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HAWAII COUNTY PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE AND NATURAL RESOURCES <br />PRESERVATION COMMISSION <br />MINUTES - REGULAR SESSION <br />February 14, 2011 <br />Department of Liquor Control Conference Room <br />75 -5722 Hanama Place, Suite 1107 <br />Kailua -Kona, Hawaii 96740 <br />Present: Chair Sarah Moon <br />Vice -Chair Terri Markovich <br />Commissioner E. Kalani Flores <br />Commissioner Bill Gilmartin (arrived at 10:17 a.m.) <br />Commissioner Searle Grace <br />Commissioner Steven Hirakami <br />Commissioner Wilma Matsumura <br />Commissioner Hannah Springer <br />Absent: Commissioner E. Kalani Flores <br />Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel <br />Others Present: Ken Van Bergen, Property Manager, Finance <br />Alexandra Kelepolo, Clerk III, Finance <br />CALL TO ORDER <br />The meeting was called to order by Chair Sarah Moon at 10:04 a.m. <br />STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS <br />NIELS CHRISTENSEN <br />Mr. Niels Christensen provided a handout to the Commission along with a petition containing over <br />2,000 signatures supporting a public trail /access to the Papa`ikou Mill beach. Mr. Christensen spoke on <br />behalf of Global H.O.P.E. which is a community based club located at the University of Hawaii. He <br />talked about the numerous community support for a permanent access to this beach and is hoping that <br />the Commission will be able to support and /or assist them moving forward. <br />He stated that this trail has been in existence prior to the Highways Act of 1892 and has always been <br />open to the public. However in 2004, the new owners of the land that the trail passes through put up a <br />fence, gate and wall and have since maintained the trail as private. Since then there are various <br />restrictions to the public for use of the trail and beach area and the gate is not always open. There have <br />been arrests made for various reasons and it seems that the beach area has restrictions also. <br />He is asking the Commission to acquire an easement over the path to the beach which is approximately <br />0.500 acre of which the community group in the area is more than willing to help raise the money for. <br />-1- <br />