Pa'auilo Final Enviromental Assessment

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PA`AUILO LANDS FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 4.0 ASSESSMENT OF THE EXISTING 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 was conducted during June 2006 by Haun & Associates (Appendix Q. The survey identified two Historic-Period sites comprising four features. Site 25536 consists of a terrace and retaining walls that may be associated with an early 20th century homestead. The features may have been constructed to control erosion, since it is situated on a steep slope that is unlikely to have been used for agriculture. The features may have been constructed to stabilize the slope in conjunction with planting eucalyptus trees in response to deforestation by sugar cane plantations as the land expanded its acreage in sugar. The eucalyptus may also have been intended to provide timber and firewood. Site 25537 is a concrete wall that retains a dirt road. The use of formed concrete at Site 25537 indicates a probable 20th century date for the site. The road is part of a network of roads associated with sugar planting and harvesting, and it is likely that the site was constructed by the Hamakua Sugar Company or its predecessor, the Hamakua Mill Company. No traditional Hawaiian sites were identified. This was expected because according to the archaeologist, the density of traditional sites in this area would have been low and because little archaeological evidence for use and temporary habitation would remain. Habitation structures would probably have been made entirely of perishable materials, wood and thatch, because surface stones are rare in the area. Any archaeological evidence in the tillable portions of the Pa'auilo Lands would have been destroyed by the extensive mechanized cultivation of sugar cane. Although terraces for taro cultivation of wet taro are known for the Hamakua Coast, the project area drainages (gulches) are narrow, steep-walled, and relatively straight, and have been periodically scoured during heavy rains. The gulches are unlikely to contain cultural deposits. The sites were assessed as significant for information value, Criterion "d," as described in the DLNR Rules Governing Procedures for Historic Preservation Review. The mapping, written descriptions, photography, and excavation done during the inventory survey have adequately documented them, and no further work or preservation is recommended. 27