PD Recommendation Report Leese (PL-REZ-2023-055)

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The request is not contrary to Chapter 205A,Hawaii Revised Statues, relating to Coastal Zone Management. The property is not located in the Special Management Area. The site is located over 4.5 miles mauka of the shoreline and therefore will not be impacted by coastal hazard and beach erosion. There are no identified recreational resources,public access to the shoreline or mountain areas, scenic and open space preserves, coastal ecosystems, or marine resources on the subject property. The property does contain significant natural resources in that it is heavily forested with native species that provide a food source to several native and endangered bird species. In view of the Hawai`i 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 archaeological survey of the site was conducted as part of the application. The property is located within the boundaries of a pre-contact age upland agricultural system known as the Kona Field System, which is listed in the State Inventory of Historic Places. The area was the subject of a reconnaissance survey and test excavations in 1970 and 1971 by Hu`ehu`e Ranch, the developers of the Kaloko Mauka Subdivision. In addition, the National Park Service published a report in 1991 entitled, "An Ahupua`a Study: The 1971 Archaeological Work at Kaloko Ahupua`a, North Kona." This study also identified remains of an agricultural field system up to the 3,500-foot elevation at certain locations. The State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD)has no objection to the change of zone request but requests the opportunity to review any permits involving future ground disturbance associated with the development of the project. The Planning Department has no record of any cultural or historic resources on the property. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has conducted studies of the general area over the years and have identified numerous endangered and native bird species in the native forest in the subdivision. The valued cultural, historical, and natural resources found in the rezoning area: The Department is not aware of any cultural or historic resources on the property. -6-