it may end up being online – that’s something that we need to talk to Jim about but, ah, yeah, we’re going – once the Governor agrees on whatever the criteria is, ah, then, ah, there’ll probably be a news release and it’ll probably be put out the – the applications be put out. TL: Well, as we discussed earlier or I asked you earlier – would you like us to create an application for you? JD: I think that’d be good, yeah, get that up and then I’ll forward it or get it to Jim so that they can push that up the chain. TL: That way it helps to minimize some of the potential… JD: Yeah, yeah, cause the majority of this came from the GMAC to begin with so you guys know what the criteria should be. TL: Right. OK. Anyone else? We’re good? OK, um, all right – do you have anything else for us? ?: Oh… TL: Wait, before you go, um, our legislative update 799 – the aerial eradication bill. Have you folks had any discussion at all about – and it’s not why you’re here but, um, have you folks had any discussions at all on what that’s libel to – I understand it doesn’t start until July 1, but… JD: Yeah… TL: Um, how that is gonna work and to what impact will the commission have in any of your discussions that you’ve had on that? JD: Um, no idea. I have, I honestly haven’t seen any emails going back and forth about that one yet – all I know is that it did pass, um, as, like with this one I did see email – that’s why I knew a little bit about what was going on but, ah, but nothing on the eradication one yet. TL: OK. All right. Thank you, sir. JD: Um, one other update – the game biologist under Jim, um, they’re awaiting one signature and then they can offer the position to the person – so it’s a matter of how long before the person can accept the position – so that should be up and running. TL: Do you know anything about this guy? 17 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 JD: I don’t know. I don’t know. TL: Has he been a game biologist? JD: Um, that was the intention in our selection criteria but I was not involved in the – in any part of the selection, um, the other part about bringing him on board is, um, I have been in the manager’s position for going on two years – I don’t have it permanently yet, so, ah, our personnel offices are very short staffed to say the least. TL: Is, ah, he’s taking Ed Johnson’s place, right? JD: The, yeah, the game biologist in Honolulu would be Ed Johnson’s position, yeah, which I, I should probably shouldn’t speak out of term, but the, um, I would expect – once that person is up to speed – that, that will probably be the chairperson’s designee to the commission, I would, you know, that’s what Ed Johnson’s role was in the past and I can’t speak for Suzanne, but I, if I had to guess, that’s the person that would probably be at the, at the meetings. TL: Yeah, he got us all our plane tickets, yeah, that’s great. Ike: Tom, I have some questions. TL: OK. Ike: As it relates to the aerial eradication process and program. Is it possible for the GMAC to have briefings before the program starts so that we can voice our concerns? JD: I don’t see why not – that would have to be addressed with Steve and then if he needs to push it up with Dave Smith. Ike: OK. Could you mention that… JD: Yes… Ike: Thank you. TL: OK. Anything else for us? JD: Ah, that’s it. 2. GMAC – Legislative Update – Statewide Commission, Resolution of Game HCR22, Families Afield, and Aerial Eradicaiton Bill HB799 Passage. 18 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TL: OK. All right, so we’re gonna move on to our legislative update. We had a pretty busy year actually, this year, Mark and I spent time in Honolulu testifying on a bunch of bills. Nani and I were down in Honolulu, ah, \[unclear\] I had to go on down to help us – we had a lot of help from people in Honolulu, which is very helpful, um, but we had some failures. MB: Tom, speak into your Mike. TL: Got it, got it. Sorry, um, my wife keeps telling me I don’t need one, so I kinda… We had, ah, to the apprentice hunting, um, bill died in Representative Rhodes’ – the Judiciary, ah, both the house version died in his committee and the senate, ah, version, ah, died in his committee and so Judiciary for some reason doesn’t want it – they may have had influence from both the department and the hunter ed program – who didn’t want the program either, um, and certainly didn’t want the program to extend to any adults, but, um, this is something that, ah, I have every intention of continuing to try and move through and we’ll reintroduce those again next year. You folks are all familiar with Families Afield, OK, um, yeah, it’s a shame that that happened. ` HCR 22, um, there were two of these HCRs that were out there – that related to supporting game mammals, game birds and fishing resources in order to promote the sustainability and food security of our resources and also promote, ah, local and cultural practices as well, um, that HCR 22, in the senate version was watered down to the point of being irrelevant, I mean, it wouldn’t have satisfied us, ah, in any way. It would have meant that they would have recognized the game animal in a game management area only, um, and as you all know, we don’t have any game management areas, um, so, ah, but this one HCR 22 – recognizes that our game animals are an important resource and, ah, and our fishing resources as well, so, um, we feel that that gives voice to these industries and I don’t know if and I rarely watch the news but the Hawaii Tourism Authority has really started to take some gas recently about the fact that they’re not promoting what they should be promoting, ah, here in Hawaii and, um, other states make millions of dollars with tourist hunting alone, I mean, this is just encouraging other people coming to their place to go hunting. This is something that Hawaii needs to explore, um, you know, it’s, and tourist hunting could more than likely, in my estimation, with the amount of money that could be generated in states like Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee or Kentucky, I mean the ocean states, um, they generate in the hundreds and millions of dollars of tourist revenues, of which, there’s billions of dollars of total revenues that, um, spin off revenue that’s there, um, there’s a lot that could be done with a few extra million dollars here in – especially with DLNR – they wouldn’t have to go begging for money every year and hunting could be a vibrant industry here 19 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 as well and a vibrant industry that provides tax dollars to provide for the preservation of our resources in innovative ways would be a very good thing for Hawaii to explore and, but, Hawaii seems to follow what they’re taught and if all you’re taught is fence and eradicate, you’re not predisposed towards any other application like they are in other states, you know. Rick certainly is the gentleman that could, you know, address that. So that’s – in my opinion, um, that HCR is a great resolution – it’s a resolution – it says what, you know, the legislature wants of DLNR and what they want of the other agencies that touch upon these various aspects and, so, that was adopted. We’ve already talked about HP799 the Uniform Aeronautics Act, um, that passed and, um, I was curious about some of those who voted for that, um, we had people that voted no for this. We had DeCoit from Molokai, McDermot from Kaneohe – I think he is – McKelvy also voting no, um, people like Cindy Evans and I don’t know if – who all was on that – but she was on that, um, voted Aye with reservations and, ah, I don’t know if that’s just a cover-your-butt thing or not, but, ah, it was a little disappointing, ah, 1041 – we’ve been discussing that – that passed – we need to recognize Tony Sylvester, actually, for this in a big way and Mark, also, um, who took the project on two years ago and has been struggling with this for two years and he kept at it – when others maybe would have just said, you know, I’m tired of all this negative stuff and, ah, so any of you that know Tony, um, he’s the guy, really, you know, we should go out there and give him a pat on the back because it was his efforts in large part, ah, is what got this thing rolling, you know, ah, he needs to be applauded, um, our Heritage Day, ah, I don’t know if you want to take that Nani – you were the one that brought all the food and the setting and… NP: Ah, well, it was really positive, um, I think it was well worth while, um, we got to talk to a lot of people in a short amount of time – we pounded the pavement but it was really positive and, um, and it was a really great opportunity to represent the hunters – when we went up to the Heritage Day, um, it was a positive – it felt good to make it a positive thing to do because so much of the time we’re feeling like we’re, you know, creating negativity because we’re going upstream and there we just giving smoked meat and telling everybody that there are hunters in Hawaii, yeah. What do you think Tom? TL: Yeah, no, I, um, you know, Nani, I plug Nani for, you know, number one taking the time to come down early in the morning, um, we had mixed connections and she got it to work, um, got there on time and she brought a setting for us that was very attractive and, you know, and attracted attention, ah, of course, she brought some smoked meat, too, that was already cooked – the people could try, um, and anybody – it was like she said it was a very positive thing plus on top of that we went and saw with one exception, um, Puuo or Puu ha \[spelling unclear\] with one exception, 20 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 we hit every door in the capitol, ah, we delivered smoked meat to every office in the capital. We handed them this pamphlet that we have here – I don’t know if you folks have it – there’s a couple of them up there that you can reference that, um, but the first page talks about the game management commission – why that was so important to us, ah, and I do know that, um, this did have an effect on some of those people that we saw about voting for this particular thing – so being there in person is – really makes a difference and it’s one of the things that Billy Kenoi told us, um, well, actually told me and Willie-Joe in a meeting we had with him – where was that – Kona, right? In Kona, ah, oh, you guys gotta – I going take you guys – and then, of course, he had this P-card thing but, um, but that – he was right, you know, if you don’t see them in person they don’t recognize you – they don’t know who you are – they have people down there knocking on their door every day, ah, slipping them dollars here and there every day and, um, we have guys on other island – Makani Christianson, some of you may know him, you know, he was really good he went to fund raisers – he brought fish to people, he brought sashimi, he – crab, you know? And just really promoted the hunting, fishing, farming, um, and made sure that, you know, they understood that these bills that we had, ah, you know, needed their support and I think that he had a big impact, um, as well, um, the way that we were received overall when the vote came to the floor, ah, to a lot of this stuff. But we gave them this, um, and, ah, talked about the cultural heritage that we have here in Hawaii with hunting and how important it has been, um, here in hunting – the recreational hunting and shooting, you know, and it was interesting – we had people at this outdoor Heritage Day – we had bicyclists, we had – what else – we had all kinds of people there. NP: Ah, yes… TL: Tennis, ah, bicycle riding people, I mean, different types of outdoor – baseball – I know there was there as well… NP: Well, the emphasis was human health… TL: Right… NP: ….yeah, so it was a good pitch. TL: And… NP: ….exercise… TL: ….ah, you know, of course when I saw these statistics here and I kept saying, you know, I should be selling AFLAC down here, I mean, you know, the number of industry, ah, for hunter – football has 2,000 injuries 21 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 per 100,000, ah, bicycle riding, 904, skate boarding 869, for hundred thou – hunting is 8, you know, hunting is the safest thing that kids should be doing, so, and we took advantage of these, I mean, you can do anything with a statistic, um, talked about what we do in the field – it’s a dinner plate, um, who pays for wildlife, ah, economics of hunting which we talked about briefly, you know, where tourist hunting is something that Hawaii really desperately needs to, um, be thinking about. When we – and we may have brought this up before – when we brought to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, um, about public hunting and tourist hunting here in Hawaii, um, what, what is it that they needed from us in order to promote public hunting here in Hawaii? Now, I got a letter back from their director who said, you know, hunting is not on our template, ah, you know, and yet, um, you know, everything else DLNR does was, you know? Fishing, boating, you know all this other stuff, so, you know, there is a bias maybe, I don’t know, but, um, you know, there’s certainly an ignorance of hunting and what it does to other places and, ah, the monies that can come from them in other places and how that can translate to DLNR having funds to do things like taking care of some of the, ah, preservation issues that we have and providing money for – that’s always gonna be there, you know, when you rely on the federal government, you know, they’re going broke so eventually there’s not anything going to be going on here and, you know, money’s got to come from somewhere, so we have the opportunity 24/7 365, ah, and good weather. People go to these states – Gulf States – because of the weather, ah, you know, Texas, Louisiana… MB: Hey, so, Tom? It’s Mark in Kona. TL: Yeah? MB: So, um, the Outdoor Heritage Day or the Heritage Day you would deem successful? TL: I do. NP: Yeah. MB: You do. So I guess my point – I’m trying to learn something here, right? So, um, as we – I mean next year legislative session we’ll probably have another bills or series of bills, I mean, what, I mean, I think it’s important that in some way, shape or form we document either for the group or for the new members that are gonna join or, you know, what if – what did we do well – what do need to do better – when do we need to start prepping for it, right, I mean, I just, um, I’m glad it really went well and I’m glad it pushed 1041 and, you know, HCR22 over the edge, um, but, you know, I mean, a lot of this is about execution, right, so, um, important that we kinda disseminate – if I’m gonna do it again next year – which hopefully 22 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 we are – what would I do different and what would I do the same? That, I guess, you know, just, for all of us to learn. TL: I agree, um, on that note, um, some of the things that I’m beginning to assimilate as to preparation is that some of the things that we do, um, we should have ready to go ahead of time – for different things – not just the Heritage Day, but we’ve had events in Kona, we’ve had events other places as well. Some went well, some not so well – some there were more presenters than there were, ah, participants, you know, from the public that was there, so, you know, we’ve all been to those, um, but the legislature, you know, Nani and I – you’d be surprised how many people, um, drug us into their office and talked to us and asked us, you know, what is some this about – I don’t know anything about hunting – tell me about this, um, that happened frequently and, ah, even in some of those like, ah, Thielen, who wouldn’t take any meat from us, um, you know, actually was quite supportive of the effort that we were involved with there and there’s a senator there – Agarand \[spelling\] is another one, um, not really a pro-hunter guy – that took us into his office, sat us down and asked us questions about - McKelvey \[spelling\] was another one that said tell me about this, you know, I’m a pro-gun guy, tell me about hunting and, ah, and we got this – and Cliff Tsuji, by the way – any of you who know Cliff Tsuji – he did something I did not expect whatsoever. He was not in his office and he – his staff said oh, you know, where are you going – did we leave or did we wait for him? NP: Um, he caught up with us… TL: Yeah… NP: ….and he invited us in and he really spent the time of day hearing everything we had to say and he was really supportive. TL: He was in another meeting and, ah, he said, eh, boys, I gotta go, ah, I’ve got some people from the Big Island and he left that meeting – came upstairs, ah, I was really surprised by that – you don’t expect that too often, um, and any of you guys that know Cliff Tsuji, you know, anything else about Cliff Tsuji – the guy is definitely a gentleman, ah, you know, and he doesn’t and he’s been supportive of our stuff so, but, that’s, no, I agree with your Mark – I think we need to get prepared now, um, you know. You’d be surprised – six months till the next legislative season and we said that last year – we said that the year before – and we still didn’t get started till November and, um, you know, so we need to start grooming some of these people – we need to start getting these bills done, ah, early on and trying to find people to support these bills. I think that’s another thing that, gee, if people – and Kauai did that, um, on Kauai these guys walked in, ah, to some of these meetings telling us straight out we’re 23 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 supporting the commission bill – that’s our number one, ah, and that, that came in, you know, a month ahead of time. So I think you’re right, Mark, I think that preparation, um, for us is something that we’re gonna have to get involved and get better at too. MB: Well, you know, I mean, Tom, my only point is, right, my, the point of the question was, um, you know, we’ve been trying to push legislation through for now probably three years, um, and we’ve not been successful to this year and every year we learn something that makes us better, right, and, um, I think it’s important that, you know, we, we continue to get better, right, what worked, what didn’t – what do we need to do down for next year, I mean, shall we say every GMAC member needs to go? Right? I mean there’s all kinds of things that we can, we can do to improve the outcome, right, so that’s my only point. Because it resides in your head and Nani’s head and, um, Kalani’s head, you know, I mean, we all – it would be helpful if we all - cause we’re all pushing for the same stuff, that’s all – just get it out, right? TL: Along that line, um, one of the things that you might do for us is write your thoughts down, um, so we can, you know, start a compilation of thoughts on that. MB: I’ll do that, Tom. TL: OK. I know Nani has thoughts, I have thoughts, others here have their own opinions and we should get those. BH: Can I mention something? There’s two things that, um, that was mentioned and I think this commission could do – could address that and it’s already, um, some commissions are doing it and then this commission actually is mandated to. One of it is – at the end of the fiscal year – because, um, I’m sorry I cannot tell if that’s Mark or John, OK, um, what Mark said is, you know, have a list of accomplishments. At the end of the year for every commission that is created by charter, um, there is a report that goes to the mayor, um, I think in that report and it becomes, I mean, it becomes a history of this commission for the year and it’s – because there is a change in administration some commissions – a lot of the advisory commissions, especially, want to communicate that to the next administration – that you are a valuable commission, you are a committed commission, um, you have people in the community that are committed to the purposes and the goals of this commission, ah, so you should mention and you should mention all your achievements and what your endeavors are. The other thing is what’s, ah, Mark said is other commissions what they do is as soon as the legislature opens up – we know what bills are already on the table, um, maybe the legislative committee for this commission should brief or – we should have listing already – of any bills 24 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 that can affect this commission or the purposes and goals of this commission – happen them out – we can discuss them in the open, um, commission members as well as people in the public can voice their opinion and then that would be the voice and that would actually be more proper, um, when you, when whoever gets sent to Honolulu, um, can lobby for the position – that position – and it will be, you know, I mean, it’s gonna be stronger because you’re already had board action and you’ve already had comment by the public already and then at the, the meeting during the legislative session we can, you know, I mean, it wouldn’t be an update at the end – it would be an update monthly and so people that are in the audience can, I mean, cause it’s hard to track bills – there’s tons of legislation or proposed legislation and I think it would be a, um, good so that anyone, um, from the commission as well as the public can actually look at the minutes and say, OK, I remember at that meeting that they discussed that. That’s, that’s the status of that bill, so it might be stronger, yeah. TL: Ah, no, I agree and I appreciate that. We are putting together our… BH: Good… TL: ….um, thing to the Council – County Council – our report. BH: Cause what you do is very valuable, I mean, just let me tell you that… 3. GMAC District Replacements: Districts 3, 7, and 8 TL: Um-hum. We will send it to you first so you can take a look at it. OK. Anything from the public on this? No? Um, all right, moving on… District replacements. TN: Tom, Teresa in Kona. TL: I beg your pardon? TN: This is Teresa in Kona. You know, I, you and Nani did – and whoever went with you during the Heritage Cultural and met with all the legislators – it would be a plus to know who you met with and what reaction you got and what non-reaction you got so we would know who to, um, support or convince that they should be supporting us, but, un, you know, like they said – it’s all in your head and Nani’s head but I would love to see who you talked to and what the response was and who you talked to and you got no response, so we would know what we could support. TL: There was only one person that we did not talk to and that was representative Puha \[spelling\]. 25 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TN: Yeah, so… TL: We hit every single room… TN: That would be great – that would be great if you could give us report – just a brief over view. TL: A brief overview – we did something that we could do \[unclear\] a report like that would – at this point – would really be daunting, actually. TN: I’ll help you. TL: Well one of the things that – no, on that note though is on our bills that we have is to see who voted for our bills of those that we saw in these various committees, um, that would tell us a lot as to what, you know, you’re asking for and that would be the only way really that we have – we had a great reception from everybody as far as who welcomed us. Of course, they were after the meat, but, ah, still, um, you know, the commission bill was the one that we were focused on and it passed and it passed pretty much unanimously. Um, in fact, I don’t believe there was a single person that voted against the commission bill – in the final reading on the floor. So, ah, in that sense, um, you know, guys like – and don’t forget guys like Tony, Makani Christianson and those as well because, um, they had a lot to do with how successful we were and, um, you know, it’s just we were there but there’s a lot of stuff that was going on that, ah, I think needs to be applauded. I don’t know how we can do it as well – we can’t from here – but, ah, as long as we don’t forget them because they’re the ones that really did a big job for us, ah, but, yeah, no, Teresa, we’ll be happy to work on that, um, and see what we can do and, um, those that voted against some of our bills are like those that voted with reservation, ah, for things, you know, like 799 – Cindy Evans is really a disappointment, you know, she should have just said you know what? No. And, you know, it just may have been a fight or may have been whatever but, ah, you gotta have some conviction somewhere but, yeah, Teresa, thank you. OK. Um, we have replacements that we need for three districts: three, seven and eight. District three, um, is Waiakea-uka, I believe, or is that Ike? Waiakea. So District 3 we need to have – so does anybody here know anybody who would be potentially interested in being a commissioner from Waiakea, Waiakea-uka? Anybody here from that area? No? Um, OK, that – we’re gonna actively have to start working on that and, ah, and those of us here in Hilo, ah, maybe we can start going after our friends and hunters who may know folks who are in – who live up in the Waiakea area. Now Kona, you know, Mark, you live in one of the \[unclear – sounds like maverick\] districts. 26 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 MB: Thank you, I appreciate that. ?: My district, too. TL: No, I mean, pockets of representation all over Kona and that’s what made it a little difficult, um… Ike: \[not talking in mic\] TL: I can… Ike: Yeah, so, eight is where? TL: Eight is Holualoa… No. Are you 8, Mark? MB: I’m eight. TL: Oh, yeah, OK. Mark is 8. Ike: \[not speaking in mic\] TN: \[Unclear\] BK: It’s Karen Eoff’s. Seven is ah… ?: Downtown Kona… ?: \[not speaking in mic – sounds like 7 was Rob’s\] TL: Kailua-Kona. And Mark, you may know people in Kailua-Kona, as well. Jonathan you might also, ah, know folks down that way that… ?: \[Not speaking in mic\] TL: Right. TN: \[Unclear\] TL: So we need to have names from people and we need to start calling up people and we need to start trying to encourage people to, um, participate in this process, especially if we’re gonna be at all integral in helping or working with the statewide commission, you know, to have island-wide representation of hunters around the island to be able to provide input to wherever that commissioner is gonna be on the east side or the west side, ah, I think would be helpful. Any thoughts from the public? Anything? No? Joey? Um, Mark? Jonathan? Teresa? 27 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 TN: I can submit names. ?: They need to apply. Yeah. Get ‘em to apply. TN: OK. I can have people apply. 4. Dwayne “Ike” Yoshina – Commission Rules for the Conduct of Commission Business TL: Yes, uh, so we would definitely appreciate that. Any other… OK, moving on to item IV. Ike, you have the rules and regs that you and Belinda were working on… Ike: Yeah, there’s a draft of the proposed rules that was handed out today. Sorry we didn’t get it out earlier, we had a little bit of a problem. I apologize for it, but the rules are just general rules and I think, ah, my suggestion is that we adopt them. We’ve been working without rules for a long time now, so that’s my comment. TL: I have a question for Belinda. On, ah, see, um, rules 5.1 \[unclear\]. Says no member whose term has expired shall continue to serve on the commission except that if no successor has been appointed and confirmed the member shall continue to serve for 90 days or until a successor is appointed and confirmed, whichever comes first. BH: Um-hum. TL: So essentially, we can have a perennial. BH: Um, not necessarily, whichever comes first would be the 90 days or until a successor is appointed. TL: And so if no successor is appointed it could \[unclear\] 90 days. BH: No, whichever comes first, which is the 90 – if the 90 days comes before then that’s the… TL: \[not speaking in mic\] BH: Yeah. TL: Right. BH: Well, that’s the reason why there’s a lot of vacancies on boards and commissions, I think, um, so, if we know that people are actually terming 28 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 out we might want to consider that early and then send some names up to the Mayor for, um, consideration. Ike: That’s a standard statement, yeah? BH: Yeah. TL: Could we change that? BH: Um, actually, probably not – mainly because under the commission, well, because this is a commission that is created by charter, um, Section 13-4 for Boards and Commissions applies. If it was just purely, um, created by, say for instance, the Mayor has set up some advisory commissions – not from Charter or not by Charter – those ones have more flexibility, but this one, because Section 13-4 relates to this one. They just want more people to participate – I think goal behind that is they want more people to participate, um, that doesn’t mean that that person cannot come back at a later time – the person who was terming out. ? So what is the, um, so you term out and then when can you come back in? BH: When there’s an available, um, I think it’s – sorry, ah, I never bring my glasses, um, but I think… ?: So at the next available… BH: I think you have to sit out one term. ?: Right. BH: Yeah. ?: But what? BH: I think it’s… ?: It’s just a little confusing that’s why, I guess. BH: It is, yeah… ? Cause like if, if – OK, if you had the five year and you term out – so then the next person coming in is he automatically gonna take another five year term? How does that work now? Or does… Because, because it’s – in A over here it says that, it says two for three years, two for a term of four years, one for five years. So, so it’s just kinda… 29 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 BH: Those, those were actually… ?: ….gonna fall into play with whatever’s left? BH: Yeah, you know, those were, well, you know what – it was initially set up that way when the commission first started… ?: Um-hum. BH: ….and we haven’t gone through the whole, the whole iteration, yeah, or a whole cycle where everybody’s on five year terms and it’s rotating because it’s only been… ?: This year is the last – I’m out after this. BH: The fifth year… ?: Yeah, and, so, um, I guess what I’m asking… BH: How long you would have to sit out? ?: Well, no, no, no, no – yeah, that too, but, um, so now the guy that comes in to take my place – does he just fall into – or she – fall into, um, because now there’s somebody else who is in the five year term right now along with me. Who else is it? You? ?: \[not speaking in mic\] ?: But you had that because you had to re up. ?: \[not speaking in mic\] ?: From the beginning? So then that’s not right, though. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Two for… Yeah, so me and you were the first two and then you re- upped so it became five, so now is it gonna just go to whoever, whatever place is open – like if there’s an open one year or open two year, that’s, that’s where this next guy is gonna fall into. He’s not gonna fall back into another five year. BH: it goes back to another five years because, um, each of the members shall serve staggered terms of five years, OK, that’s kind of general. But, the initial appointments – the initial appointments were staggered so that as soon as the first person who terms out at five years – they’re always gonna be five year – that one is always gonna be five years. The second… 30 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 ?: Oh, OK. BH: ….so the next person, the next year – there’s gonna be somebody with four years only. They’re gonna term out and then their replacement is gonna be for five years. So there’s always gonna be somebody getting off and somebody getting off and somebody coming on. ?: Right, right, right. BH: Yeah. ?: Oh, I see, I understand it. OK. So that’s just for the beginning. BH: For the beginnings of it, yeah. ?: To start. Yeah. OK. OK. So you’d have to wait the five years or if, if the guy leaves for any reason. BH: If they guy leaves, yeah. ?: Yeah. BH: Or woman… TL: What about this not more than a bare majority of the members shall belong to the same political party? BH: You know, they’re thinking of changing that in, um, at the Council level, because really our, our Council is… TL: Non-partisan… BH: ….non-partisan. And – but for now, um, but I’ll tell you most people will say I belong to a party – cause most people, I mean, depends on who the candidate is for Republican and who the candidate is for Democrat, or Green or Independent – you’re not stuck with the party. TL: So we could change that, right, ourselves? BH: I don’t think we can change that right now. It has to come from – because that’s part of 13-4. Ike: Council… ?: Council… 31 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 BH: Council, Council is trying to change it, so, once, so, if – so then you know what you can if – I don’t know if – you know what I’m not familiar with what’s going on right now. I know it was – that was one part of the Charter that… TL: Well, we’re adopting these rules for ourselves, right? BH: Yeah. TL: We’re using somebody else’s rules as a guideline, right? BH: Actually, you are still within the confines of what’s, um, what’s already part of the – \[tape disturbance\] – sorry – general rules and Charter. You still would have to operate under the Hawaii County Code and the Charter. TL: OK. But since the Council… BH: Um-hum. TL: ….is non-partisan – for us to \[unclear\] and say, you know what, we don’t want to have any \[not speaking in mic\] oh, for us to say that we don’t’ want to be recognizing, we don’t want any declaration of, of party, um, for who’s gonna be on, um, on the commission – can’t we – can’t make that change? BH: Oh, you don’t want a declaration. I think they still would have to declare but, but most people are, I mean, I don’t know – it seems like in this county people are not really committed to parties. TL: Well, something like this, though, could. I mean… BH: Yeah, they could… TL: ….not that they will. Somebody could… BH: Yeah. TL: ….create a problem for us here. BH: Yeah. TL: You know, it just – like who you voted for? You know, Belinda, who you voted for, you know, it just… \[Unclear\] 32 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 BH: And so you could still say I voted for that person but I still belong to the other party. TL: It’s, it’s just, you know. We get six, you know, we could be having to explain ourselves. BH: Um. 5. June Elections for Chair and Vice Chair and Committee Assignments TL: \[Unclear\] explanation. OK. Um, what is Chair and Vice Chair. What are the terms that they can serve as Chair and Vice Chair. BH: Every year there’s an election. TL: Right. We’re having one next month. BH: Um-hum. Whoever gets elected - initially, in here, because I copied – not copied but I used another commission’s rules – we had that – they can’t – that the Chair and then the Vice, well, the Chair mainly cannot succeed himself or herself. But we, we took that out. So it doesn’t matter. So you can succeed yourself just in case you were worried about that Tom. TL: OK. Um… BH: Um, but I do know what there are a lot of, um, other commissions because they want to, because they know they’re terming out at some point in time they wanna, um, have somebody like on deck to take over and it’s good training to have somebody, you know, maybe the, the exiting Chair can be Vice Chair or, or work it some way so that, um, or still be on while you have a new Chair so that you can guide the next Chair on how to conduct the meetings. TL: OK… Ike: Tom you can table this till the next meeting, you know, and make a decision then. TL: Well, what I’d like to do is have people… BH: Comment? TL: ….um, actually take this and read it and any comments that you have direct them to either Barbara or to Belinda, um, that they can disseminate to us so that we can vote on this in the next meeting. 33 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 JB: Hey, it’s Jonathan from Kona. TL: Yes, sir… JB: I think that’s a great idea to, ah, to let everybody kind of look at it and, ah, it gives us a chance to… BH: Give input… TL: Yeah… JB: Give input… TL: Yeah, no, absolutely. Um… Ike: So I move that we table this item until the next meeting. TL: Well, by table what do you mean? Ike: Put it off until the next meeting. TL: To vote on? Ike: Yeah. BH: So there’s no motion, yet, right? TL: I’m sorry? BH: There’s no motion yet. Ike: I’m moving right now. BH: OK. OK. ?: I second that. JB: I second that – third… TL: OK. Any discussion on that? OK. All in favor? \[The ayes have it\] TL: Any opposed? No. All right so moved and seconded. OK, um, lastly th elections. Next meeting’s gonna be June 20 – our elections will be held 34 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 at that time. If there’s anybody here who would refuse a nomination, um, let us know at some point before… Ike: I would refuse. TL: Well, you had that right up front. ?: \[Unclear\] from Kona. I would refuse. TL: Yeah, OK. All right. We have to \[tape disturbance\] Chair or Vice Chair, you know. OK, um, anyway just, ah, be aware of that so, um, elections are gonna be next month and, um, is there any new business that anybody has. VIII. New Business NP: Um, I have some New Business. It was brought to our attention that it’s, um, hard to get the information about the meetings – these, um, commission meetings to date and so, um, as the communication committee I would like to, um, go ahead and announce, ah, in the Tribune Herald and the West Hawaii, ah, Big Island TV week community calendar – in the calendar of events – they’re all free and so I’m gonna go ahead post the date of our – the next – the following meeting each month. TL: Very good. And she’s doing that as our communications chair. BH: So do you want to make a motion or \[unclear\]. NP: So I make that motion that we do that – I will do that. Ike: Second. TL: You make a motion – any discussion? OK. MB: Nice job, Nani… NP: Thank you. TL: All right. Any opposed? Well, all right. Moved, seconded and thank you, Nani. Yeah, that is something that we’ve gotten an awful lot of feedback on by a lot of people, um, we have an email list that – as well too, ah, people are saying that they sporadically get emails from us and I don’t know, um, why that would be, um, at some point here, um, I think either the Chair or Vice Chair or somebody who – or maybe the communications person should have a list of our email recipients, as well, um, so that we can make sure that, um, these things do get out, because I have had 35 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 people call me and say, eh, you know, when’s your next meeting, ah, minutes and other things too, ah, I know there are some challenges there, ah, but these are some of the things that people have asked us for so. Anyway, we can improve in that, in that area as well. Any, ah, committee reports? IX. Committee Reports Ike: I have a question, um, we need to do an annual report and the fiscal year ends in July – June? TL: Next month. BH: June and you have, um, the rules call for 90 days… Ike: OK. BH: ….to do your annual report. Because actually it’s a cooperative work, yeah, somebody will write it, um, draft it – the draft goes and gets discussed in open meeting and then you’ll decide what you want – what form you want it to – the final form you want it to go to the Mayor. Ike: So we have 90 days from June… BH: Thirtieth. Ike; Thirtieth. OK. Thank you. BH: You’re welcome. X. Commissioner’s Report by District TL: \[Unclear\]. Mark? You or Jonathan have anything from your districts. MB: No, just looking for a replacement, Tom. IX. Next Meeting Date: June 20, 2016 TL: OK. That would be important, ah, so I appreciate that effort – along that – th our next meeting’s gonna be June 20 and with that I move we adjourn. X. Adjournment: (8:00p) ?: I second it. MB: Second. 36 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 23, 2016 NP: Second. TL: All in favor. \[They ayes have it\] TL: All right, \[unclear\]. 37