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Mr. Flores asked how would the County of Hawaii Planning Department know of any <br />trails applicable to the Na Ala Hele list; if they are in the permitting process. Mr. <br />Kawashima stated the County currently sends development applications to Na Ala Hele <br />and they perform research on that parcel to determine if there are trails in existence on <br />those parcels and if those trails meet the criteria set by the Highways Act of 1892. It is <br />possible for the County to issue a permit not realizing there is a trail on the land. Mr. <br />Kawashima stated the County has a shoreline access plan that shows some of the ancient <br />trails that are not meeting the Highways Act. If it shows up, the County calls them to see <br />if those trails meet the Highways Act. Mr. Kawashima stated there is no formal <br />agreement between the County and the State notifying Na Ala Hele of land uses or <br />development. <br />Ms. Springer asked Mr. Kawashima if there was anyway that this Commission could <br />kokua them through this Commission's focus on access ways and advocating for <br />acquisition of lands. Ms. Springer stated that many people in the public might look at <br />this Commission's primary purpose to identify lands for the County of Hawaii to acquire <br />however this Commission can also advocate for access easements. <br />Mr. Kawashima stated if the landowner was agreeable to selling that portion of his land <br />for public access, the County could help with that. <br />Mr. Kaneshiro stated this Commission could also focus on getting easements for public <br />access instead of just acquiring properties. He would like to see this Commission work <br />with the County to get the easements. <br />Mr. Kawashima expressed that there are issues of maintenance and liability. For <br />example, if a trail goes through someone's property and it turns out to be a state owned <br />trail, the state picks up the liability. In regards to maintenance, Mr. Kawashima stated <br />they try to get the land owner to help with the maintenance through a Memorandum of <br />Agreement where they agree to help maintain the existing trails with Na Ala Hele. Their <br />funding fluctuates and public trails are not opened until safety and supporting structures <br />are in place. There are State owned trails that are land banked until there are funds <br />available to bring them into the program. A general fund and two special funds facilitate <br />the Na Ala Hele program; the gas tax (motorized use for trails and roads) and commercial <br />permits. The program is currently staffed by two personnel. <br />Ms. Springer stated in the list of sites that the Commission submitted to the Mayor for <br />consideration, most of the top ten were for acquisition. However, there were two <br />properties Pohue Bay and `O`oma were the nominations recommend that we acquire <br />easements for protection of coastal and cultural resources and shoreline access. Ms. <br />Springer asked Mr. Kawashima if he had any thoughts on this. <br />Mr. Kawashima stated he was not familiar with `O`oma but with Pohue Bay, it's a very <br />significant part of the island that hasn't been developed. <br />3 <br />