2012-47 Aguinaldo REZ 12-159 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Natural Resources 19. FLORAL AND FAUNAL RESOURCES The subject parcel is mostly grassy with the perimeter planted with ti and palms. Birds observed are mynah, dove, cardinal, Japanese white-eye and finch. Animals not observed, but common in the area, are mongoose, feral cats, rats and coqui frogs. 20. SCENIC OR COASTAL RESOURCES As the subject parcel is located approximately eight miles from the shoreline, there are no coastal resources. The property is not listed as a natural beauty site. Valued Cultural Resources 21. TRADITIONAL AND CUSTOMARY NATIVE HAWAIIAN RIGHTS No traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights are exercised in the area. Public Access 22. EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS As the subject parcel is not near the shoreline or mountain areas, no public access is affected. Social-Economic Characteristics 23. SOCIAL SETTLEMENT PATTERN FOR THE AREA The Puna District occupies a major section of the south-east corner of the Big Island. The principal city influencing the district is Hilo, with a 2010 population of 50,927. The modern development of Puna principally took place in the inland sections, areas amenable to sugar production. Nationally distinct camps, many of which later developed into villages, were set up for immigrant workers from Japan and the Philippines. Large acreages of sugar cane and native Ohia forest separated the camps and villages. Sugar has declined in Hawaii as a major industry and the Puna District was hit particularly hard by the closing of Puna Sugar Company in 1982. A decline in population had already been occurring in the area as workers voluntarily moved into other occupations or were laid off. Beginning in the late 19�60s, "Immigrants from the U.S. mainland began to enter the population in the rural subdivisions. These regions had been created out of the forest and abandoned sugarland and were made up of cheaply priced lots. These subdivisions lacked electricity, telephone service, piped water, sewage lines and paved roads. However, people began to settle permanently in these subdivisions. In the 1970s and 1980s, a larger group of new residents from elsewhere in Hawaii entered Puna, a trend that continues. Since then, the cost of land and houses has increased rapidly across the State, while prices remained relatively low in Puna. The result has been a rapidly increasing suburban population in Puna. Between 1990 and 20100 Puna's population increased 50.8% from 201.,,781 to 31,335, and went up a further 44.6% to 45.,326 by 2010. 24. ECONOMIC RESOURCES OF THE AREA The population of Puna during the past 30 years has increased at a substantially higher