2006-08-14 Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Minutes (Hilo Mtg)

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tricky due to the lots right along the road. Chair Replogle stated that was the sense he got from the people; they didn't want to lose the beach and pavilion. Chair Replogle mentioned the report that the Ka`u preservation did, in the month of April they counted how much people came to beach and he remembered the count to be 32,000 people. Chair Replogle stated they've closed off the road from the lei stand to the pavilion which was a good thing. Chair Replogle stated the concern is to protect Punalu`u and not allow it to fall into the developers hands. Commissioner Laura Schuster stated that was case for Nmole. It was more about protecting the coastal areas from development but still provide access. As it was, not necessarily anything more improved just protecting it. Mr. Yuen asked if the Commission had any sense of how far back from the shore. Chair Replogle stated the sense he got was to the road by the old restaurant. Chair Replogle stated the restaurant would be taken out of there, the parking lot would be a place where people could park and from there they would walk to the beach with no driving onto the beach. They could have wheelchair ramps and the lei stand could be moved up near the parking lot. Chair Replogle stated the road that swings around just below the golf course all the way to the golf club house is what he understood they wanted protected. Chair Replogle stated maybe they could have a pavilion on the present parking lot. Chair Replogle stated the Ka`u Preservation Group did not want any building from the highway down. Mr. Yuen moved onto Maulua Gulch and disclosed that he owns property overlooking the gulch. Mr. Yuen asked what was the vision for the fourteen acres. The Commission identified two parcels; one parcel in the gulch that had a house on it and the other didn't. Commissioner Flores stated there was one parcel for sale in that area and the person who submitted the application stated that it was one of the few accessible areas to the coast on Hamakua. Commissioner Kaneshiro stated it was mostly for fishing. He stated that coming from Honoka` a side is pretty dangerous to turn into the road. Commissioner Yung asked if it was a beach access would we have to put in facilities. Mr. Yuen stated it depended on the level of activity that you wanted to have. If it was more for fishing and there's not a large group of people, then it's won't be necessary to put in restrooms, paved roads or a parking lot. If they bought a place that was a nice beach, it's hard to open it to the public and then manage and control it. It's tough to 31