Comm 26-063 - LOS 26-08 Stierhoff, Emma

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Comm 26-063 From:Emma Stierhoff To:PONC Subject:Testimony in support of preserving Hklia Cave Date:Wednesday, March 4, 2026 4:40:21 PM Aloha PONC Commissioners, My name is Emma Stierhoff, and I am reaching out to express my strong support of preservation actions to protect the Hklia Cave (Hklia lava-tube system). Preserving this site is not only about protecting a geological feature; it is about safeguarding a shared inheritance that benefits community members, future generations, and science in a way that contributes to responsible stewardship across Hawaii Island. For residents, preservation of Hklia Cave also protects place-based identity and continuity. Lava tubes hold physical evidence of past environments that ground present-day stewardship decisions. When such sites are damaged or lost, the loss is permanent. When so many lava tubes have been permanently altered by human activity, places like Hklia Cave offers us a unique glimpse into the past that is not easy to come by. This space holds value beyond short- term developmentÏits protection is essential to the islandÓs long-term well-being. For educators and students, preserved cave systems provide opportunities for place-based learning that connect geology, ecology, and cultural history. Maintaining their integrity allows future generations to experience and learn from these environments. For scientists and resource managers, lava tubes function as environmental archives. Sediments and deposits within caves may preserve records of vegetation change, fire history, climate variability, and biodiversity across centuries. These records inform wildfire mitigation, watershed protection, and conservation planning. Additionally, these systems likely contain undiscovered species, the discovery of which would deepen understanding of Hawaiian Ecology. Once disturbed, the information they contain cannot be recovered. Preserving Hklia Cave therefore supports evidence-based management that benefits the entire county. I respectfully urge the Commission, particularly as it considers amendments to its rules and prioritization processes, to ensure that caves and lava tubes are clearly recognized as qualifying resources deserving proactive protection. Protecting Hklia Cave aligns directly with the CommissionÓs purpose to preserve lands of natural, historic, and community value for present and future generations. I respectfully request that this testimony be included in the official record and that strong consideration be given to preservation measures that safeguard this site for the benefit of the broader community. Mahalo for your time and consideration, Emma Stierhoff -- Emma Stierhoff (she/her) Ecological Research & Outreach Technician Liko N Pilina: Hybrid Ecosystems Project University of Hawai i at Hilo