HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0684.002 2022-2024 -P/LAAG
A L A K A 11 A K A I
Ala Kahakai TrailAssociation P.O Box 2338 Kanruela,HI 96743
January 20, 2024 0
Sent via email ` 74.
County of Hawaii, County Council `-`
Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions (LAAC)
counciitestImony@hawaiicounty.gov
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Re: Testimony in Support of Resolution 410-24
Aloha Chair Inaba and Members of the Committee:
The Ala Kahakai Trail Association (ATA) strongly supports Resolution 410. Our
organization is committed to assisting the South Kona community in the
protection of its ancient and historic trail systems and surrounding cultural and
natural resources. We believe -that community building through stewardship
programs and community-based trail management is a direction towards a
sustainable future for Hawaii.
A registered non-profit established in 2008, ATA's mission is to support and
guide a community-managed trail that honors those who came before and
perpetuates for those to follow — with protocols and respect for Hawai'i's past,
present and future. Congress added the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail to
the National Trails System in 2000 for the preservation, protection and
interpretation of traditional Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources.
Today, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175-mile corridor and trail
network of cultural and historical significance. It traverses through hundreds of
ancient Hawaiian settlement sites and over 200 ahupua'a extending from 'Upolu
Point on the north tip of Hawai'i Island down the west coast of the island
around Ka Lae (South Point) to the east boundary of Hawai'i Volcanoes National
Park. We are a Native Hawaiian Organization and our board is comprised of
mostly descendants with ancestral ties to geographic sections of the trail. We
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manage ancient and historic trail systems and their associated cultural and
natural landscapes on approximately 7500 acres here on Hawai'i Island. Our
goal is to connect our communities with the trail through preservation and
community-based management.
The South Kona community is experiencing a huge surge in development.
Sections of this coastline, once thought too remote and inaccessible for
development, are now being considered for new subdivisions, many of which
will cater to the luxury home market. The growth of the Kona urban core is also
leading to urban sprawl and pressure on the south.
Today, many local families still access these scenic coastal areas for subsistence
fishing and gathering. Kona Hema has some of the most intact sections of the
Ala Kahakai or Ala Loa which connect numerous ancient villages and remote
settlements between Honaunau and Miloli'i. These ancient trail paths leading
north and south of Pebble Beach at Kona Paradise (Kaohe) are widely used by
the community for recreation. This is important for rural districts on our island
which lack County parks.
If the preservation is successful, we intend to support local community
organizations who are eager to continue stewarding cultural and natural
resources along the trail.
Mahalo for this opportunity.
Keoni Fox
Ala Kahakai Trail Association
fox@alakahakaitrail.org