Comm 25-022 re Sugg. 25-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comm.25-022 Has any work been done on developing a Comprehensive Area Management and Stewardship Plan? Yes, significant foundational work has already been done toward the development of a Comprehensive Area Management and Stewardship Plan for Kumukahi. Ho'oulu Lahui, whose members include the recognized lineal descendants of the iwi kupuna desecrated at Kumukahi, has long been engaged in planning and advocacy efforts to protect this culturally and historically significant landscape. Their deep pilina (relationship/connection) to the land, as well as decades of stewardship experience, have guided internal planning, community engagement, and formal consultant processes since 2021. Ho'oulu Lahui worked closely with the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) and the Hawai'i Island Burial Council to secure an approved Burial Treatment Plan for the UH Hilo parcel at Kumukahi. This plan, which took decades to advance, will be implemented upon the reopening of Lighthouse Road. However, this plan covers only a portion of the area and leaves many other burial sites and cultural features unprotected, further underscoring the need for a full-area management plan. In October 2023, the Hawai'i County Council unanimously adopted Resolution 330-23 (attached), urging the protection of iwi kupuna and calling for collective action to preserve and manage the cultural and natural resources of Kumukahi. The resolution recognized Ho'oulu Lahui as a lead organization in providing both immediate and long-term stewardship and project management for the area. 330-23 also aligns with FEMAs serious consideration of analysis that Kumukahi qualifies as a Historic District eligible for nomination on the National Register. Finally, this resolution also sets in motion key funding mechanisms for both development of a comprehensive preservation/management plan, and, crucially, its implementation in coordination with all relevant stakeholders, under the time-tested and capable management of Ho'oulu Lahui, 501c(3). Since 2021, Ho'oulu Lahui has convened regularly to address threats to Kumukahi posed by the reopening of Lighthouse Road. Internal discussions explored protective designations such as World Heritage Site or UNESCO National Area status, and a dedicated website was created (hiirwin.wixsite.com/whspuna) to share research and advocacy efforts. This planning engaged UH faculty, other heritage site managers, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. With support from a grant, Ho'oulu Lahui commissioned an ethnographic study of Kula, the ahupua'a that includes Kumukahi. Thousands of historical and cultural documents, many in Hawaiian, were gathered to inform a culturally grounded and place-specific management plan. These materials are integral to understanding the significance of the land and ensuring any management framework is rooted in mo'oku'auhau (genealogy) and cultural context. In fall 2023, Ho'oulu Lahui engaged Townscape Inc., a trusted planning firm with experience in culturally sensitive and ecologically complex areas, to develop a phased scope of work for the Kumukahi Preservation and Management Plan. The scope includes (full phase details attached): • Phase 1: Preliminary identification of critical issues through outreach and consultations • Phase 2: Deep analysis of natural, cultural, and regulatory impacts • Phase 3: Draft alternative concepts and community consultations 2