HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-29 GMAC Minutes Final Draft At Game Management Advisory Commission
County of Hawaii
Minutes
(Final draft)
Meeting Date: April 29, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: Zoom and In-Person 25 Aupuni Ctr., Ste. 1501, Hilo HI
TWC: The GMAC meeting will come to order. Today is Tuesday,April 29,2026,at 9:09 a.m.and
this meeting is being held in the Puna conference room at Hilo County Building and on
Zoom.Just a reminder for those who are in person, please turn your cell phones silent or
off,and for everyone in the Zoom. Please mute your microphones until you are called.
Anyone who willfully disrupts this meeting may be kicked out and removed. Mahalo.
Agenda item number 1. Roll call by districts as follows.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:
District 1 - Robert Duerr(12131126)—Aye- In-person
District 2—Taysen Wong Chong(12131127)—Present—In-person
District 3—Kapono Kuikahi(12131130)-Aye—In-person
District 4—Vacant
District S-Vacant
District 6—Vacant
District 7—Abel Aquino(12131126)—Aye,via Zoom
District 8—David Okumura (12/31/30)—Present,via Zoom
District 9—Justin Ackerman (12131128)—Present,via Zoom
Quorum established,6 in attendance.
STAFF:William Jarrett Deputy Attorney, Corporation Counsel, in-person:
Barbara Kossow,Administrative Specialist, Mayor's Kona Office,via Zoom
TWC: Housekeeping rules, please make sure your cell phones are turned off or on sign-in mode.To
all of us who are attending here in person, please remember to speak in the microphone
when you speak, so your statements can be recorded and transcribed. Under HRS 92-3 of
the Sunshine Law,GMAC may remove any person who willfully disrupts a meetingto prevent
or compromise the conduct of the meeting. All persons appearing before the GMAC are
reminded to conduct themselves in a courteous manner.
Testimonies.Those in person, if you'd like to testify, please fill out the public statement
registration form.To those on Zoom, if you would like to testify on an agenda item, please
provide your name and identify which item you would like to testify on.
Questions from the public,for those on Zoom,you may pose the question in the Zoom chat.
For those in person, you may write your question on the public statement registration form.
Please note that your questions may or may not be asked at the discretion of the chair.The
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Zoom chat is not recorded and not part of any meeting minutes. The Zoom chat is not for
testimony or discussion. You will be recognized when it is time to submit a testimony. All
GMAC members are reminded that they will be recognized at the appropriate times for
questions and discussions.
2. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS:
Interested people who want to provide oral testimony on any agenda item may do so now,
or at the time the specific agenda item is called, or at the sole discretion of the Chair.
3. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:
• Approval of minutes for the March 17,2026, meeting.
Action: A motion was made by R. Duerr to approve the minutes. Second by J.
Ackerman. The motion carried unanimously.
• Communications/Correspondence: None
• Next Meeting, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Puna Conference Room, 1501, 25 Aupuni
St., Hilo, HI 96720.
4. COMMISSIONER'S DISTRICT REPORTS:
a. Each Commissioner will provide updates and share concerns about their
respective districts; Commissioners to decide on whether to add those topics
at the next meeting and to invite the public to provide testimonies and
presentations at their meeting. There will otherwise be no discussion or voting,
which will be reserved for when it is itemized on a future agenda.
TWC Aye.Alright. We have no communication or correspondence. Next meeting it is
going to be held on Tuesday, May 19,2026, here in the Puna conference room, Hilo
HI. Let's move on to the commissioner's district reports. District one Robert or
district one.
RD (R. Duerr)Thank you Chair.This month, Deborah Chang. Contacted GMAC on the issue
of forest access in Honomu.So, it's a 10-year project ongoing. Deborah worked with
the planning department and is now retired. Back then, a landowner had provided
access, but the access was not appropriate, people couldn't access it. Bottom line
is she'd like to see this project move forward so that there is public access from
Honomu to the Hilo forest and she'd like to make a presentation to the commission.
So perhaps we can bring it up in the new business.
The other thing is why Wailua River is starting to silt. So,there's an ongoing project of
trying to get the state to do regular maintenance. There were bills in the legislators
this session to allow for those funds, but those bills did not move forward.
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The FAD system is very good news,after our meeting last month the FADS in fact were
put in place. So,all FADS that were missing on Hawaii Island and on Maui were put in
place which was a real win.
Kapaleihu on the west side,an update. Kapaleihu wants anyone who is fishing on
Kapaleihu to have a permit. And they're going to have to register and they're also
going to have to abide by Kapaleihu catch rules. So,this is now in the works, but
that's kind of what they want. Holumua,the DAR division Aquatic Resource is
starting to hold new community meetings. They're going to be meetings around the
island,and they will be looking for public input on ocean near shore,one mile to 3
miles on shoreline access and then also what the take limits are going to be.
Fish report: It looks like a normal year.Those Kona storms brought in, north currents
and brought fish in so it's looking like a normal year ono overrunning in mahimahi,
and marlin around so it's looking better than the last few years.
That's all I have from District 1.Thank you.
TWC Taysen Wong Chong for my report. I reached out to Parks and Rec supervisor for
help. Robert Duerr reached out too. We're gonna try and get Isles going on,we have
safety reasons and a possible re-asphalt for the parking lot. Permit wise, it's gonna
take time. I shared that instead of portable toilets, is there a possibility of new
bathrooms due to the old water lines. But it's just the maintenance because of how
many years it's been around and funding issues. But to me I think it'd be a great
representation,especially for Hilo Bay heiau site location. I feel it'd be a better site
to see bathrooms vs portable toilets with safe access for the fishermen and the
public.They removed the bars that had the original wooden structures for the fishing
poles.There are currently cement pillars with fishing cohorts that were installed. I
believe it was 9 pillars.When I met up with the supervisor,they were dealing with the
DAR Aquatics because DLNR owns the last 2 feet of the harbor. So,to etch out the
edge that provides a water runoff because right now when it rains, it's actually a
flood zone over therein the parking lot. They're battling with that issue. I also talked
with Aquatics Division with DLNR about possibly making another public eradication
like how they did a few years ago for Tilapia. Problem that they have in Wailoa as well
as a possible netting for the Australian mullets. That number I had received. Why
it's invasive is I believe was 9 Australian mullet per native mullet.So,that's actually
a big number for how invasive that species is.So, they're looking into how it could
be,as far as for that eradication. Like with a netting project on how it would be safe
to catch just the non-native species.
Pigs hunting, no changes,so lately I've been getting reports Kamana Hilo that over
12 pigs. non-ethical hunters. Out of those twelve,three of them were back trapped,
taken.The rest of the body was there. The other ones were probably killed just for a
picture and left to rot on the side of the road.
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That's what I have for my district report. Moving on to Pono. Not sure if you have any
issues in your district to report since this is your first meeting.
KK Kapono Kuikahi: One of the issues is from the Hilo landfill workers which involves a
restaurant owner in a blue truck who is dumping slop.The guy comes at night. He's
dumping it because those gates open,the front gate open,the inner is closed, but
he's dumping it. He just dumps his slop pile right there.
My friends are the workers;they told me they see him.So,they don't know the guy
yet, but they're trying to find out.
TWC Technically,there's a law,you cannot dump or feed any slop anymore.
KK Okay.And pigs as well,guys just leaving them on the side of the road.
TWC Okay.Thank you for your report. Moving onto District 7,Abel Aquino.
AA Hello,Abel, here, I'm getting a lot of good feedback from the target boat captains
and local fishermen about the FADS being back out there. It's nice.The summer fish
are gonna show up soon and everything in place is good. People had some
questions about opening a 3rd manta ray spot in Kailua Bay. Like the old Jet ski
Island.And, I told them I haven't heard anything about it, but, if you guys do, let me
know.
TWC Moving onto David Okumura.
DO David Okumura, District 8: 1 don't have anything to report on today, thank you for
getting me on board here looking forward to getting some data about what's going on
in West Hawaii here. Kona is a very heavily used area so just trying to catch up on all
your previous minutes and what right now and hopefully that's something to bring
back to you guys'next meeting.
TWC That's for sure. No problem. I appreciate the information and welcome again.
DO Thankyou.
TWC And now we're moving on to Justin Ackerman, District 9.
JA Justin, District 9.Two things,the only thing I've noticed of late is driving up Waikoloa
Beach Road, I noticed what appeared to be tall goat fencing going in on the Mauka
side of the road. I hadn't seen anything about that. I was going to reach out to
Councilman Hustace about it,see if there's any other roads that are going to be
fenced. I found that interesting.The only other thing I had questions about was has
anyone seen any reports on the ungulate roundup on Saddle Road that happened?
Any numbers or how well that went.
TWC No reports or numbers that I know of regardingthat.
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JA Seeing how that was kept top secret anyway, I figure they're gonna hold back the
numbers so that's it for me in District 9.
TWC Thank you for the district reports. Moving along to presentation from Nick Agorastos
and Ian Cole.Welcome.
5. PRESENTATION:
a. Nick Agorastos, Natural Area Reserves Systems (NARS) and Ian Cole of the
Division of Forestry and Wildlife(DOFAW)to talk about fencing at Pu'u Maka'ala
Kipuka Koa Unit.
NA Thank you.Sharing screen. Okay,so all the lines in white are current fences. Not all
of them are ours. Some of them are.The Koa Kipuka unit,which we've met a few
times with a couple of representatives and is basically represented by the red line
that is in there. It doesn't totally encompass the Koa Kipuka, it goes below that but
in trying to find a compromise between members of the hunting community we met
with this is something that both sides could agree on. There have been different
sizes and different shapes that have been proposed. But this is kind of the latest
version. And a little bit of background for the other members.This is just below the
current boundary of the natural reserve. It is in upper Waiakea forest reserve.
Waiakea forest reserve is just shy of 53,000 acres.The area you see there is roughly
425 acres. It's generally a 2-hour walk to get to the close part,off Stainback. And
that's if you're walking in without dogs If you're walking in with dogs, it's significantly
longer and takes about 4-hours to get out to the 1942 lava flow which is the top of
my screen. There are mouflon and mouflon hybrid sheep,that frequent the lava
flow edge. They're rarely pressured mostly because this area is so remote.And I
think that's part of the discussion that Ian is going to present on in trying to.
Proposed different options for access to the area. So why is it important to the
division. There are 4 endangered bird species that occupy this area. `Akiapoloa
`Apapane,Alawi, 'Akikiki and then all of the remaining common native forest birds
that are in that area. The proposed fence line will kind of skirt above the 5,000-foot
elevation and that's important for us because of the mosquito.
And the mosquito borne disease prevalence is much less above that elevation. But
the primary thing that we're really looking at is protecting that last Koa Kipuka that's
on the edge of that 1942 flow that's really the primary habitat for these birds and
they do frequent it. Pretty regularly.
The new fencing would be about somewhere between 2 to 2 and a half miles of
additional fencing. There is funding currently for this.We have also done
compliance for this, Chapter 343. In hopes that this will move forward. In our
discussions,that we had with some of the hunters was that the pigs would be
trapped out of this and then released into the sections below use a variety of
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different kinds of pig traps,corral traps, pig brigs,and then we also have some one
way traps that are basically like single-use traps that allow the pig to get trapped in
and then self-release.We also have some GPS tracking collars that we like to deploy
on some of the pigs that are trapped in here and we'd like to do that prior to fencing
and working with some hunters that have expressed interest. And then we can kind
of track some of the movements of some of these pigs and kind of see where they
go. What they do.And then the other part of this is going to be,we plan to do some
monitoring, both the pre-and post-ahead of time,to kind of document what kind of
changes there are,what we expect to see. And then also some monitoring pre and
post if the road alignments are approved to see what kind of effects of having
increased access into the area will have.That's pretty much it in a nutshell. I
wanted to keep it brief and leave some time because I wasn't sure how much time
was allotted to me. To allow for a question and answer.So.That's all I have.
TWC Ian is here to answer any questions on roads, proposed roads? Yeah, Ian.
IC Yes.
RD Duerr District 1,A few questions.The 2.S miles fence. Do you have a cost on that,
the allotment to implement?
NA The allotment that we currently have is roughly just shy of 600,000 but that included
compliance permitting. And then the actual construction part itself would be
clearing in the forest corridor and then constructing it. It's a sealed bid invitation for
bids that go out through the state procurement system.
RD Duerr,district 1. Now is NARS,does it have its own separate budget or is itjust
morphed into DOFAW?
NA No,we have our own separate budget,and this is not part of our project budget?
Those are separate and they're run through a different line item if you will in our
funding. The maintenance of the fence and then the work that comes afterwards,
the weed control, predator control for rats,cats and mongoose,that all comes out
of our maintenance and our annual operating budget.
RD Thank you. Duerr district 1. We saw a lot of piecemeal fencing. Is there one-person
agency or one map that shows the full inventory of the fencing that's in the forest?
NA Yes,that can be found on our website.The DLNR website and I'm happy to look that
up and put it on the chat or something.Yeah, I'm not sure if that would be sufficient
for this type of meeting.
RD Great.Thank you.And then one last question. Any idea how many pigs are in that in
those 400 acres?
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NA In general,from what we found in the surrounding previous fence units, it's generally
been about one pig per 10 acres. That's kind of if you were to take a snapshot but
depends on how long the removal process goes.The longer it goes the more pigs we
end up removingjust because they continue to breed while the removal is ongoing
so the quicker,we do it the less pigs are removed, in general.
RD If there's a few pigs that are left over,will you use snares to get the last remnants?
NA That is the last resort.To give you guys an example we have a different fence unit
that's lower down in the natural area reserve We're kind of on year S right now and
we've avoided using. The snares on that because it is more of a front country
project.And it has taken us a lot longer, but the agreements that we've made we've
stuck by those and so we're still at it. Would we, have we,can we get it cleaner
quicker.There's a high likelihood in my opinion but like I said,we stuck to the
agreement, and we have yet to put snares in. So,we will try and to answer your
question more directly,we will try every available method. Prior to doing that.
RD Duerr, District 1. In setting a snare line,there's been a hunter reports that they're not
monitored. In the event of using a snare which is highly effective in what you want
to...does NARS followthe trapping association guidelines of monitoring a trap line so
that animals in a snare are dealt with effectively and humanely.
NA DLNR has an ungulate control policy that we are administered by. But we've kind of
taken it a step further. Each snare is tracked and given its own identifying number,
and it's given its own coordinates. And so,we have a database that has basically
every snare. If it's in use. That's documented and can check the status on it each
time it's checked and check lost,damaged, not found whatever the case may be.
There are different categories and it is tracked.
RD Thankyou.
TWC Taysen Chong Wong. Ian, please talk about the roads that we had previously spoken
about so the other commissioners hear even if it is not in stone. Just a quick
preview.
IC (Ian Cole)So, in the process of talking about building this fence unit on the back of
that portion of Waiakea Forest Reserve. We are proposing to build a road up from
Tree Planter on the 42 slash 84 flow the 2 flows kind of overlap each other. And then
providing pull-outs along the way up.So,you'd be on the raw lava. Sorry, I don't
have a map. Raw lava there on the 42 84 flows. Mostly 42 flows,which is a pretty
unvegetated flow.And then we just make pullouts along the way going up.
I think we have thrown out some ideas of how far apart, but in my opinion, is more
the merrier,so people can find places to get into that. Backside of that forest that
has previously been relatively inaccessible to the hunting community except for Tree
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Planter and from Stainback. And then probably connect into the power line, Mauna
Loa forest reserve, power line road connection. To be gated because we don't want
through passage and then we're also considered and we will entertain almost
anything but then a loop coming down more to the north,which is more consistent
on the 84 flows, I believe.And then back to Tree planter. Almost everything was on
the table for that for whatever, but they would also provide access to their vegetated
Kipuka,which are left in that region. It's an extension of Waiakea Forest Reserve,
but a lot of that is subdivided into Kipuka in and amongst the 42 and 84 flows.
We talked about putting gates on them if there was a reason to put gates on them for
combo access.
The point is we're good to provide access to the back of that portion of Waiakea
Forest Reserve. Formerly known as Buffer.To increase access to both the Kipuka
mosaic in there and then also the other side,the northern side of upper Waiakea
Forest Reserve.Yeah,that's kind of in a nutshell. We do some map,we draw some
lines on a map. I think anything more than an idea basically once the dozer hits the
ground,that's more like where the dozer will take the lava where it's most
convenient, but in general it's a loop up. Across to the north and back down.
TWC Okay.Just so all the commissioners know when we met Ian and Nick with Abraham.
It's some of the stuff that you're talking about,we did talk about a compromise. Ian
what did we say, pull off every 1"quarter mile?
IC Yeah,at 1 st with quarter mile, but it's kind of too close there. So,we talk about
halfway at this,yeah.The pull offs.
TWC Yeah.
IC. I think we just kind of threw out the ideas of like spacing hunters out but It's a little
bit on yourself to space yourself on the mountain. So, I guess,whatever is the most
convenient. I can see putting too many and putting too much too many folks closer
too close to each other but then again, it's tough to get back in there and put more.
So, I think it was about half a mile just to you know that I think the mindset was to
keep guys from tripping all over each other. It would be like a buffer.Sign-in thing if
you don't want to be tripping over guys and their dogs you need to space yourselves
out appropriately as well right it's a little bit on the hunter as well
TWC Yeah,for sure.
IC Go in and do it at one time is best to do everything you want. Cause for some reason
getting that dozer up there the next time is harder. I don't know what it is but it's
harder to get back the second time.
TWC Taysen Wong Chong,Yeah, basically give a briefing on to the other commissioners as
well as it would also doing so with these roads and also open up not just for better
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access for the pig hunters but you know also for the sheep hunters as well yeah and
we talked about safety concerns as to as like on accessibility in the event of
emergency or whatever it may be. Yeah.What he is talking about gates, I just wanted
to say the reason why we had spoken about gates, especially Abraham, is due to the
fact that if it ever has to be closed due to hunter abuse by poachers or you know
people possibly dumping in these roads. That would be an option, that gate would
be their present.Versus having to go back up and install these gates to now fight this
problem, you know what I mean? So that's the whole implement of why we've
suggested the gates and stuff like that. But just because the gate is there doesn't
mean it has to be closed. But it's just a safety precaution in case we ever need to.
Have this,you know, implemented. So that was a part of the discussion.Yeah,that
being said,would anybody else get any other? Questions on this fencing?
RD Duerr, District 1. Ian,do we know how long this proposed road is.
IC Sorry, I didn't measure it out. Imagine could be 4 or S miles worth of road if we do an
entire loop.
TWC Another thing,oh sorry, District 2, 1 want to mention that we didn't talk about the
road would be potentially on more towards the lava flows,avoiding the forest
reserve.So that it is less detrimental to the forest.Versus cutting road into the forest
right. So, I think that will be better planning as well. Yeah,so that it'll be easy for
both.Versus just have one top entrance or the bottom entrance line.
RD Robert Duerr District 1. Ian, is this talk story or has this project been written up? Is
there any draft on it? Any timetable?Any budget figures that are wrapped in,where
are we with this project?
IC This is part of the kind of getting people on board process and then,we'll probably
just schedule a dozer. I do not have a budget because it'll be done in-house.So
usually, I don't have to figure out a budget for the dozer if I had to contract and I must
figure that out. But it'll take a little bit to get compliance and then once we get
compliance and get the dozer scheduled,we can probably get started. I still put it
out at 18 months because it's hard for me to get a dozer scheduled even in house.
TWC Okay. Got it.Anyone else has any questions?
Okay, looks like none, I'd like to thank you Nick and Ian for being here and you guys'
presentation. Thank you,awesome update. Okay, looking forward to the future on
that.
Moving to old business.
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6. OLD BUSINESS:
a. GMAC report and discussion on the Permitted Interaction Group(PIG)
regarding Rules and Regulations Related to Manta Ray Tours, headed by former
commissioner Natalie Reynolds. CommissionerR. Duerr
RD Abel we've been waiting for you where this essentially is in your district. Natalie
kicked this off and we, I think I sent you the draft.We submitted the draft report. The
process now is the report comes to the table, in one month and then no discussion.
The following month we discuss it and bring in public input and then in the 3rd
month we vote on it. I know you're tight with the manta people and that's your
kuleana.
The issue now is we just need to have Barbara put it back on but essentially the
process didn't move forward so essentially,we're redoing it and if you're on board
with that Abel then yeah, cause as you know, it's a big issue for fishers and the
manta ray people.
AA Yeah. It has improved a bit over the last month or so. Last weekend I was down
there talking to Alex over at Fair Winds. The traffic was a lot less than I'd seen the
previous year.So, it seems to be trending in the right direction as far as getting things
organized out there. So,this should help.That would be awesome.Thanks, Robert.
RD Yeah, right on.The other big part is as you know,as a Kamehameha School grad,
Kamehameha Schools has a project there that is impacting, but it's also impacting
Kailua, Keauhou but it's also having a part which would help the manta ray parking
situation. So, it's...
AA Yeah,they're talking about relocating the commercial buildings over towards the
Outrigger. I was looking at the plan and that's for that 1 SO something room
bungalow thing they're going to build on there. There is a lot of push back from the
community as far as that little bay, probably can't handle that amount of people
down there but we'll see what Kamehameha School decides.
b. GMAC report on the Permitted Interaction Group(PIG)investigates firearm
range improvements at mile marker 16 on Saddle Road,also known as Camp
Morita. CommissionerJ.Ackerman
JA Yeah, I got up there and took some measurements on the east range,which is the
longer of the two,which is typically the rifle range. I've also been doing some
research on cinder block shooting benches and how those would be measured out.
So, I got the measurements on a pad up there. How much we need to push the range
to get a true 100 yards so we're looking at we need to push that burn back a
complete 10 yards from the marked firing range. It took a bunch of photos of the
berm and what's behind the berm,the trees back there. We would need to get
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someone to look at that to see what native species are back thereto get it moved. I
know Leomana had talked about that.Transplanting those so that would obviously
need to get both ranges shut down and get those moved. If that's something that
needs to happen.So, I'm gonna start working up a draft proposal on some rough
guesstimates of cost and what that would run. And then kind of a wish list of what
we would like if the range were to be covered,the shooting benches, leaving access
for future cleanup and everything. I think it would be a great idea. I'll start getting
that draft proposal done up and. Get that sent up.
TWC Awesome.Thank you.Justin,that was this past week?
JA Yes,yesterday.
TWC Oh, perfect,thank you,appreciate that.
JA Yeah.
TWC Right on.Thank you. Moving on to"c"I'm gonna table that to the end for the
commissioner discussion.We'll talk about that later.
c. Decision making on whether to recommend to the mayor the removal of
Commissioner Abel Aquino due to unexcused absences within a(12)month
period per Commission Rule 3(d).
TWC Hold off till later.
d. Discussion regarding recruitment of people to fill vacant GMAC seats.
TWC I'll give the update. As of right now,we have districts 1,2,3,7,8 and 9.We need to
fill three more districts. The goal is obviously for the 9. I am still in talks with folks
who could possibly serve as a commissioner in the Pahala, Kau, Ocean View
district. But no definite answeryet.Theyjust wanted to get more information on
what the commission is all about.They did share some issues from that district, but
I was just trying to encourage them to possiblyjump on board because they are
involved in a lot of community efforts as well. So just to probably take on that role
as a commissioner to be a part of the team and you know help represent that
district.
So just wanted to give an update on that.And if anybody else knows anybody else
that could be involved in any of that that would be great as well.
e. GMAC development of an informational/marketing brochure design markups
for Commissioners to consider. Chair T. Wong Chong
That's the brochure that Leomana was talking about guys. He did come up with a
design, but he isn't 100%sure about it yet. He did share it with me but let's keep it
on old business until he is able to meet with us.
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f. Presentation by Planning Department regarding Makahanaloa Fishing
Association's complaint regarding fishing access at TMK:(3)2-8-012:028,the
public access easement on the Pepeekeo shoreline,and GMAC's
recommendations to the County's General Plan. Commissioner R. Duerr
RD Planning department has been notified and they're willing to make presentation.
Side to that, Deborah Chang on the access to the Hilo Forest Reserve. Would we
want to,she could be short, but she also was in Planning department and has since
retired. So,we may be able to tag-team them for a presentation.And then we may
want to use Makahanaloa's complaint as kind of like an entree into it of like.
Because there's other there's other complaints out there.What happens if a
landowner or a complaint comes in with public access use. Makahanaloa How is it
handled?What's Planning's understanding of what and what the resolve is? And I
think that would be that would be very helpful and then Deborah Chang has worked
in Planning and is very active in public access. I think she'd be able to give both
sides to that story too.So basically, I think,for that.
TWC Good to bring in Deborah Chang to give a short presentation on the complaints and
efforts maybe.
RD Yeah,that would be processed complaints and efforts.
TWC Get the Planning to come in, right?
RD Yeah,they're willing to go. They're up for it.
TWC Okay.And then maybe I can give Blake a call and if we have any other issues as well.
For those of you who don't know, Blake McNaughton is the president of
Makahanaloa Fishing Association. So, he could come in and sit in with this as well.
RD And then the other caveat is that Deborah is also the chair of the County of Hawai'i's
Public Access, Open Space,and Natural Resources Preservation Commission
(PONC)the public land commission that provided funding for Makahanaloa Fishing
Association the start money to purchase the 80 acres. So,she knows all about
public access in public lands.So, I think,yeah, it would work out.
TWC Okay.Sounds good. I appreciate that.So good.
g. Presentation: DOCARE will discuss new recruits and allocation of personnel
on land and water.
TWC Barbara,would it be okay to defer this?
BK Yes. Chair,could I share,this is for Robert Duerr as well, I spoke to Planning
Department regarding Jeff Darrow's presentation which is scheduled for June 16t"
Jeff will not be able to attend the June meeting due to a conflict, but he could attend
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the July 21"meeting. So, if Debbie Chang could come in and speak at that time,
that would be great.
RD Okay,that works. I'll contact Deborah.
TWC Yeah,that'd be great.We can move to July.Yeah. Deborah and the Planning
department. I'll let Blake know about the July meeting.
BK Okay,thankyou.
h. Presentation: USDA will discuss wild game harvest,game management,and
game diseases.
TWC Okay, moving on. Barbara, let's table items"h",the presentation USDA and"i"for
next meeting.
i. Presentation: Mauna Kea Oversight Authority will provide an update regarding
hunting access on Mauna Kea.
TWC Deferred.
BK Okay will do.
RD Chair,you can line up someone for May since it is open now.
TWC Yeah, I can probably do that for May. Thank you. Okay,
j. The Commission intends to discuss topics for future GMAC agenda
presentations. Chair Wong Chong
TWC We already covered this.
Basically, update,for May, I'll work on for sure. Maybe for Mauna Kea oversight
advisory to talk about hunting access or anybody else. For July,we're looking at
Planning and Deborah Chang. So, leave us open for June if we can get anybody in,
you know.
RD Duerr,district 1. Chair,one thing we know about DOCARE.Those guys don't like to
be on the hot seat fora longtime. Basically,they will come in and give an update.
TWC Awesome.So,they would give an update, but we will call it a presentation. Moving
on to new business.
7. NEW BUSINESS:
a. The commission will discuss the sewer discharge issue in Keaukaha and who
to invite for a presentation on the issue and if it has any effect on marine life.
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TWC I believe me and Robert,we discussed this before. I think that we could attack this
issue onto the whole environment,yeah?Commission,yeah,then possibly like co-
existing with the environment the commission to where what impact it can bring on
the marine life.
RD Duerr,district 1. I'm a member of the Fishers working group. There's a master's
degree student Sherry Kaiwaki She is looking to work toward a PhD. She wrote the
commission on how at one time that whole of the Hilo Bay waters team worked with
the Keaukaha waters in one unit. She has a pretty good background on how the
Hawaiians looked at that,one the movement of water.The other group that we could
go to is watershed commission that's being put in place and they're really digging
into these issues of Makau to Makai and pollution efforts. It's a big issue.
We may be a little bit ahead of the curve as far as the watershed commission,which
is just getting up and running. The other person who really knows this is Steve
Holmes,Sierra Club who gave a presentation here. Steve Holmes was one of the
main persons to bring an EPA lawsuit on County of Hawaii in regard to them being
out of compliance. On both the Hilo side and the Kona side in the Honokauhau
discharge.So, he knows this and when I reached out to him on Leomana issues,
Steve said that this in fact was a big issue. This was an important issue and that it
was being totally neglected.And the county was still not fulfilling it, in his opinion,
was not fulfilling its duties. Anecdotal.What we're seeing is somebody who's for
what's happening now is that discharges which used to be done during high rain
events when the system was overloaded and they were forced to dump sewage in
that is now on a regular basis. You can go over the Iron Bridge,which is on the
Wailuku River and you can see that it is a sewer. And we have not had that much
rain.
You know,this is an ongoing problem. Now,when we go on the ocean and now and
see brown bubbles,the current lines,you know,on a regular basis.These used to be
incidents that were not on a regular basis,you know,so I think Leomana is onto
something here. It's a big issue.And it's Yeah, how to go forward on this? It's a really
good question because it's a big issue and this issue of dumping and of making a
new sewer plant but using a new sewer plant but using decrepit outflow into
Keaukaha is another big issue. So,these are issues that are tens of millions of
dollars. It's a big issue. I don't know,you know,where to start on this.
TWC It's a good question. I would like to add a comment as well. You know,we grew up
over here thinking that Hilo Bay,the break wall,was a problem. You know what I
mean?And it's a part of the problem, right? Due to circulation, but as far as the
sewage. You look like you said it's happening so frequently now like look at the
public announcements on how the bacteria levels are now at Hamakua an
Keaukaha. For myself, I grew up surfing a lot and I hardly used to see bubbles on the
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shoreline at Honoi'i. Now you see at even 4-Miles on the inside to get them
Richardson, had I experienced that a few months ago. Bubbles,and that's all
bacteria growth. I mean people think that you...that's mean stuff.Yeah,that's gross.
RD, I wish I could share this. I'll show it to you. Here's a picture taken yesterday of
Wailuku.
TWC Yeah,that's a lot.
RD Foam,dark brown.That's raw sewage.
TWC Yeah,this is something that we need to look into,we must. Probably revisit with
Sierra Club.
RD Duerr district 1. Maybe it's a question for County Council. Right now,the county is
moving forward on a sewer plan as a result of an EPA order. Well, perhaps we want
to look at the where in fact what that order was,where in fact that order is and if that
if the county is living up to the order of the EPA so essentially we would,one of the
key people would be the EPA who's responsible for monitoring that compliance and
then the county person who's in fact responsible for living up to the EPA's order.
Because this order has penalties of tens of thousands of dollars. And,quite frankly,
I think, if I recall, it's a$10,000 a day penalty,which they waved in lieu of the county
building the sewer plant.So, I think that going to the EPA and going to the horse's
mouth might be a very good place to start on this.We as citizens are just coming
with citizen viewpoints and let the experts tell us what the situation is.
TWC I'd like to second on that too,was the project to move the sewer system, right? And
the backside towards Paradise Parkway?
RD Back of the NAN Corporation is building and it's back of the it's on land behind the...
TWC Shipman?
RD Yeah,yeah.Yeah.And behind the...evident,this was all we'd find out,you know,
Leomana is suggesting that they're running the same sewer pipe Yeah, but that's
where we let it
?? Shipman all along the coast.
TWC And in the next thing you know, it would have another problem,went that way
because that water burn would be going to Wiki,you know,salt side.
RD Correct.And that's all prime fishing grounds. And Leomana yesterday shared Oahu
water testing showing, mpox in the waters of,you know,so, Leomana has laid out
some very serious concerns.
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TWC Yeah,for sure. Another thing too,we should look into the depth and that is if county
was to do that,what would happen to the old pipes?Would it just be abandoned.
You know what I mean? Like.
RD That's to me that pretty much become,come up fish home which would be,you
know...
TWC Yeah,and if they work to remove it,what would be?The budget on that,you know
what I mean? Cause to me, it's like, if I throw a piece of rubbish in the water,and I
don't get it,versus if the company,you know,just being honest.We can'tjust
abandon something like that. How much is that for piping a mile?
RD Randy Cates did the pipe restoration,which was about S years, maybe 8 years ago.
They did some work restoring it and it's pretty much the bend of the brake wall is
about where that pipe goes,out from outside of Puhi Bay.
TWC So that's about 2 and a half miles because the wall is little over 4 miles.
RD The wall goes from where you walk to wall where it bends. Yeah, maybe it's half a
mile.
RD And what Leomana was saying, his Ohana was telling him, kupuna was telling him,
was when waves come in, big surf comes in,the sewage can't get out in backs the
sewage up and blows the pipe out.
TWC Yeah.
RD So the pipes blown out and now you got sewage discharge.
TWC Right. I did want to kind of bounce back to the Wailoa discussion. When I was
talking to the Division of Aquatics with Wailoa,they redid the whole dock. They took
off the boards and the tires were running. Now it's different yet the system. But I
noticed in some areas from Suisan to there,the old tires dropped.They did not
remove it all. So that was my question today and really.You know, like.Well,you
guys just gonna leave that there?
TWC So does that affect you? I asked them does the tires affect dredging, rubber has
toxins as well, right? And I know the rubber,they change about X number of years,
but the thing is just cut and drop. Tome that is like a permanent move, right.
RD Duerr,district 1. DOBORE essentially,they've stopped writing permits for the
Wailoa Small Boat Harbor just for that problem because they know to moor there
you have to drop your own anchors. There have been anchors therefor 70 years just
polluting that right,so they know they have an issue.
RD They're in and they quite frankly are looking for a Pohiki solution.
16
TWC Yeah, because I remember back in day 2 if you look at it now, like, right,they dredge
out the mouth. But the boat ramp back then used to be deeper than it is now.That
just on visual of how much sludge is actually there.
?? Choke.
TWC Yeah,that's crazy.
?? Didn't Leomana talk about the turtles,the tumors had basically bacteria content on
what they had dropped in the water.
TWC Yeah,and that's why they're getting tumors. It's all about public safety ways, right?
While we get issues. I mean we spend a lot of time in the water. And we're taking in
the fish.That's part of the issue as well.Just crazy.
RD Duerr,district 1. Chair, I'll reach out and see who has jurisdiction on this issue with
the sewers discharge and I'll come back and then maybe we can figure out a plan.
b. Discussion regarding whether GMAC meetings can be held from 6:00 p.m.to
8:00 p.m.and status of Commissioner vacancies.Also,determine if a PIG
should be formed.
Deferred since Micah was in attendance.
TWC Okay,we stay way ahead of the schedule right now.Any side announcements?
Barbara?
BK Leomana sent something in. But we were setting up forthe meeting,and I have not
looked at it yet.
TWC Micah just came to set up.And he went to another meeting.
BJ (Attorney) Discussion with the new members.
BK Yeah, let's have a discussion with the new members. Share about yourselves.
TWC Yeah, how about we have,those on zoom, camera back on. Thank you. Discussion
with commissioners. Let's do something different. Anybody got any questions for
the new members?Or discussion.You guys have any questions? Any of the new
commissioners?Since we have a lot of time.
RD You know, I used to be an ESPN radio host.Yeah, I have a question. Pono,what do
you do outdoors?
PK: Yeah,there you. I saw I was born, I was here,went to high school in Oahu and Abel
was in my dorm. Yeah,at Kamehameha Oahu. For me, I do a lot of pig management
up in volcano. I help a lot of the associations,the farm lots, up there. Actually, I did
it. It was part of my healing after my, near death experience due to a workjob. I just
17
got back on the land and that's what healed me.And then I just started to Help a few
neighbors and then it just took off so like the past 6, 7 years. I'd help manage the
game out there.There are some wild cattle but just getting involved with the
community helping a lot of the farmers because everybody got pig issues. Just
making use of the meat. I know a lot of families.So,what I do is after I gather, I go
home. Clean it up.And once you process it, I make a lot of ground pork,smoking,
sausage, but I give it back to the community where I go and gather those animals
from. Just,the way I was raised,where we live, is our lifestyle. I teach my kids the
same way.We gather, provide,share, but always take care of the land. Our kupuna
come through us through the aina. And just Mahalo to Taysen and Micah for giving
me this opportunity to be a part of this special group to help make a difference for
our people and for the next generation,that's what it's about a the keiki.This is, it's
very educational for me stepping outside and just really getting involved again,
because there was a time when I isolated myself to really heal. Feel good.And then,
now it's just to give back and learn from these gentlemen. And all of you folks up
there and I thank all of you guys for putting in the work,you know,and you just gotta
keep banging. And just do it right at the end of the day if we all go to bed and feel
alright and we know we did something good. And,yeah, it's quick one in a nutshell,
but yeah,a lot of pigs,fish,you know,we go out to the ocean and gather,what we
need. I don't overfish.
And yeah,just taking care of Mauka to Makai and all the people that live upon it.
Yeah.Thankyou.
TWC Yes. I just want to put on that too. I can verify that because I have known this guy
since he was a kid.So, letting you guys know that he is not just talking up the smoke.
He's all about it.
Yeah. How about David,what's your story, David?
DO Oh long story long story short now I've been on Hawaii Island for over 2S years now.
That's with my family here.We all like to hunt,fish,and dive. Outdoors, land people,
sustainability. My daughter is all about hiking,camping and fishing. But hopefully
we'll get her into bird hunting here coming up. Pretty soon, she got 2 more years, I
think.Then we could start bird hunting. I'd like to get more into hunting ungulates
and more like that have been primarily focused on fishing and bird hunting. So, I'll.
We are looking to get some more experiences there, but mostly,camping, hiking,
fishing,sustainability. We like to catch some fish and cook them up right there. My
nephew, I think his goal is to taste everything at some point.
TWC Yeah.
DO I think I've tried everything at this point.
TWC Nice.
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DO Yeah, it's real pleasure to be invited to be on a work group like this with a focus on
game management. Definitely,you know,as I said at the beginning, Kona is just a
really high use, high pressure area. A lot of tourism.Trying to balance that out with
our local community and our native Hawaiian practitioners and their needs as well.
So, I'll be looking forward to conversations with you guys getting out here in my
district 8 in Kona to find out what other people are experiencing here. So, I can bring
those back to this group.
TWC Sounds good.Thankyou so much. We are still ahead of time guys.
BK Chair,this is Barbara.So,what you can do is all of you,all the old commissioners
can go ahead and talk about you, introduce yourselves. And then what I'm going to
be working on is the contact list for all of you,so you have that information.
TWC Yeah. Okay.
BK Also,our new members need to go through the sunshine law review with the
attorney. I don't believe that's been done, but David and Pono. Our attorney is
Sinclair so he will be reaching out to schedule that with you two. Bill Jarrett is filling
in today for Sinclair.And then Micah is aware of it as well.
TWC Okay.
BK Yeah. Okay.So,just letting you know what Leomana sent(Teresa just printed up for
me)is the first quarterly report for 2025. He fine tuned it. You will recall that
Leomana shared that Chair Inaba would like to see our reports in a certain format.
TWC Yeah, he did say that.
BK, I made an oversight and failed to include the 2" V and 41"quarterly reports on this
agenda. I will add it back to the next agenda.
TWC Okay. Could I have a sample of the format and the will call list and remove B. Ley to
leave it blank.
BK Yes,will do.
TWC Yes. Okay.Thank you. Robert, introduce yourself.
RD You know, basically, I guess as a kid, I grew upon farms. backstory, my, my family in
1450. We're,we're the head of the fishing guild in on the Rhine River in a section of
Germany. And then my grandfather, like my Irish side,grew up on the northernmost
coast of Ireland,which basically, it's rock and seaweed.So,they were eating,there
was not a lot going there.As a kid, I'm an Eagle Scout, but beyond being an Eagle
Scout. Higher than being an eagle scout is being in the order of the Arrow.And the
order of the arrow is initiation into the American First Nations. And then as a
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brotherhood member is the First Nations. I look when I'm here, I'm shoulder to
shoulder with Hawaiians and everything that Hawaiians stand for.
That being said, I am an outdoor writer who wrote for Hawaii Fishing News for 3S,40
years. And I hunted. But quite frankly,when my son at 17 had a psychotic break, I
had to make a decision, and I took my guns which I loved. And I put them in a
dumpster.So now I just fish and so, I have the longest boat in Wailoa River. And I
fish for Aholehole and feed the neighbors and then,you know,we can catch 10
mahimahi,we catch 4,and we catch an ahi we come home.You know,so that's
kinds... It's kind of what you know and about public access because once it's gone,
it doesn't comeback. It's never coming back.You've got to fight for it because it's
never coming back.
I was here when this commission started and now it's in the hands of really, great
young energy and old timers who really know their stuff. It's really, it's something to
see.You know Billy Kenoi would be proud.
TWC Nice. I want a little bit of that. Never know all of that. My turn.
Taysen Wong Chong, District 2. Hi, I got the pake last name. My background is pretty
much the same as what Kapono had said. It was a calling for me. I've been a
hunter and fisher since I was 4 years old. Fish and gather. As far as from my history
background why I feel like I'm Big Kuleana as Kanaka as well. Pretty sure, Pono can
connect with this one. From my mom's side,goes back to 1600 that we know. My
genealogy for that, Keakealani wahine,she is the high chiefess of Big Island in 160S.
That's where my roots are tied to. My ethnicity and the descendent ties fall under to
Kamehameha, Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani. I'm also,Samoan, Maori,
Portuguese, Chinese, German as well. So, it's a big kuleana for me and what made
me step up into this is I used to show up to a lot of meetings with my dad,especially
the GMAC meeting growing up, DHHL meetings,community meetings. Community
efforts are always one thing for me. I like helping out the community. I do the same
thing whenever I hunt,fish,gather if I get way more than what I need, I always share
with friends,family and even strangers. I will give you a bag of meat if I have.
Basically, it was a calling for me when I came to this commission and one of the
uncles who is a commissioner and he wanted to talk to me, he said he knew me as a
kid,and he asked me to take over his spot. I slept on it for a week and I could not
stop thinking about the opportunity to serve. So, it was a calling.That's just how I
got herein the first place. So, I guess I was calling foryou to be herein the 1st place
and yeah,that's just how I got here and I'm sitting here and like,call Robert saying
too is like,why I fight and my number won't fight for other guys that's been here for
them.That knows me. I don't know. Micah is my biggest...You know,they don't
already get this hope yes,you know,this is court order whatever not they're correct,
but I believe in my lifetime it can be amended. You know, it needs to change
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because once it's court order once it's taken away like all the fencing,court order
mandates and stuff like that. We're not gonna get on that,you know, like,79, 1
believe,was the court order. I got the past 2 years ago,and they've been this is how
long the issue has been,from his lifetime.
Okay. So now it's like a repeated thing to where I don't want to see in my Keiki's or, in
the future to where It's an onward issue of embedding the same. Same issue.So, 1
believe into where like and help fight and check that,yeah. To help make a
difference to preserve it just not for her. Ourselves with the future.So that's my
10 min presentation on myself. We're going to go too.
TWC Yes, Barbara.
BK That was Mr. Uyeda of District 2 who you were speaking about.
TWC Thankyou.
BK Chair,can I have some time? Not sure if you all saw the comments and questions in
the chat.So, I know some of you may know that Teresa, past commissioner of
GMAC. Teresa volunteers here in the mayor's office since we are short-staffed and
without her help, I would not be able to get everything done in a timely manner. She
has a few questions.
TWC Yes,sure.
TN I'm Teresa Nakama here. My question has to deal with what's on the agenda and a
little bit more in depth. So, I'm wondering if GMAC is doing any scientific monitoring
in our hunting zone areas. Question one. And how is GMAC serving to create healthy
ecosystem by controlling non-native destructive ungulate populations while
enhancing habitats to manage sustainable recreational hunting and food security.
And I was wondering how GMAC could go about doing all of this.That is part of their
game management, in the future, upcoming. Months that they could incorporate
these questions into what GMAC is all about.
TWC Yeah,can I go ahead and answer that question?
TN Sure
TWC How about people? Far from me for how I can answer the question is I've been
jumping into a lot of zoom meetings,with the state, Clayton Okubo holds quarterly
hunter fishers gathers meetings. I attend the State GMAC meetings as well.And
work with a couple of nonprofits. So,to answer the question. I'm basically looking
at obvious communications and hands on knowledge as well to where like, I've been
talking with even notjust in a GMAC meeting, but inside of personal. Effort to where
like with a field biologist,our representatives from Aquatics to Natural Resources
into where like... Oh, honestly, it feels like it's hard for GMAC to do what they need to
21
do because of the fact that we always get the excuse of court mandate. So, I was
just talking about how we cannot do this.We cannot do that.That's what I think to
get the answer all the time. But what I believe that GMAC is trying to do and
implement into these changes as to where like We're taking knowledge from the
public as well as our personal knowledge. To help bring the efforts and You know,
just for me, I don't know if they're gonna ask the question, but like how I mentioned
about my grandpa, he just passed away, but he's the same questions he's been
asking the I'm still asking those questions to this day.
??- Yeah.
TWC So,for me to answer,as. How can we be?Constructive image and game
management situation is to where we just got to keep poking a bear. Because if we
sit back and do nothing,then obviously commission is doing nothing. But I feel like,
you know,and not just feel what I see,you know, because There are a lot of outside
group efforts, besides the whole zoom chiming right now.We do communicate a lot
all of our districts.A lot of phone calls,text messages.We do our own, like Justin, he
took his time yesterday. To do range measurements that DLNR don't even do efforts
on. So, it's just like for me, it's a...
TN Yeah,soTaysen, in other words,when I'm asking for more scientific monitoring in
our hunting zone areas. So, GMAC could put up a program or a letter together
requesting that DLNR or BLNR do more scientific monitoring in our hunting zone
areas so that GMAC could guide that whole scenario and say, hey, you know,what
is the population that we're facing? And is there an overrun of wild pigs in residential
areas? I mean,we need more concrete responses from DLNR and BLNR. And we
need to work with them more closely and have them send their scientific person and
say,can you do this? Can we have some scientific monitoring in our hunting habitat
areas?
TWC Yeah,that's what we've been doing.
TN GMAC could request that from DLNR and BLNR.
TWC Yeah,we've been doing that.So recently we just got for number one as far as for
them, I just got it while we were talking earlier today. So,to answer Justin's
question, I guess this would be a part of your question as well.The recent closure on
Saddle Road that they had with the whole sheep gathering there was 178 sheep that
got taken. There was SO-SO equal female in,will use in rams as a SO-SO out of the
178. That was taken.There were 2 individuals that took that salvage, but they're all
live removals. I was not updated and they were not aware of where those animals
were headed to.So that's the update on that.As far as communication with DLNR is
concerned,we do advise them a lot.
22
TN Great.Yeah, it'd be good to hear if they, report was given to GMAC that these things
are done. And then,you know, how can GMAC assist in balancing a healthy
ecosystem. controlling non-native destruction, ungulate like the goats.What can
GMAC do about the goats that are running wild and destroying our native plants in
the unfenced area open grounds between Kona and Waimea because we see them
all along the roadside and we know they're destructive to our native plants.
So,what can GMAC do in putting forth a letter to have DLNR or BLNR respond to
these wild destructive ungulates and their heavy population.
TWC Yeah,
JA Hey, I'll answer that one,Taysen. This is Justin, District 9.Teresa,the state's been
given the state ungulate task force gave their presentation to the county council's
ways and means to deal with that and the county councils got to do something with
that report. I sat down with Councilman Hustace and went over that report and the
county's got to spend money.And that's what they're hesitant to do.To deal with
that problem.And so, I mean, it's in their hands. They've been given a report.
They've been given solutions and it's a matter of them cutting a check. To do
something.
TN So, how can GMAC push the bar, in making sure that they budget for this in the next
budget. That we can take care of the problem. I mean,we have to be proactive here
and notjust reactionary and maybe, GMAC, put a letter together and say, hey,
please support this. What is in the budget to handle this to remedy that's been given
to you to handle the situation? I think we; GMAC, need to be proactive and have the
commissioners draw up a letter of support and say, how else can we assist in this
situation,does it take a hunting group, and we communicate with the hunters. I
mean,what can GMAC do?
TWC To answer that question,we did have a letter written last year and we also were the
only commission to show up to the county council during the 2030 Plan that showed
up and advised the council to on self-sustainability, incorporating into the deal in
our whereabouts for game management should be a thing. So, my understanding is
the county council had thrown out and scrapped the original 2030 Plan that
acknowledged GMAC to be a part of that, and before Ashley's term ends. Last
December,Ashley met with us.We are gonna be a part of that 2030 Plan drafting.
We partnered with the Sierra Club that showed up to that county council meeting as
well and wrote an advisory letter to the county council who did backup our playas
game management efforts.They did give, I know in their letter they did give the
numbers from the biologists on the whole Palila count. Lastly, no, it is now four
efforts ago,cause at the time that's when we drafted the letter. I had spoken with
DLNR at the time, Mauna Kea is 78,000 acres. There were 97 sheep that were shot
on that eradication.So that leaves less than one head per 10,000 acres. That's not a
23
problem.So,we had written a letter stating that,advising that we, GMAC, should be
more involved with DLNR with getting our efforts in.We were supposed to receive
something from the State GMAC on how they can help us push the(county)GMAC
efforts. I've never heard anything phone call or text message wise.
TN- So maybe,Taysen,excuse me,Teresa again from Kona. Maybe we need to follow up
with all these efforts and request a response so we can have a follow up on all of
these and not just have a verbal say we started but we don't know what the outcome
is. I'm helping you folks out. Can GMAC follow up with each and every request that
we've put in the path and have a decisive decision from each of the parties that
we've contacted. To make sure that we have healthy and sustainable food security,
and you know recreational hunting because that's what GMAC is supposed to be
doing.
TWC Yeah,for sure. I can follow up on that again. I guess the whole The one of the biggest
problems in the follow-up is what is his name? Kanalu, he's like the head, DLNR.
We've been chasing him for over a year now. I've probably got no lie. I've been
calling. I probably called him 20-30 times. He's called me back once out of that all
those times.
TN Oh.
TWC I've left. How many emails and personal handwritten letters in the Hilo office to
have him call me back. No response.So.Yeah, I have it.
TN- No response. Oh,so is your no response,journalized because then we can say,you
know, Kanalu,our chairman has contacted you at this time in this time with no
response.
TWC Yeah, I have I have in my notes.
TN He.We may. He may be.Tied up with some project and we have to ask maybe he
moved departments we don't know so can we find out what exactly what's going. On
I mean somebody in his department must know what's happening.We...
RD Duerr, District 1;Just one,a point of order. I thinkyou could have a motion of maybe
putting on a agenda item of scientific data for game management. To your point,
Kanalu told this commission,yeah, and when he was asked,do you do any,
monitoring scientific data for a game animals and his response was no we just
eradicated him yeah so why would we waste our money yeah.So, because we were
also moving towards getting narratives from commissioners when this came in. So,
my point is let's put it on agenda. Let's put it, let's,Teresa making a good point.
Because essentially,she said asking scientific data and what are you doing for a
game,sustainable game management,which is,as you know,your point is well
taken. It's just been a total run around.
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TWC Yeah, it has been. And I think you must answer that question. Got them last year.
We didn't get scientific data. We got numbers, right? I mean, it wasn't quarterly. But
we got numbers last year. So as far as for that is for daily accounts we got. Ungulate
counts we got as far as for I mean, Pomakahala he just basically said, right? And
that forest reserve area.Well, proposed is 425 now that's compromise original was
803 acres was supposed to be, but basically, 1 pig per 10 acres. So that's 40-45,
right?
RD That's nothing. Right.
TWC. You mean like,and it's just one big run around too, because when it comes to
fencing and I hope I've been well in that long time.You can fence on the ungulates or
something temporary. I mean,they're gonna eventually get through.And you can't
fence all the mosquitoes. I mean,that's the biggest problem when it comes to birds.
So, if I had in my way, I would just never mind the fence. It'd be a mosquito task
force. Honestly, put up traps,all kinds of stuff. Is Teresa still listening.Yeah,we're
trying.
TN Yes, I just called Kanalu,you wrote and he'll check his emails and see what
communication that you have been trying to contact him,and he said he apologizes
if he didn't respond. But he'll contact you shortly.
TWC Thank you.Yeah,the last time I spoke to him I spoke,was honestly 2 months ago. I
called him on my personal cell phone,while in DLNR parking lot, no answer. I go into
the DLNR office and call him from their phone and then he answers the call. So,
that's the only way I got a response, if I call him from straight from the source. But
thankyou.
TN But,you know,we need to work together.And so, let's go forward with this.
TWC Yeah.
TN Okay. And if you could send him a new email and say, hey, Kanalu,we'd like to have
you report on your scientific study,cause that's what he does.
TWC Yeah.
TN So, maybe you can ask him to be at our future meeting,whenever he's available and
what the date and time can be for him to be at our future meetings.
TWC Okay.
TN Because you know he's done all these studies all these years,we need to hear from
him. But thank you,Taysen.
TWC Yeah,thank you.Appreciate it. I know for the record I know one issue he's facing
right now is he's well, it's done now, but when the spring turkey season,the tags.
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There were a lot of complaints in the tags because he's the only one that handles it
which is to me,why is only one person handling on whole island. So,to me that's a
deficiency in the department,you know what I mean. Do we have any other
questions?Okay.
BK Chair,you all know that we're here to help.
TWC Yeah,for sure. No, hey, I love Aunty Teresa.You know what I mean? I do, because
she always gets back to me. So, I like her and all that too.
BK Yeah. Like we had a past former commissioner and chair Nani Pogline used to help
us out a lot too with this commission as well.
TWC Yeah, I learned a lot. Nani invited me in Abraham to the National Wild Turkey
Federation Meeting two months ago, it was great. I learned a lot from her that day
too.
Okay. Let's move to adjournment.
8. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
a. Next Meeting: May 19,2026,at 9:00 a.m.
2SAupuni Street, Puna Conference Room, 1S01, Hilo, HI 96720.
9. ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting adjourned at 10:S4 a.m.
Action:
A motion was made by P. Kauikah to adjourn the meeting. Second by J.
Ackerman. The motion carried unanimously.
TWC: Commissioners, please stay on though after this adjournment.
Respectfully submitted by,
Barbara Kossow
Secretary
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