2026-03-09 - Minutes DRAFT 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chr. Chang asked whether the nominators were actively seeking partnerships with scientific organizations or institutions that could assist with the site. Mr. Kinney responded that they were and listed several entities, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Arizona State University, the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, the USDA Forest Service, and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. He stated that the work to date had focused on characterizing how significant the site is, raising awareness, and protecting it long enough to develop a broader plan involving lineal descendants, community members, scientists, and natural resource managers. He added that the site presents substantial educational and research opportunities at many levels. As discussion time concluded, Chr. Chang commented that the matter presented a challenge because, as Cmr. Lawson had pointed out, the public nature of the PONC program raised questions about how well the site could ultimately be protected, and that protection was key. Mr. Cochran responded that public access, in his view, related more to preserving and sharing the materials and information from the cave for public learning than to allowing people to enter the lava tube itself. Chr. Chang observed that greater public knowledge of the site could also increase curiosity about it and noted that one of the photographs showed a very large opening into the cave. Mr. Cochran stated that the opening was located at the confluence of two tubes and is approximately 25 feet wide by 25 feet tall. Chr. Chang thanked the speakers and stated that the Commission would be following up with a site visit. 2. Form Permitted Interaction Groups (PInG) for site visits to the properties of the 2026 Suggestions, select commission members, discuss the reporting process of the Permitted Interaction Groups, and establish the deadline for the reports. MOTION: Cmr. Rosam moved to form Permitted Interaction Groups to conduct site visits, and to aid in the review of this year’s Suggestions. Seconded by Cmr. Markoff. Chr. Chang stated that each commissioner was encouraged to participate in more than one site visit if their schedule allowed. She stated that each site visit group should include at least two commissioners, but no more than four. She also reminded the Commission that written permission from the landowner is required before entering private property and that such permission must be provided to the department. Chr. Chang further stated that site visit reports were due to Eva no later than April 27. The commission members took turns volunteering to sign up for each of the site visits. AMENDED MOTION: Cmr. Rosam moved to amend the current motion to describe the composition of the Permitted Interaction Groups as follows: 26-01: Markoff, Brandt, Britt 26-02: Markoff, Lawson 26-03: Chang, Lawson DRAFT v.1 BS - Minutes of March 9, 2026 Page 18