Koholalele Hamakua EA PBR Final TMK No. 4-2-005:001

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HAMAKUA LAND SALE: KOHOLALELE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 4.0 ASSESSMENT OF THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT, POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES This chapter provides background information on the existing human environment of the proposed project area. Subject areas addressed include archaeology, historic resources, culture, noise, air quality, visual environment, population and housing, community character, and economic environment. This chapter also addresses the potential impacts of the proposed sale and identifies appropriate mitigation measures to minimize the identified short -term and long- term impacts. 4.1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES An Archaeological Inventory Survey (AIS) of the Site was conducted in November and December 2009 to, "identify and evaluate historical properties pursuant to state cultural resources management regulations" (SCS, 2010). Four archaeological sites were documented in the project area (Site 27870, 27871, 27872, and 27873) (Figure 10). All of the sites are Historic - era rock clearing mounds associated with sugarcane agriculture. All of the rock mounds are located along the slopes of gulches, on the outer boundaries of sugarcane fields. No pre- Contact Hawaiian archaeological features or cultural remains were identified on the project area. This is not unexpected as the project area is along a sparsely populated portion of the Hamakua Coast. Since the information recorded in the AIS has adequately ascertained the timing and function of all features at all four sites, the AIS recommended no further work. The field component of the survey consisted of a pedestrian survey, site mapping and hand excavations. The archival component of the survey included database, library and report research into the history of the area as well as searches for archaeological studies of the site and immediately surrounding area. Information that would help illustrate the prehistoric conditions of the site and surrounding area are limited due to the site's remote location and inconvenient access to marine areas. In published mo `olelo, Koholalele, translated as, "leaping whale" is mentioned in the Heart Stirring Story of Ka -Miki. This story was published between 1914 and 1917 although the story is set in the 1300's. No other mention of Koholalele was found in published mo `olelo. Early historic accounts of the Hamakua District including the travels of William Ellis and Isabella Bird do not specifically mention the ahupua`a of Koholalele, but do provide a glimpse into the physical and cultural landscape of the time. Bird's 1872 journals of a trip on horseback from Onomea to the Waipi`o Valley describes a series of sparsely populated and densely vegetated gulches that were highly challenging for horses to traverse. Bird also describes the sugar plantation of Kaiwiki ( Onomea Plantation), which is east of Koholalele. She notes the beauty of the sugarcane fields; describes the sugar making process; and observes the transport of cane to the mill via streams and the hauling of the product by mule down to the sea. Between 1869 and 1880, seven sugar companies were established along the Hamakua Coast. The project site was most recently owned by Hamakua Sugar, formerly the Davies Sugar Company which was a merger of the Laupahoehoe Sugar Company and Honoka`a Sugar Company. The Hamakua Sugar Company was originally known as the Hamakua Mill Company. The site itself was in sugar production for over 100 years prior to 1994. 4 -1