PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-REZ-2022-028)

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by coastal hazard and beach erosion. There is no record of a designated public access to the shoreline or mountain areas that traverses the property. According to the applicant, it is not known whether the subject property or immediate surrounding area have been used in the recent past for the gathering of plants by Native Hawaiians. The applicant has not observed any Native Hawaiians on the site or adjoining properties gathering plants and there is no evidence of any traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights being practiced on the site,nor existence of any known valued cultural, historical, or native resources in the area. The request will not have a signnificant adverse impact to traditional and customary Hawaiian Rights. In view of the Hawaii State Supreme Court's "PASH" and"Ka Pa'akai O Ka'Aina" decisions,the issue relative to native Hawaiian gathering and fishing rights must be addressed in terms of the cultural,historical, and natural resources and the associated traditional and customary practices of the site: Investigation of valued resources: No professional archaeological, cultural studies, or flora/fauna studies were conducted on the subject properties as they have been heavily physically altered and used for intensive sugar cane cultivation for decades. According to the applicant, it is unknown if the subject property or immediate surrounding area was used in the past for the gathering of plants by Native Hawaiians. According to the applicant, vegetation on the subject properties primarily consists of abandoned sugar cane with a mix of non-native grasses and pockets of ironwood trees. Observed fauna include introduced bird species such as dove, Japanese White-eye,house finch and myna that are common in the surrounding area, as well as domestic animals such as cats, dogs, goats, chickens, rats, and feral pigs. The valuable cultural, historical, and natural resources found in the rezoning area: According to the applicant,the subject properties have been previously used for intensive sugar cane cultivation for decades. Furthermore,the properties are situated approximately 1.8 miles from the nearest shoreline, thus it is unlikely that any valuable cultural, historical, or natural resources are located on the subject parcels. Finally,given the preceding and the urban nature of the surrounding area,the applicant does not believe that rare or endangered floral or faunal resources are likely to be found within the site. -8-