HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0333.002 2020-2022 Ashley L. Kierkiewiez Office: (868)961-8265
Council Member Fax: (868)961-8912
District 4 Puna ` � ashley.kierkiewicz@a hawaiicounty.gov
3
a
i
Gs•N'm"' 3
COUNTYHAWAPI
3
Hawaii County Buildings
25 Aupuni Street Hilo,Hawaii 96720
TO: Maile Medeiros David, Council Chair
and Members of the Hawaii County Council
FROM: Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Council Memb
DATE: August 3, 2021
SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to Resolution No. 170-21; A Resolution Authorizing the
Director of Finance to Enter Into Negotiations for the Acquisition of Wai`ele In
the District of Puna, Utilizing the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund.
Please see below a proposed amendment to Resolution No. 170-21. The proposed amendment is
illustrated in Ramseyer format with respect to the contents of Resolution No. 170-21; material to
be added is underscored. This amendment would add a new second BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED clause to read as follows:
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in order to ensure proper and sustainable
execution of stewardship strategies in developing the management plan for Wai`ele
individuals and community groups with particular expertise relevant to all elements of the
management of Wai`ele be consulted and part of the process for developing the management
plan including but not limited to lineal descendants of Wai`ele individuals with direct
familial and cultural ties to Puna roues and individuals with relevant cultural
archaeological, biological and arboricultural expertise as well as members of the public
currently utilizing the property for subsistence fishing and gathering_"
A draft copy of Resolution No. 170-21 is attached with this proposed amendment incorporated
therein.
AK1j s
Att.
Comm. No. ° 1
Ref. To: �/
Ref. gateAUU 2021
Hawai`i County Is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER
INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF WAI`FLE IN THE DISTRICT
OF PUNA, UTILIZING THE PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE,AND NATURAL
SOURCES PRESERVATION FUND.
WHEREAS, in 2005, the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources
i
Preservation Fund(hereinafter"the Fund") was established by Ordinance No. 05-85, as codified
in Chapter 2,Article 42, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended)
(hereinafter"the Code"); and
WHEREAS, Section 2-214.1(c) of the Code provides that the Fund shall be used for
acquiring lands or property entitlements in the County of Hawaii for the following purposes:
"(1) Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and
mountains;
(2) Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites;
(3) Protection of natural resources, including buffer zones;
(4) Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural
lands; and
(5) Protection of watershed lands top reserve water quality and water supply"; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-217 of the Code provides, in part,that a duty and responsibility
of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission(hereinafter
"the Commission") is to develop and submit to the Mayor an initial list of qualifying lands
worthy of preservation and to update the list at any time, but at least annually by December 31 of
each year; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-218(a) of the Code provides, in pertinent part,that: "The council
shall, by resolution, select the land or lands to be preserved..." and"[w]here there are multiple
lands under consideration at any one time,priority shall be given to coastal lands..."; and
WHEREAS, acquisition of Wai`ele would be significant to the County of Hawaii for
the following reasons:
1. Preservation of historic and culturally important lands and sites that promote the
perpetuation of native Hawaiian culture,tradition, and customary practices;
i
t
7
2. Preservation and protection of remaining native Hawaiian archeological structures
and raised trails in an area that has been undisturbed since the 1880s;
3. Protection of one of the last hala groves in the area;
4. Access for shoreline gathering, fishing, education, recreation, and cultural practices,
mainly lauhala and la`au lapa`au; and
I
7
WHEREAS,the old coastal village of Wai`ele in the ahupua`a of Kanekiki, situated
between Nandwale Forest Reserve and Kahuwai, totals 165 acres with 2,000 feet of shoreline,
and contains sacred treasures such as fresh water springs, rare groves of kukui, hau and kala
trees, an ancient p6haku(stone) trail walked upon by Alii,the endangered `io (Hawaiian hawk)
and `6pe`ape`a(Hawaiian bat), the rare pueo (Hawaiian owl), and ancient Hawaiian burial sites;
and
WHEREAS, authorization to negotiate for acquisition of Wai`ele using the Fund was
previously adopted through Resolution 286-07, sponsored by then-Council Member Emily
Naeole, but significant time has lapsed,the parcel has yet to be acquired, and the Council seeks
to reestablish this authorization; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that
pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 42 of the Code, the Director of Finance is hereby authorized to
enter into negotiations for the acquisition of Wai`ele, identified as tax map key numbers (3) 1-4-
003:003 and (3) 1-4-003:037, in the district of Puna, utilizing the Public Access, Open Space,
and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the acquisition of Wai`ele would honor the life and
legacy of Rene Siracusa, who founded Malama O Puna, a non-profit volunteer service
organization dedicated to protecting the precious natural resources and heritage of Hawaii, and
who was pivotal in placing Wai`ele onto the Commission's priority list.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in order to ensure proper and sustainable execution
of stewardship strategies in developing the management plan for Wai`ele, individuals and
community groups with particular expertise relevant to all elements of the management of
Wai`ele be consulted and part of the process for developing the management plan, including but
not limited to lineal descendants of Wai`ele, individuals with direct familial and cultural ties to
2
i
I
7
i
I
i
Puna, groups and individuals with relevant cultural, archaeological, biological, and arboricultural
i
expertise, as well as members of the public currently utilizing the property for subsistence
fishing and gathering.
I
E IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii County Council encourages public-
private-philanthropic partnerships with organizations that possess the knowledge, skills, and
capacity to contribute towards management and stewardship of Wai`ele.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii County Cultural Resources
Commission is encouraged to support this potential acquisition, and to be part of co-creating
stewardship and placemaking plans for Wai`ele.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to Honorable Mayor Mitchell D. Roth; the Director of the Department of Finance; the
Director of the Planning Department; the Hawaii County Cultural Resources Commission; the
Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission; and Malama O
Puna.
3