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<br />Comm 26-069 <br />From:Jeffrey Mermel <br />To:PONC <br />Subject:In SUPPORT of the Preservation of the HkliÓa Cave <br />Date:Wednesday, March 4, 2026 10:18:42 PM <br />Aloha PONC Commissioners <br /> I was fortunate to be hired by the National Park Service to come to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in 1976 on <br />a temporary assignment in the Interpretation Division. Since then, I went into business, retired and returned to that <br />NPS division, now as a volunteer. <br /> I mention this only to say that I have some appreciation of the efforts needed to preserve special places on this <br />island. The HkliÓa Cave is certainly one of those special places. <br /> Lava tubes function as non-renewable environmental archives. Sediments and deposits within these caves may <br />preserve records of vegetation change, fire history, climate variability, and biodiversity across centuries. <br /> These records inform wildfire mitigation, watershed protection, and conservation planning. Once disturbed, the <br />information they contain cannot be recovered. <br /> Preserving HkliÓa Cave therefore supports evidence based management that benefits the entire county. <br /> Underground systems like lava tubes, obviously lack surface visibility, and therefore their significance can be <br />underestimated in parcel-based evaluations. I respectfully urge the Commission to ensure that caves and lava tubes <br />are clearly recognized as qualifying resources deserving proactive protection, particularly as you consider <br />amendments to the rules and prioritization processes. <br /> Mahalo for your kind consideration of this letter IN SUPPORT of the preservation of the HkliÓa Cave. <br />Respectfully, <br />Jeffrey Mermel <br />Volcano, HI 96785 <br />