2022_12_13 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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MW: Manta rules proposal. SW: OK. So, you can start now. MW: OK, so I have had the Kalena Naia LLC. It’s 2 permits originated in 1998 and 2001. I purchased the company in 2014 as a single woman owner and operator and began manta tours in February of 2015. I use both of my boats which are permitted for mantas, but I have generally, have taken one out at a time. \[Unclear\] the number of boats in the water because of DLNR’s issues regarding which they started posing more in 2000 late 14 and 15. In June of 2015 after a meeting at DLNR we – the operators at Keauhou – we formed a group – we called ourselves Hui o Keauhou to discuss all of these issues because we have not \[unclear\] by the DLNR despite our efforts to talk with them. After attending the meetings and submitting testimony repeatedly we still felt unheard. We continued to meet actively setting up as a collective group to keep Keauhou Bay safe for both mantas and for people and for our culture here and the community – it is a community around Keauhou Bay. We held group – we’ve held regular Red Cross, First Aid, CPR lifeguarding training for all of our crews. We attended the Manta Naturalist Course – most of us did – to find out what was going on from their perspective and their information and we continued to attend the DLNR public meetings up at the Civic Center and we wanted to ensure that as operators at Keauhou we’re actively striving to make Keauhou safer, again, for the mantas and the people. We to date have continued to be at an unfair disadvantage when – we’re not only not heard but we’re not told about meetings that are coming up until very, very last minute often times and an example of that would lately be the 48-hours’ notice we were given to BLNR review of the manta rule proposals – the latest set because they have more… SW: You have 30 seconds… MW: ….OK. Thank you. And, um, so, and we had 48-hours and, yeah, our Keauhou folks jumped on the plane – many of them – and went over to Oahu and then we attended the – I did not but others did – the small business meeting and they unanimously deferred that item because they understand that DLNR has not worked with the stakeholders at either end, really, but… SW: Thank you. Thank you so much for the testimony. MW: Thank you very much. NR: I believe Holly was next. SW: Yes, Chair, we have Holly Crane will be next. HC: Hi. So, I’m testifying about the proposed manta rules and regulations as well. SW: Thank you Miss Crane, you can start now. HC: OK. My husband had to step away but my husband, Iko Balanga, and myself own Anelakai Adventures. We are the only paddle power non-motorized Hawaiian double hulled canoe that provides these tours which is the only true opportunity for non-swimmers, people with special needs, disabilities, limited mobility to enjoy a view from the canoe. We have been in communication with the DOBOR for several years now trying to find how we fit the rules, um, 14