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<br />From:Carolann Carl <br />To:PONC <br />Subject:Written Testimony In Support of preserving the Hklia Cave (Hokulia lava-tube system <br />Date:Tuesday, March 3, 2026 10:38:51 AM <br />Aloha PONC Commissioners, <br />My name is Carol Ann Carl, and I respectfully submit this testimony in strong support of <br />preservation actions that protect the Hklia Cave (Hokulia lava-tube system). <br />Preserving this site is about safeguarding a shared inheritance that benefits community <br />members, future generations, and the scientific understanding that informs responsible <br />stewardship across Hawaii Island. <br />For residents, preservation of Hklia Cave affirms the protection of place-based identity and <br />continuity. Lava tubes hold ecological memory and physical evidence of past <br />environments that ground present-day stewardship decisions. When such sites are damaged or <br />lost, the loss is permanent. Protection signals that this space is essential to the island’s long- <br />term well-being. <br />Maintaining their integrity of the caves allows future generations to experience and learn from <br />these environments in ways that cannot be replicated once altered. This way we are not only <br />shaping the future, we are remembering it into existence. <br />Because subterranean systems often lack obvious surface visibility, their significance can be <br />underestimated in parcel-based evaluations. I respectfully urge the Commission, particularly <br />as it considers amendments to its rules and prioritization processes, to ensure that caves and <br />lava <br />tubes are clearly recognized as qualifying resources deserving proactive protection. <br />Protecting Hklia Cave aligns directly with the Commission’s purpose to preserve lands of <br />natural, historic, and community value for present and future generations. I respectfully <br />request <br />that this testimony be included in the official record and that strong consideration be given to <br />preservation measures that safeguard this site for the benefit of the broader community. <br />Respectfully, <br />Carol Ann Carl <br />Storyteller <br />Keweriwer <br />email: <br />As the canoe carved of the tree, you are both voyaging and rooted <br />