HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0330.009 1996-1998 ~ ~ (o,~~~~~~~p,~
HUI LIHIKAI l~ Vl~'J"Yi~O~
CTI'IZENS FOR PROTECTION OF THE
NORTH KOHALA COASTLINE
P.O. BOX 76, HAWI HAWAII 96719 PH/FAX 889-5553
July 2, 1997
Mr. James Arakaki-Chairman
Hawai i County Council
RE: Bill 96:
(Draft 2)
Mr Chairman & Council Members,
Thank you for this opportunity to testify. My name is Richard Boyd and I am
a resident of Hawi. I am Co-chair of Hui Lihikai and as such am familiar with the
site of this project and of the chronology of this project as well.
A number of concerns about this project have been raised by others ie: view
plains, pollution of shoreline habitats, legality of zoning, potable water, what are the
covenants and conditions for this project, if any, going to be, and many others. I will
address only two concerns. Opposition to any up zoning or development until a
firm plan is in place that will protect the basic open and scenic values of this unique
resource. Secondly the coastal trail.
The State Legislature and earlier County Councils have passed resolutions in
support of preserving the North Kohala Coast coast as is. In order to give any
credence to these wishes a plan must be in place that will guarantee it's
preservation. This plan must be statute.
Next is the Coastal Trail. Last week the County Planning Commission visited
the site. I walked the coastal section with Rodney Oshiro, chief of the big island
DLNR's Na Ala Hele. Na Ala Hele is the section of DLNR charged with maintaining
the trail systems. After doing so we made the following observations and a
suggestion:
1. It will be very difficult if not impossible to build a safe shore line trail if a strict
high tide/ beginning of vegetation guideline is observed. The terrain in some
locations is extremely steep and hazardous. The developers will need to be flexible
in their interpretation of the shoreline certification. In many cases even 10 feet will
not allow for safe passage.
2. As a possible solution, we suggest that if the developer is sincere in wanting to
keep lateral access available to the public, that they could sit down with Mr. Oshiro
and his staff and work out a plan for a reasonable and safe trail configuration.
The Big Island is on the brink of becoming a part of the National Trail
System. Let's be sure that when hikers get to Kawaihae, they don't have go up and
then along Akoni Pule Highway, past Kohala Ranch, before they can return to the
coastal trail.
I ask you to defer this project until such time that mitigation on at least some
of these concerns can be achieved.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Richard Boyd ~I~~])~~~//JJ~)
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