HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023__10_17 GMAC Minutes
Game Management Advisory Commission
County of Hawai’i
Minutes – Final Draft
Meeting Date: October 17, 2023
Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 pm
Place: Zoom and In-Person 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Call to order at 9:01 a.m.
District 1 - Robert Duerr, Present in person
District 2 – Vacant
District 3 – Rhon Leomana Turalde, Present, in person
District 4 – Brian Ley – Excused
District 5 - Abraham Antonio, Present, in person
District 6 – Austin Griffey, Present, in person
District 7 – Natalie Reynolds, Present, via Zoom
District 8 – Cortney Okumura – via Zoom
District 9 – Justin Ackerman – Present – in person
Quorum Established with 7 in attendance.
STAFF: Sylvia Wan, Deputy Attorney, Corporation Counsel – in person
Barbara Kossow, Administrative Specialist – via Zoom
AA: Good morning everybody. Welcome to October’s Game Management meeting…
LT: Aloha…
AA: October 17, our time right now is 9:01a – calling this meeting to order. I going to turn it over to
the Vice Chair Leomana Turalde to do roll call and housekeeping.
LT: E, aloha everyone. Good morning \[unclear\] roll call starting with District – 1, Robert Duerr?
RD: Here.
LT: District – 2, vacant. District – 3, myself, Leomana Turalde, aye. District – 4, Brian Ley?
AA: Excused.
LT: District – 5, Abraham Antonio.
AA: Here.
LT: District – 6, Austin Griffey?
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AG: Here.
LT: District – 7, Natalie Reynolds?
NR: Here.
LT: District – 8, Cortney Okumura? She said she’d be 5 to 10 minutes late.
AA: Actually, she going be via Zoom.
LT: Oh, via Zoom. And then District – 9, Justin Ackerman. Whether or not she’s here we \[unclear\]
quorum.
AA: Continue on with housekeeping…
LT: OK. \[Unclear\] with the housekeeping. Um… Please make sure all of your cell phones are set to ,
silent mode or off. For all of us who are attending here – please remember to speak into the
microphone \[unclear\] so that way \[unclear\] recorded and transcribed clearly. Under HRS 92-3
Sunshine Law – GMAC \[unclear\] any person who willfully disrupts the meeting \[unclear\]
compromise and conduct of the meeting. That’s just a reminder for all of us \[unclear\]. If you
would like to testify, please fill out a statement registration form – it’s the orange one right here
and for the people online you guys can put it in the Chat. Next one is – those on Zoom, if you’d
like to testify please \[unclear\] agenda item and provide your name and identify which item
you’d like to testify on behalf of. Questions from the public – for those on Zoom may pose a
question in the Zoom Chat. Remember the Zoom Chat is not – Sylvia what was that?
SW: It’s not recorded for minutes’ purposes so anything that’s said in the Zoom Chat is not a part of
the meeting minutes.
LT: OK. Thank you for that reminder. For those in person, you can write your questions on the
public statement registration form. Ah, and this \[unclear\] may or may not be asked in the
discussion of the Chair and the time allotted for the meeting. All GMAC members are reminded
to – will be recognized an appropriate time for questions and discussion and that’s our
housekeeping for today, thank you.
AA: Thank you. At this time can we have a motion – did everybody get a chance to look at the
minutes, if so, can we have a motion to approve the minutes from…?
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Action: Motion made by L. Turalde to approve September 19, 2023, minutes
as circulated. Seconded by A. Griffey. Motion carried by poll vote with 7 ayes.
LT: Leomana, District – 3, I’d like to make a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting.
AG: Austin Griffey, District – 6, I second that motion.
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AA: Any discussion on the minutes? Not seeing any, roll call vote. Leomana can you \[unclear\].
LT: District – 1?
RD: Aye.
LT: District – 2? Vacant. District – 3, aye. District – 4? \[unclear\]. District – 5? \[unclear\]. District – 6?
AG: Aye.
LT: District – 7?
NR: Aye.
LT: District – 8?
CO: Aye.
LT: And District – 9?
JA: \[Unclear\]
\[Audio issues\]
CO: There are some audio issues, sorry, this is Cortney, District – 8. I’m having trouble hearing you
guys. It was good at first and then as soon as he started calling the roll call it sounds like he’s in a
tunnel. Anyone else in Zoom having issues or is it just me?
\[Audio issues\]
Dexter: Yeah, Cortney, I getting hard time hearing them too.
CO: OK.
\[Audio issues\]
Dexter: Good morning everybody.
\[Audio issues\]
CO: I’m so sorry but the audio is coming through completely jumbled – I can’t hear a word anyone is
saying. I don’t know what’s going on – it sounds like not one word I can understand, I’m so sorry
I don’t know what’s happening?
SW: Who’s that?
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\[Audio issues\]
CO: I thought it might be my computer so I called in on my phone – that’s the same situation. Sorry.
Dexter: I got the same problem, Cortney. Everything is mumble-jumble – not only yours.
CO: I know I can hear you just fine, Dexter, but I can’t hear anyone else. I know, I missed all of
Leomana’s talk so…
SW: \[audio issues\]
SW: Can you hear now?
CO: Yes, I can hear from whoever’s phone that is.
SW: OK. Great…
AA: Dexter, how you doing Dexter?
Dexter: I can hear a little better now.
AA: Perfect.
SW: OK. I’m gonna mute and take off the videos of the \[unclear\].
?: OK. Tell me when you’re ready.
AA: Calling the meeting back in order at 9:24a. Um…
SW: I believe there was a question that Ms. Reynolds wanted to ask District – 3 \[unclear\].
NR: Natalie Reynolds, District – 7, Leomana have you considered reaching out – louder - to Dr.
Bronner’s company on the mainland.
LT: Leomana, District – 3, I sent out an email asking for a donation and a sponsorship letter on
Sunday. I was hoping to be sponsored by Dr. Bronner to their amazing company, family – owned
and maintained, and you know we support family owned companies – so I didn’t hear a
response back – if you have any connections I’ll gladly work together with you on getting some
ohana-like connections that Dr. Bronner \[unclear\].
SW: OK. And just for clarification, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan, this is for your personal
property?
LT: This is for my personal property, yes, dealing with…
SW: Not as a GMAC member but you’re highlighting the beetle borer…
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LT: Yes.
SW: ….issue?
LT: Yes.
SW: OK. Thank you.
LT: Mahalo.
3. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: None
4. COMMISSIONER REPORT BY DISTRICT:
LT: Commissioner Reports by District. District – 1, excused. District – 2, vacant, District – 3?
OK. I’m District – 3.
AA: Ah, District – 4, absent. District – 5, nothing really much to bring up besides, you know, they’re
still continuing on fencing. One of the major concerns and it’s pretty much in everybody’s
district is the trash in the hunting areas and fishing areas. Like maybe we can look into some
kind of – something to \[unclear\] trash enforcement or something. We get new DOCARE officers
nowadays and I see ‘em a lot in Keaukaha and like Bayfront and just the other day I was in –
Thursday – I was here in Kona and I seen ‘em around here too at Old A’s – so they’re on – in
marked vehicles and also unmarked vehicles like they don’t have the lights on the top of their
roofs so – they’re out there patrolling so hopefully they get a lot of the litterers. A lot of ‘em –
it’s not really hunters but of course we’re gonna get the flack of it because it’s in hunting areas
and hunters always get the flack of it. District – 6, Austin Griffey.
AG: A. Griffey, District 6: Nothing really to report. Same thing as you – a lot of trash in our hunting
areas - abandoned cars and dead animal bodies. But, yeah, be cautious of where you throw your
carcasses \[unclear\] right on the side of the road \[unclear\].
AA: Ah, District – 7, Natalie.
NR: Natalie Reynolds, District – 7, after the paid parking came into effect down at Coconut Grove – a
lot of the fishermen are concerned that that is now going to start rolling in over at the launch
ramp and the harbors so they are concerned that in addition to paying a fee to park their truck
and trailer they might now also have to pay to use water so they’re hoping that there is
something that it will be – if it does come into effect – that they can have like a local \[unclear\]
to not have to pay additional fees by being here as a resident in Hawaii because it just means
that everything is coming and it’s been accused that we’re turning into the new California and
they don’t want to see fees for everything that they’re using to sustain their family and to try to
make a living but they’re just really – a little upset about that and they don’t like the direction
that things are going, so… \[Unclear\] and then as well like there’s more trash everywhere. I don’t
understand why – it’s not just tourists – it’s also local people doing it which I’ve witnessed and,
it’s just – we have to keep Hawaii clean so that’s basically it for my area.
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AA: District – 8, Cortney?
CO: Hey, everyone. Cortney, District – 8, I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there in person. I’ve a little food
poisoning, my doctor – today I think food poisoning or stomach flu so sorry to miss you guys. I
am so excited to see Kathleen in the corner there – Hi! Um, excited for her presentation and
also wanted to report that next month another guest from the Kohala Center will be joining us
to talk about the Puu ‘Eke project which is a five-year project that’s going to help restore and
help to try and bring water to the Kohala area through restoring the forest up there. So we’ll be
getting more information on that next month and if – sorry? Was that a question?
AA: No.
CO: If anyone is interested they’re having an informational session up in Waimea at Tutu’s Hale – if
anyone’s interested in that you can email me – where I can also send the information to Barbara
for her to pass out to everyone and all – go ahead and send that flier over and I’ll send you a link
to how you can register if you’re interested to join in person. Thank you.
SW: Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan – if you could provide that to Barbara that would
probably be best – thank you.
AA: Nine – Justin Ackerman.
JA: Morning, Justin, District – 9. Probably new to me but it may not be new to everyone – is the
archery range that’s being worked on in Waikoloa Village, ah, we’re looking at a large facility –
there are some concerns \[unclear\] up in Waikoloa Village, of course, about where their entrance
is gonna be – so I’m trying to dive into that – I’m trying to reach out to the one developing it and
see what the plan is. Still haven’t heard back from ‘em \[unclear\] to find who the developer is –
the Waikoloa Village Association will be voting on it soon, ah, but it should be, you know, we
need it – we need the archery range we need a fenced in archery range, and everything that
goes around that, whether it’s the keiki or our own use. There needs to be a place for us to
shoot. Along with the last comment – I was just up at the shooting range on Mile Marker 16 and
I’m not sure if we need to increase signage up there for picking up trash it’s not hard – those of
us in the military have picked up a lot of trash in our lives, ah, you can bend down \[unclear\] it’s
not hard. So people need to clean up the range before \[unclear\] and then we’ll have no issues
\[unclear\], um, so, that’s it…
AA: I guess we can reach out to DOFAW on that side and maybe we could write a letter asking for
more signage \[unclear\] I think the hunter education is the controlling body out in that area.
JA: OK.
LT: Leomana, District – 3, as far as the archery range – last year I think we had Thomas Loando
working Teresa?
TN: Who’s that?
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AA: Mr. Loando? Yeah, Thomas Loando – he came in – I think, ah…
TN: Loando?
AA: Yeah, Loando. Yeah. And he’s working with Cortney little bit and then he talked with Maurice
Messina – and the park facility that future development \[unclear\] making an archery range in
that park.
NR: That’s the 30-year project?
?: Yeah.
AA: Thirty-year project (archery project).
SW: \[Unclear\]
NR: Yeah.
AA: Right across the street, yeah. Calling out of order…
NR: Sorry we have questions.
(Audio issues)
AA: (Regarding trash on public roadways, who to call). Just depends what road you’re on. If it’s a
state road, then you call state highways and then if it’s County – you call County roads. On
County DPW…
?: It’s just one number for the whole island?
AA: No.
SW: Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan, two things: one, we’re getting off topic but 2) as far as
the DPW it’s on – you can look on their website.
AA: Calling out of order, sorry, missed this part, but is there any statements from the public on any
of the agenda items?
SW: Not on my share and is anybody? Nobody else signed up it appears.
AA: Not seeing any – moving on to presentation. I’ll turn it over to Natalie for the introduction.
5. PRESENTATION:
a. Kathleen Clark, Marine Stewardship Supervisor, the Kohala Center, “A
story of hope:” Cauliflower Coral Recovery at Kahalu’u Bay. “
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NR: Natalie, District – 7, I am so happy to introduce Kathleen Clark from the Kohala Center and I
really appreciate everything you’ve done for our island as well as all the other islands.
KC: Thank you, thanks for having me. I’m excited to be here and \[unclear\] hear what you folks are
talking about and I see a lot of connections between the work we do at Kahaluu and around
Hawaii Island.
?: \[Unclear\]
SW: No, no, it’s not showing that’s why… Just a moment while we figure out \[unclear\]. OK. Go
ahead.
KC: OK. So thanks, Natalie, for inviting me to speak today, I want to share a story about our
cauliflower coral at Kahaluu Bay. I have the honor of working down there with Auntie Cindi
Punihaole who I know has come to several of your meetings before and she’s an active part of
the community and l learn so much from her and just from being down at Kahaluu. So I just
wanted to share this story because I feel like it really represents kind of this – you can apply it to
many different ecosystems, many different issues and problems but this is specifically about
Kahaluu and the Cauliflower coral that we have seen a big decline and now recovering. So
basically wanted to share a little bit about the Kohala Center which I am a part of. So we are a
community of practitioners in Kohala at our center – working to strengthen aina relationships
\[unclear\] return ancestral knowledge research in to daily practice across fields of conservation,
education, agriculture and leadership and we envision a state of pono indicated by regenerating
forests \[unclear\] coastal \[unclear\] so I’m just kind of a top level summary – I am excited you’ll be
hearing from one of my colleagues next month about some of the other work we do but an
amazing group of people all really dedicated to sharing for ecosystems around Hawaii. Hopefully
you’re all familiar with Kahaluu Bay – just a little ways down the road here – I heard you guys
talking about some surf coming through – definitely seeing some of our first big surf of the year
and so I want to just share from Auntie Cindi one of the ways that she has described Kahaluu to
me and to all of us to work and engage with Kahaluu and that is aina lei alii - the land adorned
by chiefs. And so, Kahaluu has gone through a lot of changes over time. This is a picture
overhead view of the 1950s –it’s kinda hard to tell but you can still see some of those
distinguishing characteristics, the sandy shoreline is now kind of eroded. This is a picture from
maybe three or four years ago – you can see some of the big, drastic changes – this is from the
1970s – and then again after that seawall was built some of those bigger changes through time.
So we’ve seen all these changes but something has remained the same over time and that is this
group of community stewards who are committed to caring for this cherished place, so we have
an awesome group of folks from around Kahaluu and the broader community here on Hawaii
Island who are just really dedicated to caring for Kahaluu – they show up there every day and
engage with folks, at Kahaluu and work on some other issues as well. So, we do our daily on aina
education – our ecological monitoring down there – we work on restoration management,
planning and advocacy and also kinda the bigger picture working to share this model with other
communities, and having it available to apply to other places. Obviously, every place is different
and needs are different but Kahaluu really faces a lot of those stressors that communities
around Hawaii face so we have been working at this since 2000 and then the Kohala Center took
over in 2006 so we’ve been there for a while and Auntie Cindi has really been leading the way,
so we’re just really fortunate to have this group of folks working on Kahaluu and really learning
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from this place. So we envision a thriving balance and abundant Kahaluu and, you know, that
can mean different things to different people – different users – but I think in general all the
different user-groups can kind of come together on this idea that Kahaluu is an important place
for our community no matter in what ways it..\[unclear\]. So I want to get to – I know I only have
10 minutes and this is like such a challenge for me because I could talk about this for a long time
and it’s something that’s really near and dear to my heart and so I appreciate you guys allowing
me to share this with you today. So, this is just one of the species of coral that is dominant in
Kahaluu, it really was more dominant back in – before 2015, many of us remember in 2015 we
experienced a widespread thermal stress event which lead to a big decline in coral reefs all
along the leeward coast of Hawaii, really all around the world, this was kind of an
unprecedented global thermal stress event that affected coral reefs here in Hawaii but also the
Great Battier Reef in a lot of the reef systems. So this coral is really just one I want to focus on
because we saw a big change in 2015 and now we’ve seen – because of some of our efforts
down there – a big recovery. So this is just an example of what you might see it look like on the
reef – the image on the left is a juvenile just like newly recruited to the reef so this is usually one
of the first species that will – just like ohia – it will colonize the reef – a new reef ecosystem first
– and then you can see the coral on the right is actually probably over 30 centimeters so it’s, you
know, maybe a decade or two old or older – they provide really critical habitat for fisheries on
the reef – they also provide reef structure so they provide that complexity but also as we know
corals on the reef provide coastal protection from wave energy and so, having this structurally
intact reef really helps to dissipate that energy and provide structure for all that complexity on
the reef for new fish to settle – larval settlement on the reef – any number of different
invertebrates so a really important part of the whole reef ecosystem. So up until 2015
cauliflower coral was abundant in Kahaluu Bay. I remember some of my first memories of
Kahaluu, surfing there with just seeing like all those dots of pink and brown as you came in from
the surf area there and in 2015 like I said, we experienced that really big thermal stress event so
this picture was taken prior to that and you can just see the number of cauliflower coral colonies
and this picture amongst the different mounding corals \[unclear\] in there as well – but just a lot
more, um, so we experienced this rapid change and that’s kind of, you know, we know our
ecosystems have these big seasonal cycles maybe even a coral reef acting on a much longer
timespan so these big changes – but this was really a rapid change and when you’re talking
about coral that acts on this longer timespan when you see a rapid change that’s kinda
when you – my alarm bells go off. So 2015 and then 2019 again, we saw widespread coral
bleaching and resulting in mortality. The latest research that was just actually published
estimated about a 23% decline in total coral cover along the leeward coast of Hawaii Island. So
that’s a significant loss of coral, but in Kahaluu we lost about 90% of this species. So that’s a
huge loss and in this really important part of that bigger ecosystem. So that really led us to think
what can we do if anything to kind of assist in the recovery of this species and really looking into
the future we know that these thermal stress events are gonna happen, um, if not at the same
pace probably at a more rapid pace. We were expecting one this year and I’ll talk a little more
about that but we’re really crossing our fingers and almost breathing that sigh of relief that we
didn’t see that happen again this year. So this just shows a little kind of time period image of a
coral that, you know, on the far left was healthy and providing habitat and then as you see it
declined and eventually there’s really nothing left and that will erode over time on the far right.
So one of the things we wanted to look at was how do we learn from the past to inform our
future and our present work, and one of the things that we know is that coral spawn or
reproduce based around the lunar calendar and, so, what we really wanted to do was take a
deep look into the timing of this coral spawning event and realizing just how important these
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reproductive events were for future recovery of the reef – so we spent a lot of time \[unclear\]
observation of the reef and really looking to other information about how this correlates to the
lunar phase and the Kaulana Mahina – the Hawaiian lunar calendar – so that you would have a
really good idea of when this event might occur and how we might be able to provide some rest
and respite for the coral during this time, so, just a short bit about cauliflower coral spawning
because it really is this most amazing thing and really just – if you get an opportunity to observe
any coral spawning, when we go out in the water and we’re looking at the reef we see the coral
and it’s there but when you see a coral spawn and you see the synchronous event happen
all these corals are spawning at the same time it really connects you on a more personal level
and make you realize like these are a living organism and so cauliflower coral and most corals in
general – this is a synchronous event – it all happens at the same time – even across the whole
archipelago. So this will happen within like 30 minutes or so of each other across the whole
archipelago which is pretty amazing. Environmental cues all come together to actually cue the
coral to cue \[unclear\] material in to the water so this can be tide, lunar phase, water
temperature, currents – all these different things come together to actually cue the coral
colonies to release that reproductive material so that first, even happens and then the sperm
and the egg they come together and form the planulae – these are actually like a little platonic
phase of coral that float around in the current lines and then are cued again from the reef to
actually settle and they will be in that place for the rest of their life so it’s a really interesting and
amazing thing and as I’ve been able to witness this event over time it’s just really given me an
increased respect and appreciation for coral. So we initiated a rest period at Kahaluu during
cauliflower coral spawning season and in partnership with the County of Hawaii, Division of
Aquatic Resources, we really felt like this was a respectful way to allow this coral to recover and
we didn’t know if it would work, we didn’t know what would happen but a lot of people, you
know, wonder why at Kahaluu why maybe not at other places, and we know that there’s – as I
mentioned in the beginning – Kahaluu is really a wahi pana – a sacred and story place, like I said
I don’t have too much time but we know there’s a lot of history and importance there and so
the other thing is that because it’s such a small shallow bay – it gets a lot of physical damage – a
lot of human impact. Additionally, we’re counting closer to almost 500,000 visitors a year so
400,000 or 500,000 visitors just began puts a ton of stress on this really sensitive coral reef
ecosystem. We know also there’s impaired water quality from nearby cesspools, and, so the
other thing that we have there is this program left in place to really help provide education and
implement this kind of new idea of how we might be able to help coral reefs recover in this
stress. So, as I mentioned before, 90% decline in these coral colonies across Kahaluu Bay – this
was 2015, 2016 – so we started our really relationship building and learning about these corals
in 2017. In 2018 we monitored only six living colonies – mature colonies – in Kahaluu Bay, and
then we had the rest period and we were actually happy to report that a few of them did spawn
– they did reproduce and we were like OK! You know, they’re healthy enough to actually spawn
and so we kinda went with that. The next year we actually observed a few new little corals that
had started to grow on the reef – that also gave us a lot of hope, so ever since then each year
it’s dictated by the lunar calendar of when the rest period is but we implemented this rest
period at Kahaluu to help be respectful of this really sacred event that’s happening with the
corals and, in hopes that it’s gonna recover that species, help to recover that species naturally
versus having to actually bring corals in that aren’t from Kahaluu and restore them that way. So
the best news here is that in 2023 we monitored twelve mature colonies – they spawned and
not just a little bit but they really showed this year that they were strong – they did a really
strong spawning and we’ve been monitoring now – I would say – this is kind of a conservative
estimate 80-100 from about the size of a quarter up to maybe a softball size – so we’ve just
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been seeing year over year this increase in new colonies that are starting to recover – the reef
ecosystem there – so it’s just really good news, we hear a lot about, you know, the decline in
coral reefs, decline in fisheries and this is just one of those stories that said like when we take
action based on our knowledge of a place – that we can take these actions and we can make
these decisions that can help, you know, not only this species but the ripple effect, right? So I
added this because I felt like I could say this now this year that we’re kind of past the biggest risk
of thermal stress again – that about 95% of the new colonies have survived – so that means
they’ve endured kind of this cycle of warmer ocean temperatures of a ton of human impact of
impaired water quality and perhaps this is a sign that they’re adapting and that they’ll be able to
survive future events so it’s a really positive story about Kahaluu and the folks that are
dedicated to caring for this place – the community that comes together to support this activity
and I think – like I said – this is one species but I think when we look at different ecosystems,
different issues that we’re facing – this kind of approach could really be applied across different
places, so, I’m coming up on my time here but I just wanted to say one last thing – so this is a
cauliflower coral in 2020 – those are the same colonies and in just two years we saw this really
nice growth and, it just really kind of keeps us going and gives us hope that as we continue this
process we can see recovery of the reef there – a lot of people I think aren’t so sure if that’s
possible at Kahaluu but, we’re seeing this in real life – we’re seeing it happen and it’s just really
inspiring. So I appreciate you guys obviously giving me this platform – this opportunity to share
with you folks – I appreciate what you guys do and I’d be happy to answer any questions.
AG: I have a question.
KC: Yeah.
AG: Austin Griffey, District – 6, is there anything in the works about restoring the fish pond right
there and repairing those break walls?
KC: Yeah, so, that’s a great question, we have been looking at kind of the feasibility of doing that –
there’s a lot that goes into it with permitting because it is an historic site…
AG: Right…
KC: ….um, and questions about sea level rise and like how would it be done in a way that would
honor that place and that would keep in mind the impact of future sea level rise, so, the latest
thing that was done was a sea level rise impact study so this looks at six years out – and kinda
looks at the shoreline there – so for any kind of physical restoration of the pavilion there – the
bathrooms there – the pond – the Waikua’a’ala Pond – those are all things that come into
consideration and so not really sure what the immediate next steps are but it’s something that
definitely – I look at it in kind of a few ways that are all connected – one is just the significance
of caring for the pond there, but the other – the ecological function that it serves because it acts
as like a filtration system for that fresh water that comes in so right now we’re seeing actually a
lot of impacts on the reef just outside of the pond area – and I believe part of that is because the
water’s not being filtered as it was previously.
AG: Yeah.
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KC: Um, so, yeah, we’re looking at, you know, it wouldn’t be just our responsibility but also like how
can we work together with the community – the folks who know that pond really well.
AG: They might bring the fish back into the pond…
KC: For sure…
AG: \[Unclear\]
KC: Yeah, yeah. And so, yeah, the nutrients and, um, if that pond isn’t there by accident, right, it
serves a purpose so…
AG: Thank you…
KC: Yeah, yeah. Great question.
NR: Natalie Reynolds, District – 7. I have two questions.
KC: Thank you…
NR: Are you going – one – are you gonna make it an annual thing to close and if so when would that
be and my second question is do you think that unsafe reef sunscreen is an issue for that area?
KC: Great questions. So, one of the things that we’d really like to, you know, a closure is like a bad
word – I feel like it’s like a restrictive word – really we like to look at this as more of like a rest
period – it’s not an arbitrary time – it’s not every Tuesday – it’s really based around the needs of
that place and it’s really focused on a specific issue, right, so the decline of this coral led to this
strategy and really it was kind of driven from – when we looked at historically the way folks
cared for Kahaluu there were rest periods put in place during sensitive times so that, you know,
we weren’t putting too much pressure on something during a sensitive time like spawning. And
so, I think my goal would be that it doesn’t have to be every year – that the population recovers
in such a way that we’re not so worried anymore. I think that’s the longer term goal but in the
shorter term I do feel like, at least a couple more years of it we’ll be able to see like – based on
what I’ve seen now – it’s just such an amazing thing – the recovery process that we’ve seen. We
don’t really know what’s gonna happen in the coming years so I would say it’s really based on
the place and - the needs of the place and the needs of the species that we’re focused on, so,
yeah, we’ll be kind of keeping our eye on it also, you’re asking when – so it’s timed with the
lunar calendar and so usually that happens in like the springish as we enter into the spring so
the water starts to warm up just a little bit, and then the – around the full moon – so we look at
all those things and we look at the timing. And then the sunscreen issue, yeah, at Kahaluu
because of like you saw – all those folks coming there, the shallow nature of the bay, every place
is different, yeah, so is that a huge issue at every place – probably not because…
NR: \[Unclear\]
KC: ….yeah, but in that area with so many folks coming, so, it’s one of the ways that we can help
care for all of these ecosystems but the more we learn about it it’s also better for our human
12
health as well – so I would feel like it’s kind of a win-win, but, yeah, at Kahaluu we did some
sampling in 2018 that revealed really, really high levels of oxybenzone in the water and then we
sampled again in 2020, oh, I’ve lost all track of time now – I want to say 2020 and we saw a huge
decrease, because we’ve been there trying to, you know, inform people – provide an alternative
– we have three mineral sunscreen dispensers out at the park there and so trying to just, you
know, encourage people just learn a little more, know their impact and like if there’s something
as simple as that that we can do, you know, we can make that switch.
NR: Natalie, District – 7, is there anything legislative in the works to at least protect Kahaluu to do
that for having people like to implement the reef-safe sunscreen in that specific area?
KC: So luckily in 20 – now, again, I want to say 2021 or 2022 Hawaii County Council voted to only sell
and distribute mineral sunscreen in Hawaii County. Maui County did it first so anywhere you go
here in Hawaii County and you go to the store and you buy sunscreen it’s all gonna be mineral
sunscreen – so we’ve been kind of like helping that process along but, yeah, it’s been
implemented and I think is a positive step for our community, for our water ways for our
ecosystems and for our community health so, yeah. But in terms of bigger plans for Kahaluu
that’s always a tricky thing but I’ll just plug this really quick – we did just roll out our community-
driven monitoring plan for Kahaluu – Nana Kahaluu – and so, maybe there’ll be an opportunity
in the future to speak to you guys again about opportunities to get involved with that, it’s a first
step in a long-term process of establishing some sort of community action plan – a monitoring
plan for Kahaluu so, yeah…
AG: Austin Griffey, District – 6, what is coral bleaching?
KC: Oh, that’s a good question. So coral bleaching is a response to stress so when coral – I have a –
let me show you – this is I guess the best I can do, but – so coral has, you know, hundreds and
thousands of little polyps – that’s the little animals – so this little guy here – can you guys – but
the guy on the right with the little tentacles – so it’s the same family as like jelly fish – anemones
– and so within their cells their photosynthetic marine algae that they’re actually able to
photosynthesize and that’s how they get a lot of their energy – I would say 70-80% of their
energy. When they’re stressed and usually it’s thermal stress – the heat stress – they actually
expel that photo synthetic green algae out into the water column and it’s almost like a – people
spend their lifetimes understanding this process – it’s like an oxidative – it’s like stress response
– like we’re like having a fever – we just like don’t want any blankets on us, you know, so they
released this out – that causes them to lose their color, and so that’s why you see that white
coral – but that also puts them in this really extreme state of stress because they’re not able to
feed themselves as much as they could before so they’re really sensitive to any other stressors –
a lot of times when they do bleach they just succumb to that and they die. If conditions return
to normal within a certain period of time they can recover from that but a lot of times bleaching
usually means that they’ll die, yeah, so when we reduce other stressors around that time it can
be helpful like physical damage, sunscreen – you want a lot of herbivores on the reef eating the
algae, um, so, yeah, great question though.
AA: Abraham, District – 5, is there any future works to be worked on the break wall?
KC: On the Menehune? Yeah, that’s another great question. We have some, ah, we have looked into
different things about that wall. And the main thing right now is that there’s so much life – so
13
much living corals growing on those rocks that working with those rocks or moving those rocks –
disturbing that coral – the permitting process for that is like probably…
AA: Similar to what’s happening out in Laupahoehoe out there?
KC: Yeah. It’s like once there’s living coral on those rocks – it’s almost like \[unclear\] touch that.
AA: Right, right. I would like to thank you and the Kohala Center for all you guys efforts that you guys
are doing down there Kahaluu Bay, yeah, everything seems to be working out fine over there…
KC: Yeah…
AA: ….keep up you guys good work.
KC: Thank you, I appreciate it. Yeah…
AA: Yeah, thanks for your time.
LT: Mahalo.
NR: \[Unclear\] the rest of it.
KC: Yeah, I will, for sure, yeah…
AA: Um, moving on to Old Business… Discussion and Decision Making: Regarding recommendations
provided by the Investigative Committee Report Re: Rules and Regulations Related to Lobster
Harvesting and Sale, ah, Austin Griffey?
6. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Discussion and Decision Making: Regarding recommendations provided
by the Investigative Committee Report Re: Rules and Regulations
Related to Lobster Harvesting and Sale.
AG: So, I had made a motion to compose a letter of recommendation about, um, slipper lobster
penalty for people who aren’t following the rules and, shortening lobster season from 8 months
to 6 months and, um, and you need \[unclear\] sell the lobsters as well. And I find all your guys
looking in on it before we go any further and also, would like to put a bag limit – I’d like to see a
bag limit of 10 lobsters per person per day cause right now there is no bag limit whatsoever and
people are just taking, I mean, I see on social media the domino effect – one person posts a
lobster and then everyone…
AA: The rest of the crews going out…
AG: Uh-huh. And I see pictures of eggs and females…
14
LT: Yeah, me too…
AG: As of those guys that were selling lobster on the bottom of COSTCO road – they did get busted –
they had \[unclear\] females out of their cooler that they were selling so those guys got taken off
the street. Other than that I was just – like discussion about it – see what you guys input is on it
and \[unclear\].
SW: Chair, can I remind everybody what a motion is on the floor… OK. Deputy Corporation Counsel
Sylvia Wan – I’m just going to remind the board that there is a motion on the floor that was
tabled from last session – the motion is – Austin Griffey’s motion – the motion is for GMAC to
send an advisory letter to the DLNR Aquatic Resources Division to shorten lobster season from 8
months to 6 months, impose a bag limit of 10 lobsters per person, illegalize and ban the sale of
lobsters. That is the motion on the floor – I’ll just remind the members of some high points of
the past discussion. District – 1, Mr. Duerr had in his discussion had recommended potential
additions of 1) not to harvest the same hole in the same season and 2) not spearing or taking of
female lobster. Austin had also added during discussion not the last session but the session
before – potentially adding the ban of all sales commercial and private of lobsters – I’ll note that
that was just part of the discussion and then 3) at last session District – 4, Brian Ley had
suggested the potential of registering a boat as a lobster taking vessel. So those are all high
points from the discussion from the last two meetings so up to the Chair…
AA: Just off of that – Robert I get concern about Robert Duerr’s number one. Um, like how would
you – they regulate – not taking the same hole because like they say – I would go and harvest
this particular hole…
RD: Actually, that was a recommendation from Austin.
AG: Yeah, we can’t tell people what hole to dive but we can like and in formational say it’s not
healthy to dive at the same hole twice in one season.
AA: So that’s like basically…
AG: Just and informational…
AA: Yeah, having more signage out or something…
AG: Yeah. Not really signage – it would just be more rules and regulations – be cautious of where
you dive in multiple times. If you’re gonna hit the same hole twice don’t expect next season to
have as much lobsters in that hole.
AA: Right, I’m just saying if you going into one hole and then the next night or like an hour later…
AG: Someone…
AA: I coming through too so like how you going kinda like regulate that?
AG: You cannot regulate it.
15
AA: Once you go through and then I never know you was there and then I going – kinda like hunting
and...
AG: Yeah, exactly. It was just more – so informational – just to let everybody know someone is
watching this that they can take notice – so maybe I shouldn’t harvest the same hole twice in
one season, but it’s not like we can push an agenda on that – tell people you cannot do this
cause everyone’s gonna go to the same spot.
AA: I guess would be if advising DAR – the governing body for that, right?
AG: Right.
AA: To like put some kind of information thing on their rules and regulations \[unclear\] and then
hopefully…
AG: Recommended not…
AA: Yeah, and then hopefully the community actually looks at it, right, cause \[unclear\] pamphlet or
whatever, right?
RD: Yeah, Duerr, District – 1, you know, actually bringing up the problem of holes being over fished
well bring to DAR that maybe there are areas that in fact need to be shut off – that need rest
period instead of closure – rest period – and then once the Kohala Center has done consistently
is bring science to the mix, so in bringing this forward to DAR from users on this Commission –
then they see that there’s a need and then that need requires science…
AG: Right…
RD: ….needs some kind of follow-up.
AG: But they’re gonna need divers in the field to get that information out \[unclear\] that.
AA: And then Abraham, District – 5, they already have rest periods for lobsters…
AG: Yeah.
AA: ….\[unclear\].
RD: But that’s full season – over a full area – but what we know is that harvesters aren’t harvested
over the full area. They’re harvested in specific areas some of which are holes and when a hole
is wiped out I’m only – when a hole is wiped out it’s hard for it to regenerate.
AG: Yeah.
RD: So, you know, talk of some of these holes were like huge with hundreds of animals in it – so
essentially those animals are in that hole for a reason, either breathing, either some form of the
animal’s habit and habitat are linked.
16
AG: The thing with lobsters is they’re migrational too so they don’t just stay in one spot. One spot
could have lobsters one year and the next time just not they move; they travel a lot \[unclear\] in
march along stuff like that. So it’ll be hard to dictate which areas to close each year cause one
year they could be here and next year it couldn’t but I think that would be tough as well and
that’s where we’re gonna get heat too is if a closed areas then people are gonna come knocking
on our door – you guys made this area closed – that’s my hole – what’s going on and I don’t
know about doing that to the people but if we start in small steps maybe shortening the season
to give more time for them to populate cause I noticed opening season all fines 15-20 females
with eggs still yet and that’s opening day and in the first 2 months opening season I’m finding
females with eggs – they didn’t even drop their eggs yet – so it seems like the season already
prematurely opened and, if we could shorten it a little bit we’d give ‘em a better chance to
actually drop their eggs before somebody \[unclear\].
AA: Abraham, District – 5, so what is your suggestion cause right now what is the total…
AG: Eight months – I’m thinking 6 months would give an extra couple months for them to release
their eggs – it’s in the beginning of the season – it’s more towards the end of the season I rarely
find females with eggs – it’s more in the beginning.
AA: So maybe, I’m not sure exactly when the season starts, right…
AG: \[Unclear\]
AA: So maybe September, October?
st
AG: November, yeah, November 1 start it.
AA: Yeah. And that can be inside of your advisory letter – put that in there.
LT: Leomana, District – 3. What do you think about like a shift of the season instead of shortening it
like you said, at the ending of the season I don’t really see any \[unclear\]?
AG: Add on couple months…
LT: Yeah, just like shift it over – start 2 months late end 2 months late.
AG: We can do that too – can try it all.
AA: That’s the two options you can, you know, put it in that advisory letter like option one, option
two – great.
AG: But then we also don’t get to dive at the end of the season to take notice on what…
LT: Yeah…
AG: ….they’re breeding cycle is. So do they start breeding as soon as the season is over or did they
breed during the season.
17
AA: I guess that’s where DAR or maybe even the Kohala Center like come in like that Commissioner
Duerr said – that’s where the science comes in…
AG: Right. We definitely need more science…
RD: Right, and I think, Austin’s report will bring that issue forward of like it’s not a perfect report –
it’s not a perfect understanding but there’s a need, there’s a need here.
AG: Right…
AA: So that’s why we giving them the two options as of this part which bring them to light, right, so
you can put it in your…
AG: And as of like lobster sales – to me it eliminates traditional practices because you’re paying
someone to bring you lobster. First it’s the Kupuna teaching youth – the dive lobster to provide
for the family \[unclear\] habit of buying it – then they’re not the traditional practices kinda fading
– they’re not gonna \[unclear\] anymore and buying lobster is like if you’re gonna sell it it’s an
incentive to just take…
LT: Take, yeah, a lot…
AG: Not manage… You’re just gonna – whatever – you jump in the water whatever you see spear
‘em, grab ‘em you going sell ‘em. And if it’s black market on the side of the road or something –
they just doing \[unclear\] a bunch of people they going sell to – they’re not gonna stop and say,
eh, this one gets eggs – they going buy ‘em anyways, you know…
AA: Right, right. So once we go, once you go into the bag limit taking only 10 you’re already gonna
kinda eliminate that sale, right, because it’s not gonna be worth it if you only harvesting 10.
AG: Right.
AA: So what you going make? $200 bucks?
AG: But they guys that gonna sell could illegally dive and take hundred lobsters and be like oh I had
like six dives I would need that night and it coulda been only one guy. So that means he would
have to be enforced a lot heavier…
AA: Yeah, I think going have to be the DOCARE agent as well, like you say… Where’s your proof that
you have…
?: \[Unclear\] guys…
AA: Guys – where’s their permit to take or whatever, right, I mean, lobster you don’t have a permit
to take but…
18
AG: Yeah, I don’t really want to bring up permits because I know that’s – in Hawaii that’s like –
nobody wants to get a permit to go and…
AA: Fishing license, right…
AG: Yeah, exactly… Kind of BS and it’s just more money going to another fund that they say we’re
gonna replenish this and do that and then they…
AA: \[Unclear\]
AG: ….mismanage the funds…
AA: Right.
LT: One more thing – Leomana, District – 3. Um, looking over – ‘cause we got the County of Hawai’i
30 x 30 plan with the UN, um, sustainabilities whatever – but that’s where the finances are
coming. How – is there any way we can give them this as a research project for that, you know,
like we wanted the information – we need to send divers out to go scout and map…
?: \[Unclear\]
LT: Yeah, you know, cause they got all the funding for the next ten years and then maybe this can
be added on to like I don’t want to put this as a definite thing – maybe if we change or…
?: Yeah.
LT: ….you know, support any rules maybe by 2030 ‘cause that’s Hawaii County’s 30 x 30, maybe by
then if we could implement something in the next year or two and then have it end on that date
‘cause it seems like the rest of the County is – no their funding is up until 2030 ‘cause of our
whole sustainability plan so that’s kinda like an idea.
AG: Just like one kapu system for the time being.
LT: Yeah, for the time being, yeah. Once we recover we can figure it out after that but…
AG: That would be like a – like what you were saying – check out certain areas at that time of the
year \[unclear\].
SW: Ah, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan – I’m sorry I was trying to take in everything you
were saying, um, and I’m trying to figure out how does that relate back to the letter – are you
trying to enter a suggestion…
AG: We’re trying to enter suggestions and maybe ask for help for better, like, um…
SW: ‘Cause it sounds like you’re entering – like it sounds like you’re bringing into the conversation
another entity?
19
LT: No, well, ah, I mean we, ‘cause, ah, Game Management is under the Hawaii County 30 by 30 –
the sustainability plan, right?
SW: OK.
LT: And then – I’m just trying to figure out – ‘cause we need information like the study and the data
of whatever they take so who’s gonna – like who’s gonna go do that study? Who’s gonna pay for
this stuff.
SW: OK. So that’s understandable…
LT: Yeah.
SW: ….um, it sounds like it’s not directly related to the letter specifically on the floor right now but it
could be something GMAC can explore in the future.
LT: ‘Cause I don ‘t think without that data that we can implement, you know…
NR: Yeah, the County like – data – so if we don’t have anything to back up what we’re suggesting
they might just push it aside.
SW: OK.
AG: I think they’re gonna push it aside regardless but if \[unclear\].
SW: So, sorry, I’m trying to… I’m just trying to…
NR: Bring us back…
SW: \[Unclear\] because the motion on the floor is about a letter to DLNR regarding suggestions,
which can still happen ‘cause that motion is still on the floor, it sounds like there may be a
separate motion that someone wants to make after this is wrapped up related to the lobster
PIG’s recommendations so what I would say is jot down for yourselves what you’re thinking and
somebody maybe make a motion after this is concluded.
NR: OK.
AG: After I \[unclear\].
SW: Yes, after the motion regarding the letter has been voted on.
AG: I just wanted everyone’s input on the topic before I make a motion to write\[unclear\].
NR: Natalie, District…
RD: Duerr, District – 1. A little history, um, the Kona Coast is the most regulated coast in the State of
Hawa’ii, if not the United States and essentially it was driven by retired Dr. Bill Walsh – and Bill
Walsh essentially did dive and did do data but a lot of the data was not for take and users and in
20
some, some users felt some fishers – I’ve been to numerous meetings where some fishers felt in
fact the data was skewed, and that’s, so that’s, um, one of the initial – DAR has done this in the
past but it just hasn’t done for consumptive gathering.
AG: Right.
RD: You know, this is, and this is something where Kohala Center with their focus on food and
sustainability has been a major partner, you know, so irrespective of what DAR wants to do or
doesn’t want to do, that’s a little bit of a background and when we saw a little bit of the future
of like, if you imagine the lobster spawning like cauliflower – a coral spawning – to figure out
that spawning was a complicated and ground breaking effort and then to engage the community
– so that’s essentially what we’re talking about. DAR has not traditionally been that agency to
accomplish that.
AG: Well, how did they come up with \[unclear\] they must have done some research.
RD: Good question. That’s a very good question.
AG: \[Unclear\] grid \[unclear\].
KC: I was part of that \[unclear\]. \[Unclear\].
SW: \[Audio problems\]
AG: So should we table it till we get the information from them or should we go forward…
NR: Natalie, District – 7, I think you should go forward with your letter to start that process because
once you write the letter you have to read the letter and then, the following meeting we vote on
it, correct?
SW: Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan, so once GMAC authorizes the writing of the letter,
Austin, which I’m sure is or whoever’s designated as the writer of the letter will write the draft,
the draft will be submitted to Barbara, it’ll be on the agenda next meeting so you can all review
the draft and if it is, um, you all agree that it is appropriate you can vote and approve it at that
meeting. If it needs changes, you guys can make motions to do those changes at that meeting if
just the draft to approve \[unclear\] so it really depends.
NR: That’s like 2 or 3 months.
?: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
AG: OK. I would like to make a motion to amend my – what you call it…
SW: Your original motion.
AG: Yes, my original motion.
21
NR: Natalie, District – 7, I second that motion… \[Unclear\] I was so excited there was a pause. Never
mind…
AG: Amend the lobster motion to shorten lobster season from 8 months to 6 months – make a bag
limit of 10 lobsters per person per day…
SW: OK…
AG: Um, ban the sale of lobsters and stiffer penalties of illegal harvest and spearing of lobsters.
AA: And some kind of educational right?
SW: Um, so, did you want it – I’m sorry – you were talking about create and educational…
AG: And creating an educational pamphlet on harvesting lobsters…
SW: Yeah. OK. Sorry, before we ask for the second I just want to clarify for my notes. So the changes
are for imposing bag limit of 10 lobsters per day per person specifically per day and then adding
stiffer penalties for illegal sale and spearing of lobsters.
AG: Ah, illegal harvest.
SW: Illegal harvesting…
AG: And spearing.
SW: And spearing. Thank you very much.
AG: \[Unclear\]
SW: And then, um, five – point five you’re adding, reate an educational pamphlet?
AG: Yes.
NR: Is that when they get their license?
AG: There’s no license, it’s just a \[unclear\].
NR: Oh, it’s just…
AG: It’s just informational pamphlet to tell you…
SW: On best practices?
AG: On best practices like don’t harvest the same hole twice \[unclear\] moon phases and stuff like
that you can do all kinds of \[unclear\] pamphlet.
SW: OK. So to that regard – motion to amend is on the floor…
22
NR: Natalie, District – 7, I second that motion.
AA: Any other discussion on the motion that’s on the table.
NR: Can’t do it.
SW: Motion to amend…
AA: Motion to amend? Not seeing any, ah, Leomana can you do a roll call vote please?
LT: Ah… OK. Aloha, Leomana, District – 3. I’m making a roll call vote. Ah, District – 1, Robert Duerr?
RD: Can I have the motion read so that we – can I have the formal motion read?
SW: So this is only a motion to amend so the motion is to amend the primary motion – the
amendments are to add “per day” on to the imposition of bag limit of ten lobsters per person
per day, to add the additional provision that there be stiffer penalties for illegal harvesting and
spearing, and a fifth provision of create and educational pamphlet on best practices of lobster
harvesting – that is the motion to amend – that is what is on the floor right now.
RD: Aye.
LT: District – 2, vacant. District – 3, aye. District – 4, not here. District – 5?
AA: Aye.
LT: District – 6?
AG: Aye.
LT: District – 7?
NR: Aye.
LT: District – 8?
CO: Aye.
LT: And District – 9, last one?
JA: Aye.
LT: All in favor, we win.
SW: So the motion to amend passes so now the motion on the floor has been amended and it reads
as such, Austin’s motion has been amended for GMAC to send an advisory letter to DLNR
23
Aquatics Resource Division to shorten lobster season from 8 months to 6 months, impose bag
limit of 10 lobsters per person per day, ban the sale of lobsters, provide stiffer penalties for
illegal harvesting and spearing and create and educational pamphlet on best practice of lobster
harvesting.
NR: Sorry, Natalie, District – 7. I thought we had 2 options, ah…
AG: Transitions…
NR: Transitions…
AG: Time period…
NR: Yeah, the…
SW: That was not added to the motion…
LT: OK, yeah…
SW: Um, so…
NR: As you were saying it out loud it triggered…
SW: Mm…
NR: OK.
SW: So that is currently the motion on the floor. Austin do you feel like trying to amend your motion
further?
AG: Nah.
LT: That would be good.
SW: OK. So now that is the motion on the floor – there is…
AG: They’re probably not gonna even read my letter anyway.
AA: Let them make a like after you guys bring DAR back in and get him to note that down and keep
that imprint your head.
AG: That’s what I really wanted – them to show up and we have a verbal meeting \[unclear\] so what
is your guys take on that…
AA: And that can, I guess couple contacts I can share with the next Chair. OK. So on the motion we
need to second a motion or…
SW: No, no…
24
NR: No, it was done…
SW: ….that was the motion on the floor.
AA: Oh, it’s done? Oh you got?
SW: No, you need to do a roll call vote.
AA: OK. Roll call vote. Go Leomana…
LT: OK. This is to – for the passing of the first motion and not the amendment. We’re gonna do a roll
call…
SW: Say as amended.
LT: Oh, as amended, sorry. Ah, we’re gonna do a roll call vote with District – 1, Robert Duerr?
RD: Aye.
LT: District – 2, vacant. District – 3, myself, aye. District – 4, not here. District – 5?
AA: Aye.
LT: District – 6, Austin Griffey?
AG: Aye.
LT: District 7?
NR: Aye.
LT: District – 8? Cortney Okumura?
CO: Aye.
LT: And last District – 9?
JA: Aye.
LT: All in favor say aye.
\[The ayes have it\]
SW: It passes. OK now you just find somebody to do that letter. Is somebody going to volunteer?
BK: For the letter that is drafted from this committee \[unclear\]?
25
SW: DLNR…
BK: \[Unclear\] our mayor and \[unclear\] on our…
AA: \[Unclear\] got it…
BK: ….on our letterhead for the Mayor \[unclear\].
NR: Will he meet with us?
SW: Please, I’m sorry.
NR: What?
SW: So this is a letter from GMAC to the DLNR Aquatics Resource Division – so that letter still has to
be reviewed by the mayor before it’s sent out.
NR: OK.
BK: \[Unclear\]
SW: Oh, well, I mean the mayor can write his own letter if he’s in support.
NR: OK.
AA: And we’re already going get the County logo head on top for GMAC County logo head so…
SW: Because it’s already gonna be on GMAC letterhead…
?: \[Unclear\]
AA: Yeah, yeah. Um, I just going leave Austin in charge of with what he’s doing…
AG: I can write the letter.
AA: Yeah.
NR: I second that motion.
SW: OK. Austin, you want to discuss that and make that formal?
AG: What’s that?
SW: Assigning you to write the letter?
AG: I’ll assign myself to write the letter.
SW: OK. Sounds good.
26
AA: OK. Discussion and Decision Making: Capital Improvement Plan…
SW: I’m sorry Chair... \[Unclear\] discussion. Somebody else wanted to make a motion, I thought. Did
somebody else want to make a motion before you move on…
AA: On…
LT: No.
NR: To second it?
LT: I forget…
SW: Not this letter – you guys were talking about…
AG: Scientific…
NR: Oh, yeah…
SW: You were talking about goals – like talking to another entity?
LT: OK, yeah, yeah, yeah about the 30…
SW: \[Unclear\] do that under the…
LT: I don’t know who runs that though. Do we have to like a PIG for that?
SW: You can make a PIG for that if you want to but that would be the motion.
AA: So, me too…
LT: Um, so, we’ll come back I got to think about this.
AA: OK. Moving on.
LT: I got to figure out who runs…
AA: Old Business, section b. Discussion and Decision Making: Capital Improvement Plans for the
Wailoa Small Boat Harbor, presented by Commissioner Duerr.
b. Discussion and Decision Making: Capital Improvement Plans for
Wailoa Small Boat Harbor, presented by Commissioner Robert Duerr.
RD: OK, this is really was an exercise in in GMAC moving forward working with a – with a non-
government agency to go in front of the legislature, solicit funds to improve a harbor facility for
access for boaters and fishers and users and this started, Abraham and I met with
27
Representative Chris Todd before the legislative session and what Chris Todd did was essentially
give up an outline of how the legislative session moved, what the contact protocol was and
some of the bottle necks of like what to expect and so with that in place then I went with – to
the organization of Wailoa River and Reed’s Bay Boating and Users’ Association 501 c(3) and
then through that organization then went and said or worked with the former senator Laura
Acasio into her office we pulled together with DOBOR what they had on their records for money
in hand and what they needed for critical funding. And the most critical funding project was the
river mouth at Wailoa is sand and has been compromised by sand so there’s trouble getting out
of the river and sail boats can’t get out at all…
AA: And every so many years they go in and they dreg it all out, right?
RD: Right. So essentially what happened is – I guess the whole point of this is – what the issue
becomes is then the issue is all of the parts to the issue and history of the issue. So essentially
what happens is – sand comes down the Wailuku River and moves towards Sui San and the river
mouth depositing sand. So Army Corps built a groin which essentially is just a little wall and the
groin catches sand and the theory was – dig the sand out and sand doesn’t go around the groin
but by not maintaining the groin sand then just deposits behind the groin filling in the river
mouth and it essentially then what becomes the issue is then it now becomes a major project –
now it’s like a 2 million dollar project because you essentially have to go to Honolulu, get a
barge, get a excavator on a barge – it becomes a real big issue. So essentially Senator Inouye is
head of Water & Land. Water & Land is essentially the committee that in both the House and
the Senate that control all land and water issues: pig hunting, lobsters, dredging, TMT, I mean,
it’s a huge issue. So she’s a friend of hunter use – of GMAC. So essentially, Lorraine met with
Wailoa Association and other boaters also lobby. One of the voters who lobbied –
we partnered – and we partner with HFACT – HFACT is on the Kona side, Phil Fernandez – a
group of about 300 people, Hawaii Fishing and Cultural and Tradition. And they’re a major
impact at the legislature and in issues – so they would be really interested in lobsters – this is
what they follow in the Kona bays – so one of the fellows HFACT put together – Lorraine was in
town – we met with Lorraine. Lorraine came and walked – did the walk through. So essentially
what – and she was there with the manager – now what happens is – you’ve received the
funding from DOBOR – you’ve received the funding and now the funding’s been approved – and
now it’s in a pot somewhere – now you got to make sure that the same funding that was
approved is actually what they’re seeing and then now it’s coming across to actually to what’s
the work going to entail. What the problem becomes is in all of this mix – Lahaina has
happened. So Lahaina has taken – so DOBOR is now not in the office. DOBOR, in fact, boating –
some would say, is never in the office. But now with Lahaina they’re on vacation out of the
office – not on vacation but they’re – so the problem is, the problem is two-fold. Lahaina –
boating is – every ramp in every harbor in the State is provided by the Boating Special Fund –
the Boating Special Fund is the fund that was created in early 50s to make sure that Hawaii users
to the ocean have access in a sustainable way. So that fund was a sustainable fund – and so
essentially, the Kailua, you know, is, is…
?: Uh-huh…
RD: …yeah, Keauhou – Keauhou is not a, you know, Wailoa – there’s 13 harbors in the State and
many of them are just like – they’re not making, OK, you know, Kawaihae – so the big harbors:
Lahaina…
28
?: Yeah…
RD: ….Ala Wai, Honokohau, um, they fund. So now with Lahaina out there’s a funding shortfall.
What Senator Inouye said was the problem now comes is they know there’s a shortfall not only
with Lahaina Harbor funding into the boating fund but there’s a funding shortfall with tourism,
so what can very likely happen is the Governor – the Governor last session had 200 million
dollars – he evidently spent that so now what happens is the Governor in a shortfall can say
“stop - all projects stop.” And so and so and not only does all agencies stop but we – we’re
immediately gonna take 10% of your budget – so how that affects Wailoa River is then she’s
saying, listen, this is a small project – we need to move this – this needs to move. And so
essentially what we’re doing is essentially we’re – essentially then we pull in the data, we’re
pulling in the data of one of our one of our members work for DOBOR and was involved in the
project – he – so we’re pulling in the data of how much it costs, how many cubic yards, how long
it took, you know, this kind of thing so that essentially what happens is the scope of work we’ll
have in hand. The specifications of the work we’ll have in hand going to the Army Corps and
then the sequence of events will have an end by the folks in Hilo who actually do construction
and understand this. So we’ll come to DOBOR with a package. Now that package is not, you
know, they don’t – nobody has to follow it but certainly, it’s a 3.2-million-dollar project. Will any,
will we see any of it? Normally these take like 5 years. So one major problem here is – this is the
major problem – and this is how – this is the sustainability issue – we have a groin which is a wall
but the wall isn’t big enough to get an excavator out – so that an excavator can go out with a
dump truck backed up to it that can easily just dig it out and stop the project – maybe it’s a
$30,000 a year or fifty – it’s not a 2 point million dollar a year, so that’s, I think that basically
that’s the short story, and that’s kinda how GMAC works with a private – with citizens group to
like accomplish, you know…
SW: Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan – so in your presentation you were talking about we
have the data and we’ve done the research. What, who is the “we” in that sentence, ‘because I
know you had talked about I thought two different associations that you are a part of?
RD: Yeah, we partner with HIFACT – HIFACT is on the landscape for Holomua 30x30…
LT: OK, yeah…
RD: ….which is DNR – they’re…
SW: Can you give me the long version of that acronym?
RD: Hawaiian Fishing and Cultural and Tradition…. For Cultural and Tradition.
SW: Thank you.
RD: And then the, um, person who worked for DOBOR for five years was Carl Shiogi is President of
Hilo Trolls – background Hilo \[unclear\] so he has construction and fishing background so
essentially then we’ll like pull together the data on – we have some of the data – of like how
many cubic yards, how much money, how long…
29
SW: OK. So the data is going to be coming from these two organizations and what you’re talking
about…
RD: No, no, the data is essentially public record. So the data that we’re looking for are the records of
what did the State – when did the State dredge Wailoa River?
SW: OK, so, I guess now we’re getting to the point of a motion? Is there something that you’re
asking…?
RD: No, there’s no need to be in a motion here.
AA: Abraham, District – 5. So thank you for all that information…
RD: Yeah.
AA: It was very informative – so what are you asking of the Commission?
RD: I’m not – I didn’t put this on. I didn’t put this on the agenda. Quite frankly I’m just informational
– I’m just letting you kinda…
AA: OK.
LT: OK. Yeah.
RD: ….let you know how it can go and then how we – how….
SW: OK.
RD: ….others – how the community organizations can partner and get funding to accomplish.
AG: Is there a harbor master for Wailoa Harbor?
RD: The harbor master is…
AG: Like Honokohau is?
RD: No…
AG: \[Unclear\]
RD: ….yeah, I have my boats docked but the harbor master there is on special permit sick leave and
if, if…
NR: Sorry…
RD: He got run over by a DOBOR truck and his foot’s messed up…
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LT: Yeah, he’ll never come back…
RD: He may never come… And then the District Manager – Honokohau is the District, but the District
Manager is \[unclear\], um, so the interim manager is…
AG: ‘Cause it’s a lot like what all our parks and harbors…
LT: Yeah…
AG: ….they’re built and forgotten…
RD: Yeah.
AG: There’s no up keeping, there’s no maintenance…
RD: No.
AG: ….to come and mow the grass…
LT: Leomana, District – 3. Wailoa – the harbor – last month, I don’t know who \[unclear\] chopped
down the forest right by the bridge…
?: Yeah?
LT: So they chopped down all the forest that was growing right next to the bridge – they did kick out
a couple of people – one of my Dad’s good friends – he’s a combat veteran – he’s one of the few
boats that just got to stay there ‘cause the people are living on their boats – but everyone else
they kicked ‘em out – they have to – I don’t know where they moved their boats too but they’re
gone.
RD: Essentially what they did was – there was a Hawaiian who was living on that boat…
LT: Yeah.
RD: ….illegally. Essentially he was evicted after years with, with and essentially they pulled his boat
out and they crushed it and brought it to the dump.
?: Oh, wow…
RD: Um-hum…
?: Yeah.
AA: \[Unclear\]
SW: But \[unclear\].
LT: Yeah, that one…
31
AA: Yeah, thank you.
SW: \[Unclear\]
AA: OK. Thank you.
AG: Is it a reoccurring \[unclear\] that the sand builds up in there?
RD: Yeah, uh-huh.
AG: How often?
RD: Ah… Pretty much at some point, you know…
LT: Every five…
RD: Yeah, five years…
AG: Every rainy season…
RD: They never do maintenance.
AG: What about them acquiring their own barge and excavating and hire a guy just to run it.
RD: Yeah, one of our members is a captain who just did a, um, a full East Coast trip down the
Mississippi and he said in Michigan there was a group that actually built like you’re saying – a
little barge…
AG: Right…
RD: ….and they wanted to clean their river mouth…
AG: ‘Cause there’s other method where they can pump the sand out with \[unclear\]…
RD: Yeah.
AG: And put it somewhere else.
RD: Yeah, no, that’s, it’s all real, it’s all real – because it’s highly likely, t’s not going to be enough
money…
AG: Make the mouth real tiny those big boats can’t even go in there…
RD: Yeah, now what you have to do is you really have to hug…
LT: The wall, yeah…
RD: ….yeah, you’re hugging, you’re hugging \[unclear\].
32
AG: \[Unclear\] like 15, 20 feet wide?
RD: Yeah, or less, you know, it’s really, you know, users all local \[unclear\].
SW: One more point of clarification. In your presentation of information, you had mentioned that
Senator is Lorraine Inouye was a friend of GMAC, I’m just clarifying what you mean is that she’s
friendly to GMAC in that she supports GMAC…
RD: Our mission. She, um, she, um, right – she’s for hunter, fishers, gatherers.
SW: She supports those initiatives.
RD: Yes, right.
SW: OK. Thank you.
LT: She has a hunting license…
SW: \[Unclear\]
LT: Leomana, District – 3, thank you for that presentation.
RD: Oh, you’re welcome.
LT: It’s a lot – my whole life I grew up right there – I paddled for the canoe club – my whole life – we
parked our jet skis right where you talked – so my kids get to walk right up to the skis, and that’s
where all the waves break in when they come in the river mouth so that’s always been a
problem in that section so hopefully we can get somebody on it though.
c. Discussion and Decision Making: “Pittman-Robertson Wildlife
Restoration Program Game Management Program FY17-FY21,”
published by DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, discussion lead by
Chair Abraham Antonio.
AA: Old Business, section c. Discussion: “Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program Game
Management Program FY17-FY21, “published by DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife,
discussion lead by Chair Abraham Antonio. Um, we had a discussion last meeting to put it back
on – Commissioner Robert Duerr wasn’t here so we basically split the Commission up into two
parts – one the West side – Natalie is the Chair, and one for the East side so just you’re joining
me and Brian and Leomana on the West side just to make advisory collaborations to the…
?: \[Unclear\]
AA: Yeah, the East side Chair.
LT: \[Unclear\]
33
AA: So, yeah, Leomana, yeah, sorry you wasn’t, yeah you got cut off. So you’re joining them on the
West side so it’s you, Natalie as Chair, Justin and Cortney and then East side going to be me,
Leomana, ah, Robert and Brian.
LT: OK.
AA: Yeah, so, Leomana gonna rally us together and Natalie going rally \[unclear\].
AG: Sorry our job description?
NR: Natalie, District – 7, I just wanted to clarify that your main focus was on the \[unclear\] 4, 7, 8,
10…
AA: Pages?
NR: Or pages.
AA: Yeah.
NR: Pages - Four, 7, 8, 10, 12, 84, 87 and 95. After you came back from vacation is there any other
pages you want us to focus on?
AA: No.
SW: OK.
NR: Oh, no. I’m so sorry everyone… Please…
SW: No, no, no that’s fine. So once the PIGs are created they can’t be modified…
NR: Oh…
SW: ….um, so the powers and your job description was outlined at the last meeting…
LT: Yeah…
NR: Yeah…
SW: You can ask for clarification but you wouldn’t be able to modify them.
NR: OK. So, clarification – those are the pages that…
AA: Yes.
NR: ….you wanted us to do.
AA: Yes, ‘cause that’s – instead of reading this whole…
34
SW: I think there were sections…
NR: Yeah, that’s what I was confused ‘cause \[unclear\].
?: \[Unclear\]
NR: Yeah, all 109?
AA: Yeah.
LT: \[Unclear\]
AA: I read 109 of ‘em too. Um, so, you guys – thank you Barbara – she separated it and she gave you
guys the West side for Natalie’s \[unclear\] and, we have the East side.
NR: I have Cortney?
CO: I’ll do it.
AA: So, yeah, I mean if you want to look into it deeper on the East side as well because we kinda,
you kinda, me and you kinda share, um, Volcano – you can download the whole book.
NR: It was on this one and the last month’s.
AA: Yeah.
SW: Yeah, and it should also be on, the GMAC website under the handouts for last meeting.
AA: So you’re kinda lucky so you like, you like, we can actually come jump in on the West side too
so…
SW: Well, I’m gonna clarify…
NR: Nope, nope you can’t do that… Oh, no, you can’t. Look the fingers are up. So sorry Chair.
SW: As far as this PIG is concerned – your work is outlined \[unclear\] West side. If you want to for
your own education separate from your PIG read the East side material. You can \[unclear\]. You
can’t enter that into your report because the East side report is the East side report. If you want
to make discussion about that when all, when you’re further down the line on this PIG, ah, you
can but please don’t mess up the pages.
?: So if you won’t tell…
RD: Chair, ah, Duerr, District – 1. A little inside baseball here – if you’ll notice that this – what this is,
is a restoration program…
AA: Yeah…
35
RD: ….right. The Game Management Advisory Commission – was started at the beginning, Tony
Sylvester and others – because there was no…
AA: Game Management Plan.
RD: Right. So…
AA: But, if you talk to DLNR they say, we have a game management plan.
RD: Yeah, but…
AA: And they’re claiming that…
RD: ….here’s the point…
AA: Yeah.
RD: ….on page 8 – they’re finally recognizing that objected – establish and maintain a system of
planning – so by establishing they’re saying that right now they don’t have a plan.
AA: Yeah. Right.
RD: And the problem with the plan is…
AA: And Robert – that’s why I’m basically turning it over into your guys’ hands so you guys can
continue on and take it over.
RD: Well, Chair – how this works is that essentially that this is a federal agency – the Fish & Wildlife
Service is a federal agency – Department of Interior – that monitors Pittman and Robertson
Trust Fund money. The Pittman and Robertson Trust Fund money is gotten from taxes on
hunting and hunting gear across the country. The State of Hawaii does not have enough hunters
to be fully funded. So the hunters across the country help fund us. This program is overseen in
both the US Congress and the US Senate. Many hunters, when we see – when this program –
when this program opens up and says, however, game species currently hunted in Hawaii are
not native and game management in particular may have negative impact. What we’re seeing is
two issues – eradication has been the plan and there’s essentially been no, no, um, provision for
1) the cultural significance of the puaa. This opening sentence – DLNR DOFAW and the State of
Hawaii are not, as far as I know, not in the Kumulipo. Kampuaa – the pig God is and the pig God
is there with Pele and her sister Hiiaka. There’s major issues here of when they say that species
\[unclear\] hunted in Hawaii are not native – this is an issue that has been brought up – like I’m
saying is what they’re saying here is Hawaiians are not native and what they’re saying is that
they have a management plan that goes to pre-contact and I tell you this from historic
knowledge of being and meeting and having hunters go through this process. So this paper –
this booklet here is a big deal.
AA: Yes, sir, it is.
LT: Is there an updated version?
36
AA: Nope.
LT: E, we – Leomana, District – 3. We are updated versions. That’s why we’re on it.
SW: Ah, Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan – for all of the points that Mr. Duerr brought up are
different points that you can bring up in your respective reports, given the gravity of what
you’re talking about, what the issues you’re gonna be dealing with it would probably make
sense that your report should be written, that is a suggestion that’s not a mandate – because
your individual \[unclear\] can determine how you want to present that information – but as Mr.
Duerr has stressed there are some very important issues that this Game Management
Commission is tasked with including cultural significance that is again obviously not mentioned
in this report so those are obviously things that you may want to consider putting…
AA: Ah, Abraham, District – 5, Mr. Duerr that’s exactly why I fought to have you on this Commission.
RD: Ah, Chair, I’d like to bring in another – there also is a PIG on Pittman-Robertson dealing just with
State funding. So some of the issues that just deal with – essentially why this is a five-year plan is
because Fish & Wildlife approves 5-year plans but what they also do is require audits of like
accountability and did you accomplish what you said – the other thing that’s critical in the,
federal regulations is that, that this plan needs to have public participation.
AA: It states that in there, in there as well?
NR: Natalie, District – 7, I have a question so is the PIGs– it’s already done – to read the next set
after that how do we bring in the public for that ‘cause if we’re – how does that work, I was just
a little skewed…
SW: OK. So, um, the PIGs are created within the Sunshine Law…
NR: Um-hum…
SW: The PIGs can work independently for themselves – you have to bring your report – it has to be
presented in an open meeting – in a GMAC meeting – you can let Barbara know when your
report is ready – we’ll make sure you get put on the next agenda – so that you can present your
report.
NR: OK.
SW: You present your report – that report – if it’s written will also be a part of the board packet so
the public can review the report at that point – the reason why you do not make decisions – the
same meeting that the PIG is presenting their report is to allow not only the Commission to
thoroughly intake all the information from the report but also to allow the public to provide
testimony regarding that report that was given. So that’s the public input.
NR: OK.
SW: And then you guys can make your decision making at the following meeting.
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RD: Um Corp Counsel, District 2 or District 1. Um, now in this permitted inter-action group can we
meet with the public?
NR: That’s what I was asking.
SW: You can, you can, but, um, how do I say this…
NR: Like interviews or input?
SW: You can. You can hold your own meetings if you want to. It’s just know that if you’re holding
your own meeting that’s gonna get a little difficult.
RD: OK. Thank you.
SW: Yeah, but you can, you can get input from the public – you can have meetings with the public.
RD: OK, great, thank you.
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AA: Any other questions or comments? OK. Moving on. Announcements. Bird season starts
st
November 1 ah, so good luck to all the bird hunters out there. Or you guys might see me and
my son out there with Brian Ley probably at some point, um…
RD: Chair?
AA: Yeah.
RD: There’s Duerr, District – 1, I had an elderly bird hunter who’s still confused about the process to
get into, um, Kapapala Ranch, is it a number of steps of using the cell phone of which – and then
once you use the cell phone then you gotta like…
AA: I think I know who you talking about. He’s just go to reach out to DOFAW…
RD: OK. Thank you.
AG: \[Unclear\] still doing the old system.
AA: Yeah, I think they still being used.
AG: Yeah. He can still call the hotline in the morning at 4:30 and they’ll give you the code.
RD: OK. Right on.
AG: They’re just trying to implement the new system and they’re still using the old one as they’re
kinda going into…
38
RD: OK. Great. Thank you.
AA: Um, other than that – DOCARE which is our, which is DLNR’s enforcing side – they can actually
now site you on site – like give you like a speeding ticket and whatever right? So you get your
fine and everything to help clear up the court proceedings in their…
AG: \[Unclear\]
AA: Well, it depends on your infraction – you still might have to go court but if it’s like minor
infractions then they just going give you the citation and then…
?: \[Unclear\]
st
AA: Yeah, yeah, yeah, or whatever citation is. Other than that next meeting – November 21 – 9:00
am. And back to our old schedule – back to our old schedule in Hilo at the Puna conference
room – and on Zoom. So…
SW: Motion to adjourn?
NR: Can we do December here?
AA: \[Unclear\] December and you and Cortney and Justin can come back to Hilo?
LT: Leomana – I got one more thing – kinda like a emergency – not really – just because District – 2,
is absent – at the end of this month they’re shutting down Mauna Kea again for eradication or,
ah, animal control, you’re still able to drive up to the top of Mauna Kea beyond the road but
they’re shutting down sections on the side of the road as we go up and not allowing people to
walk through them – I don’t know what kind of management they’re doing – I didn’t see if
they’re doing helicopter eradication. I just saw that they had the permit to shut it down.
AA: That’s pretty much gonna be the helicopter…
LT: Helicopter, yeah. \[Unclear\] Yeah.
SW: And, I’m just gonna make a note for that kind of an update, it would been best starting with the
District – 2.
AA: OK. Can I have a motion to adjourn?
8. ADJOURNMENT (11:00 AM):
AG: Austin Griffey, District – 6, I make a motion to adjourn this meeting.
LT: Ah, Leomana, District – 3, I’d like to second that motion.
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AA: All in favor – state your names and say aye.
AG: Austin Griffey – aye.
RD: Duerr, aye.
LT: District – 3, Leomana, aye.
NR: Natalie, District – 7, aye.
AA: District – 5, Chair Antonio, aye.
CO: Cortney, District – 8, aye.
AA: Motion carries, we’re done. Thank you.
Respectfully submitted by,
Barbara Kossow
Secretary
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