HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0284.008 2020-2022 4�
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Chelsey Keohopuanani Dickson
PO Box 1711
Kamuela HI 96743
808-960-4697
keohopuanani@gmail.com
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June 13, 2021
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Chair and Presiding Officer Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder -
Vice Chair Heather L. Kimball
Committee on Finance, County Council f
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Aloha mai e Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Kimball, and Members of the
Committee on Finance,
Mahalo for the opportunity to provide testimony in strong support of Resolution
145-21 for the permanent protection of Mahukona. I understand that Hawaiian
Islands Land Trust (HILT), Na Kalai Wa`a, Mahukona `ohana and the.Kohala
community are working together with the County's Public Access, Open Space, and
Natural Resources Commission process, among others, to raise public and private
funding in order to purchase and permanently protect the lands of Mahukona, located
along the Kohala, Hawaii Island coastline, covering 642 acres and six ahupua`a (from
south to north) Kaoma, Hihiu, Mahukona, Kamano, Kou, and Kapa`anui.
Mahukona and specifically Ko`a Holomoana is a special place to learn and actively
practice traditional way-finding. As a crew member of the voyaging canoe
Makali`i, a board member of Na Kalai Wa`a, and a lineal descendent of voyaging
cheifs in connection with the heiau, this place allows me to honor my ancestors,
connect with the elements, and study the natural environment. I, along with fellow
crew members and our elders have dedicated years to intense training and the practice
of traditional open ocean voyaging. The complete dry-dock and rebuild of the
voyaging canoe Makalii took place at Mahukona. Our crew spend many days and
nights in this remote location preparing and learning together on land.
It is important the county support the protection of Mahukona, preserving this
navigational and cultural complex. Proper land stewardship is needed to protect the
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many cultural and historic sites, native species ecosystems and habitat, and to ensure
our traditional practices and ceremony continue.
The following highlights the main reasons I support a conservation purchase and
permanent protection of Mahukona:
Effectively prohibit future subdivision and development of Hawai`i's agricultural
lands, while protecting Kohala's agricultural tradition of the Kohala Field System. With
its prime location and agricultural and resort land use designations, the lands of
Mahukona are at risk to be sold to resort and high-scale residential developers.
Permanently protect and allow for `ohana and community stewardship of Mahukona's
prominent Hawaiian cultural landscape and the hundreds of ancient heiau and cultural
sites still cared for by `ohana and practitioners, while protecting the integrity and
continuation of the area's ongoing cultural and religious practices including but not
limited to non-instrumental navigation and subsistence fishing practices.
Protect Mahukona's native flora and fauna habitat, including that for the endangered
`ope`ape`a(Hawaiian Hoary Bat) and Hawaiian monk seal, and other unidentified
threatened, endangered or at-risk species (TER), while equally providing
habitat restoration opportunities for other TER species.
Maintain recreational use of the area's trails and swimming areas.
Ensure the integrity and health of Mahukona's ocean resources, including endemic
and endangered marine species.
Use of public funds for the protection of Mahukona is a proactive opportunity for the
County and State to uphold their constitutional obligations to protect Native Hawaiian
subsistence, cultural, and religious practices and Public Trust resources.
Mahalo for the opportunity to provide testimony in strong support of Resolution
145-21 for the permanent protection of Mahukona.
Chelsey K. Dickson
Dickson `ohana
Keawe`ehu `Ohana
Crew Member and `Ohana Makali`i, Na Kalai Wa`a
Board Director, Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club