PD Background Report Waikoloa Village Center (PL-REZ-2023-052)

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property is savanna composed primarily of kiawe, buffelgrass and koa haole. The only native plant found was the indigenous herb `uhaloa, while the only endemic plant found was kawelu grass. The survey identified 10 non-native bird species, predominantly the spotted dove and warbling silverbill, and concluded that no significant effect on native land birds would be expected and if any Nene, Pueo or Kolea were present during construction, they would likely depart the area and relocate to grassy habitat nearby. Additionally, the survey stated that if Pueo nests are observed, construction in the area should cease until the birds have fledged, and provided several recommendations to minimize impacts to endangered native seabirds and the Hawaiian hoary bat and to avoid an infestation of tree tobacco. 26. Archaeological/Cultural/Historical Resources: The application included a Ka Pa`akai O Ka `Rina Assessment (Assessment) for the subject property, prepared by ASM Affiliates in May 2023. The Assessment concluded that no valued, historical, or natural resources, including traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights, will be affected or impaired by the proposed rezone, and includes no recommendations for mitigative actions. The State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD), by letter dated January 26, 2022, provided a response to a grading permit application for several parcels, including the subject property. The SHPD letter notes the application included a 2021 archeological inventory study (AIS) and states that SHPD records for the subject property indicated that no AIS had been previously conducted and that no historic properties had been identified within those parcels. Based on the conclusions of the AIS which found no significant historic properties in the subject area, SHPD provided a determination of no historic properties affected. 27. Public Access: The Assessment mentioned above notes that the subject property is in an area once crisscrossed with trails used by early Hawaiians to access resources between the coast and upland regions, and that these trails were later repurposed by paniolo for ranching uses. According to the Assessment, one such trail passed just north of the subject property, but its physical traces have been disturbed and never identified during archeological surveys of the area. -5-