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<br />Comm 26-057 <br />Aloha PONC Commissioners, <br />My name is Brianna Ninomoto and I respectfully submit this testimony in strong support of <br />preservation actions that protect the Hklia Cave (Hokulia lava-tube system). Preserving this <br />site is not only about protecting a geological feature; it is about safeguarding a shared inheritance <br />that benefits community members, future generations, and the scientific understanding that <br />informs responsible stewardship across Hawaii Island. <br />This area has shown importance for residents, educators, scientists and resource managers. This <br />lava tubeÓs discovery can contribute to many empty answers of old Hawaii. By filling gaps with <br />the knowledge that can be obtained by protecting this cave allows for better future management <br />and protection policies. When such sites are damaged or lost, the loss is permanent. Protection <br />signals that some spaces hold value beyond short-term developmentÏthat they are essential to <br />the islandÓs long-term well-being. <br />Additionally, sediments and deposits within caves may preserve records of vegetation change, <br />fire history, climate variability, and biodiversity across centuries. These records inform wildfire <br />mitigation, watershed protection, and conservation planning. Once disturbed, the information <br />they contain cannot be recovered. Preserving Hklia Cave therefore supports evidence-based <br />management that benefits the entire county. <br />Lava tubes are part of the living landscape that shapes how communities understand their <br />relationship to ina. They hold ecological memory and physical evidence of past environments <br />that ground present-day stewardship decisions. Maintaining their integrity allows future <br />generations to experience and learn from these environments in ways that cannot be replicated <br />once altered. <br />I respectfully urge the Commission, particularly as it considers amendments to its rules and <br />prioritization processes, to ensure that caves and lava tubes are clearly recognized as qualifying <br />resources deserving proactive protection. <br />Protecting Hklia Cave aligns directly with the CommissionÓs purpose to preserve lands of <br />natural, historic, and community value for present and future generations. I respectfully 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 />Brianna Ninomoto <br />