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1.Introduction AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECT The APE (Figure 5) comprises 316,143 square feet(7.3 acres)located adjacent to Kawaihae Road roughly 2 miles west of Waimea Town and 10 miles southeast of Kawaihae Harbor and contains portions of the Tax Map Keys listed below in Table 1 and shown in Figure 2 above. This area includes portions of four traditional ahupua'a: Kauniho, Wai`aka 1st Wai`aka 2na and Lalamilo, all of which are located within the South Kohala District,Island of Hawaii. The APE is located at elevations ranging from 732 meters(2,401 feet)to 741 meters(2,431 feet)above sea level along the southwestern slope of the Kohala Mountains(see Figure 1),approximately 13.2 kilometers(8.24 miles)from the South Kohala coast. Terrain in the APE slopes very gently to the southwest. Surface geology in the APE is mapped in Figure 6 as "Qhm" described as Hamakua Volcanics dating between 64,000-300,000 years ago (Sherrod et al. 2007). Two soil units (Figure 7)have been mapped in the APE(Soil Survey Staff 2020). In the portion of the APE located east of Keanu`i`omano Stream,soils are mapped as Waimea medial very fine sandy loam,0 to 6 percent slope (mapped in Figure 7 as "383"). In the portion located west of Keanu`i`omano Stream, soils are mapped as rock outcrop-Kamakoa complex with a 6 to 20 percent slope (mapped in Figure 7 as "379"). The climate in the APE is generally cool and dry. Mean annual temperatures range between 62 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit(Giambelluca et al. 2014). The mean annual rainfall within the APE is 41 inches (1,054 millimeters) with most of the precipitation occurring between the months of December through April (Giambelluca et al. 2013). A portion of portion of Keanu`i`omano Stream(Figure 8)passes through the APE. This stream is the dominant hydrological feature in the APE vicinity. It extends through the APE from the northeast, passing beneath Waiaka Bridge (see Figure 8). The streambed is pahoehoe bedrock,and banks are cut through the surrounding soil to pahoehoe in several places. Within the APE,there are six smaller areas designated by their proposed use during the Undertaking (Table 2, see Figure 5).Approximately 2.9 acres of the APE includes Kawaihae Road(Figure 9),which is paved with asphaltic concrete and has unpaved shoulders.Temporary use areas are shaded blue in Figure 5.These areas are located on the north side of Kawaihae Road east of the bridge,the temporary use area includes portions of parcels owned by Hawai`i Preparatory Academy (HPA)(Figure 10) and by the Steven Kittel Trust(Figure 11). These areas are grassy,with a thick stand of Russian olive(Elaeagnus angustifolia)located on the boundary between these two parcels.The second area is located north of Kawaihae Road and west of the bridge. It is owned by HPA and includes a roadside swale with well-maintained grass cover, along with ironwood and introduced brushy vegetation near the banks of Keanu`i`omano Stream. Staging will occur within the Kawaihae Road right of way (Figure 12) and on an isolated parcel(Figure 13)near Sandalwood Estates. Both of these areas are vegetated with a mix of introduced grasses and other forage dominated by kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum). There are three "temporary use areas. On the south side of Kawaihae Road,the temporary use area comprises a portion of a developed residential parcel owned by Big Buck Trust(right of entry was not available at the time of the current study). Table 1. Tax Map Key parcels containing the APE. Tax Map Key Acres Square Footage 72) Current Owner (3)6-5-001:015 0.32 13,865 ft2 Steven Kittell Trust (3)6-5-001:033 1.11 48,309 ft2 Hawaii Preparatory Academy (3)6-6-001:011 1.872 81,544 ft2 Department of Land and Natural Resources (3)6-6-004:001 0.34 14,952 ft2 Big Buck Trust Kawaihae Road 2.958 126,653 County of Hawaii Table 2.APE use areas. Area name Tax Map Key Acres Project actions' Kawaihae Road - 2.9 Repaving,realignment HDOT staging area - 0.4 Equipment and material staging Temporary use area (3)6-5-001:015 0.32 Temporary bridge Temporary use area (3)6-5-001:033 1.11 Temporary bridge Temporary use area (3)6-6-004:001 0.34 Equipment and material staging Staging area (3)6-6-001:011 1.872 Equipment and material staging 6 Historic Properties Assessment Study Waiaka Bridge and Roadway Project,South Kohala,Hawaii