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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PCHSW 2024/02/20 (2022-2024) Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being 9th Session West I-Iawai`i Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii i February 20, 2024 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and ORDER: Well-being was called to order at 9:00 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms Jenn Kagiwada, Chair. ROLL CALL• Present: Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair Ms. Cindy Evans, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member Absent & Excused: Mr. Matt Kaneah'i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.) CHR. KAGIWADA: Mr. Clerk, could you read in Bill 132, please. BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. Bill 132. AMENDS THE PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY SCHEDULE, CHAPTER 15, ARTICLE 8, SECTION 15-68.1 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), BY RENAMING KAHAKAI PARK, THE "WAIAKAHI`ULA BEACH PARK" IN RECOGNITION OF ITS ORIGINAL PLACE NAME Reference: Comm. 721 Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz Motion to Approve: Ms. Kierkiewicz moved to recommend passage of Bill 132 on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Inaba. PCHSW-9 February 20,2024 CHR. KAGIWADA. Ms. Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. A couple months ago, our office was contacted by a couple of Puna residents, No`eau O'Brien, he's a Hawaiian Studies Scholar, and Leah Gouker, a teacher at Pahoa High and Intermediate, and a community leader. And they let me know they had discovered cultural features in a County Park, which is known as Kahakai Park in Hawaiian Beaches. They had happened upon an archaeological reconnaissance survey, which had happened in 1974, and then it identified a Hale Wa`a or canoe shed. The foundations of a historical home and different agricultural features. So, we alerted Parks and Recreation (P&R). We also reached out to a local archeologist, Theresa Donovan. She used to work with SHPD (State Historic Preservation Division). She was on our Cultural Resources Commission. We did a site walkthrough, and we identified that these features are in there, they are also very much intact. It was also verified when we were looking at some missionary journals by William Ellis. He had referenced this village of Waiakahi`ula as being a thriving Native Hawaiian village. So, one of the things that No`eau and Leah proposed was a community stewardship program. And we thought one of the most important and significant things that we could do to restore dignity to that particular `aina, was to honor its original place name. And so, this is going to be the first of many coordinated actions that our office, Parks and Recreation, and the community are going to be doing together to put together a preservation plan for these features, but also to come up with a stewardship workforce development program that allows residents of that ama to steward it in perpetuity. If No`eau and Leah are on Zoom, I certainly welcome them to share their mana`o. It has been wonderful to work with them. But if not, I'm just asking my colleagues for support on this measure, to rename Kahakai Park in honor or the Ahupua`a that exists in Waiakahi`ula. Thank you. CHR. KAGIWADA: Any comments from Council Members? Council Member Kimball. MS. KIMBALL: Just want to mahalo Council Member Kierkiewicz, for putting this forward and engaging in this process with your community, and I think it's a beautiful effort and I'm happy to support this. Page 2 PCHSW-9 February 20,2024 CHR. KAGIWADA: Anyone else? Okay, I will just mahalo you, Council Member Kierkiewicz. I think this is great. It would be nice, maybe, at the Council Meeting, if we could have our Parks and Recreation available, so that they could just weigh in on this. I assume, you know, they'll be happy to work on this, but I'd like to hear from them. You know, full disclosure for everybody. But, great idea, and thank you for working with the community to do this important effort. Did you want to add something? MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I did. I'll certainly make sure that representatives from the department are here at Council. It didn't really align with schedules this time around. But I did want to acknowledge James Komata, (Park Planner) who has been working very closely with our office and community members to acknowledge that these features are here. And he is actually working hand in hand with us to coordinate the development of a preservation plan. I did check in with SHPD, our Hawai`i Island representative Sean Naleimaile, to see if an archeological study was necessary. And he said, because there is no ground disturbance that uses mechanical equipment, a preservation plan is fine and that is certainly something that Theresa Donovan is more than equipped to help us navigate. But I'll make sure someone from P&R is here and hopefully, one of our community collaborators. Thank you, Chair. CHR. KAGIWADA• Alright, if no further discussion, all those in favor of moving Bill 132 to Council with a favorable rating, please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Bill 132: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 132 on first (Approved) reading was carried by the following voice vote Ayes Committee Members Evans, Inaba, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, and Chair Kagiwada— 5. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Galimba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Lee Loy, and Villegas—4. Excused: None Page 3 PCHSW-9 February 20,2024 ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 9:06 a.m., Ms. Kimball moved to adjourn the MENT: meeting. Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Evans, Inaba, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, and Chair Kagiwada— 5 Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Galimba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Lee Loy, and Villegas —4. Excused• None. CHR. KAGIWADA: We are adjourned, thank you. Approved: 4/1A1111141, 212_et M'!enn Kat wa%<Chair (Date) Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being JK/dt Page 4