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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0476.002 2004-2006 To: Members of the Hawaii County Council From: Bruce A. Larson Re: Resolution No. 186-OS Date: November 8, 2005 The following documents are presented as a supplement to the testimony I will provide at the hearing scheduled November 9, 2005 on Resolution 1$6 05 regarding the proposed sale of Kilikina Street Property, TMK No. (3)~2- 3-030:04. My wife, Patricia Larson, and I live on at 1177 Kaeokulani Place in the Ainako Terrace subdivision. We have gone door-to-door in the Kilikina, Lahaina, and Ekaha Street neighborhoods. None of the neighbors we contacted support the County's proposed action to dispose of its property. A petition signed by our neighbors opposing the County's proposed action is included. The signatures were gathered this past weekend. The area proposed for disposal has been known for several years as the "Kaumana Springs Wilderness Park". Maps showing the property with this designation are included. The property has not been disturbed since at least 1917; almost 90 years. The County has historically considered the property as watershed. Persons who purchased homes in surrounding neighborhoods believed that the land would never be developed. At least one past archeological study (copy attached) determined that there were significant prehistoric structures on the property. The property is also home to native plants and birds. The County's proposal is being made on relatively short notice. The proposal was made on October 5, 2005 and received relatively little public attention. The County is of the opinion that it does not need to consider the environmental impact of its proposal. No environmental assessment is planned. The most logical purchaser of the County's property would be a developer. As will be shown during my presentation, development of the County's land - will lead to the development of adjoining private properties. This will completely and adversely affect the Ainako area. Comm. No. y 7 Ref. To.~+enwert Ref. Date ~ 1 PETTTION The following persons aze opposed to Resolution 186 OS regazding the sale, exchange, or other disposition of County land located neaz Kilikina Street and identified as TMK No. (3)2-3-030:004: Name: ..pp Address: 0 ~Lcva u-- l ~'1 l k/AIEn icy ~ ~ ~ f C. 4~__ 1186 X11. r, i~ K(~~~4 Ste' i ~ K~ ~i ~ ~ ~/d , r~ ~ ~5~/ ~~a /~l I~6~ ~ Pl~~. ~~~53 PL (~,G(1 PETITION The following persons aze opposed to Resolntion 186 OS regarding the sale, exchange, or other disposition of County land located neaz Kilikina Street and identified as TMK No. (3)2-3-030:004: Name: Address: /'~3~ rte` n~.~~/Ji~i~y~ /~3G ~-c-Y.c-s~tcR. ~ ~c (L~h Jl- LS~Z t~,cCt1«u+ ~iw~',,~I6,Gl~.fil,O,t'Lyttti.r ~ ~I'g xf li kil~OG(~Y1.tt T `JA,t~St>~ 152 ~ G ki n a.. S~ . 55`x" j~~ L r kt N R ,4T-. ~ r ~v K~(.(~v~a ~dln~ lira ~ Irr~& .1.e~` /~ri'u.~r~irc. ~~r t hl L o,~ti i~Y~l,~~.~,+..FS~.~ fir- ~ L, ,kLat r n ~ S~ ~~nP~n~r3 ~~~h Q~,tf+vw C!y I ~ f ~d-ti a: i vt t r5~ PETITION The following persons aze opposed to Resolution 186 OS regazding the sale, exchange, or other disposition of County land located near Kilikina Street and identified as TMK No. (3)2-3-030:004: Name: Address: ` ~axoYt G ~i5~ors IZ I L~.~a~ n.n vl/~il ~ Mti~ ie gig 4~~N A t~ Rig ~ to Y.a.l~ ~,r-e ~ ~l'l~.te„ e.4~Y.1 i~gs ~kirta S~ ~tl+. ~ ~ ~ 26`13b ~ ~ ! ~L~~~ ~7"~.~y~ S~i¢rcn-l ~ r3 ~-f~o Ki ~ f !'~f K~q s ~ a tom., id ~~z ~ f ~a l~ N-iraY~ rr,a ~ ~ 6 d Lei -1-~ ~ ha h ~ ha `P ~ a lg5 Lahl~r2~ 57r T /'S3 - i~~-~ h4).o~..r.~~ - ~b 4xe., o~ ~cw~e_ gyp. (So..,S ~.p~1 /1 PETITION The following persons are opposed to Resolution 186 OS regarding the sale, exchange, or other disposition of County land located near Kilikina Street and identified as TMK No. (3)2-3-030:004: Name: Address: ~ ! ~ /A , ~P1~1/~ H1/2~c, hdlg I 115U ~ L17b ~INAfGnA AVt? ~ ~1 ~r~~-. J Leg , v~ c. hl +C~ . G.r ~nd)z~ r~86 `~1'~~ k~~ti S~"' fb ~u ~CI~Jf~- ST ~ ro c ~ s~~ t 4 y4, ~ aL ~ J v N~ ~ ~ ~ ~ _ ~ ^ Y ~ ~ ~ ~T ' A JV~~\ x. S 1,~ oC ~J 1n~ O v` v a u o ~ s - 'v`~ _ ~~•i P . o~ ~ . N ~ O H ~ ~ O C h 1 `~F~ d '6~ or . ~x~ o 0 O i e M O i0 M ~ !V C ~ 7. Bus Terminal ' _ ~r , ~ P~ - DOLP~. 8. U. H. Research b Techn°logy Park ~ r _ e y BA~ r 'AMAUULU PUP ~ ~ CAMP -Par . ~ A St Mc Z1P C~ Wes, ' , 9~i7~® ~'~f. _ r~ c~ ; - ~~y~S ~ ~ a. _ , fidils - ~c ~ ~ w ' r r ~ ~ a 4.~,e,5` .,.~*w~' ~ Pik „a r' ! ' ~^cx i & r~ ~ ^ + x ~ +',t RV ~ , Rr ,riy ~n ~ a ~ r ~.,r i ';W y~ ' 4 i ~ernexs oun `gym r „ ~ ~ ~av ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ; , ~ ~'n k' `r''~;o Fyn ~ . _ 1181$ f \i~uttn .,,,[hp , ~,1C halm / ~9'~~ _ ~ park pu H l'~~0 ~ ~ ~s~ St . ~ a ~c ~ ~3~ s ,p ~ F:` is 200 ~ .$A " ~ ~ ~ a' St R h I- ~ t i (Y _ .~Y VV i ~ ~ Liniversity 4a~~~ x ~ Y ~~+u ~r 8Y 'r F r ~ KRA71~a71D' - ~ ` ~ ~ & Saddle Rd ~ ~7i7airnaKeaj~ i~~ti1"~ ~ ` 06serontmy ~ ~ p .g `s Via 4-Wha! Ihitt)'' ~ OU 4~~ n Nr'Q '~T ~ ' , S ~ A 0 C U E F G H . eEE PAG F.46 8 SFE PACE 65 tf: NOT TO SCALE o I ~ AKOLEA RD 'ssz ~ ~ yOr~P loos WAy m 9 ~ c PEEPEE m ass m ( f 2 Iaa3 PFEPEE FALLS WAILUKU RIVER PARK BOILEJG POTS n loo ] to 3 AINAKO AVE ~ ~ ~ MOKU PL noa F Z ~~p. p~'~ PfJ W ~t ua asa ~ e~ pv qlA 1 P( ,AJ 1 OJS Fp ~ M ~f' ~IHaWN eq ~ P( PK'~OKUIgNt PIIKEA 650 ~ ~ tZ~B . f $ pY W Q WA6AU aas e P _Z suvA scnooL e f O~~ `a ~ ,yam,. WAIOU m i "'~'U A-- [E[ KAUMANA ttsa a. 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F G 11 o ~ v~ m c~ c O ~o om oo ~ N (+-6 T ~ ~ ~ dam' M O C L L coo ~a~'° o= , r ~ c ~ o o ~ o '6 CC m ci Y (~6 to O N M ~ N m~ ao~ t~ ~ a~ rn~ 3 .a ~ o c v O~ Q C C U ~ N N E E O N O U E ~ O N ~ O r `w r-+ U ~ to C N - U C (0 = ~ (a o ~ o v = ° ~ o Nv a~~°vj in Nw- C O N ~ tN6 Vl O O a.L C N U O~ Q C O O Q N U O 7 to (w6 +O' t6 4.^ N N ~ v a C N O N C fA ~ X O ~ U ~ ~ (6 ~ ~ - N N N v ~ LO L ~ O C N tq N 3 0 ~ C U ~ ~ _ = C ~ ~ ~ a. c ~ m vi ..a N ~ 3 t6 C N A (6 M 7 G N'O QOM w l6 .fl U V O ON ~ pN.~ 33 S] v- C O O ~ V ~Ql O O 0 7 ~ U •Q UAL O U O O O U ~ y N r1 Q V O~. U O O ~ 'O-' ~ Qbn t~6 C ~ ~ O.a.C dN~ h N l0 ,M to O Q N O O N ~t~ Q L L Q ~ Q~ O 3 ~ 0' Il.. N ~ F- Q 7 ~ 7 .L.+ ~ V O N ~ ~ Q ro V T -4.-~ t ' b1s. 080478 S~~ N ~'hl ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY OF PROPOSED KAUMANA SPRINGS WILDERNESS PARK HILO, ISLAND OF HAWAII by Aki Sinoto Department of Anthropology Bernice P. Bishop Musuem Prepared for Division of Parks and Recreation County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii INTRODUCTION At the request of the County of Hawaii, Division of Parks and Recreation, staff of the Department of Anthropology, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, conducted an archaeological reconnaissance survey of the site of the proposed Kaumana Springs Wilderness Park. The area was surveyed on July 29, 1978, by Aki Sinoto and Eric Komori. A reconnaissance-level survey permits an in-the-field assessment of exist- ing cultural resources and facilitates the formulation of recommendations for action to mitigate any adverse effects of proposed development within a speci- fied area. The project area comprises approximately 117 acres of undeveloped land in Kaumana, Hilo, Island of Hawaii. Located between Waianuenue Avenue, on the north, and Ainako Avenue, on the south, the area is bounded by sugarcane (Mauna Kea Sugar Co., Ltd.), residences, and undeveloped land (Fig. 1). Several small streams traverse the area, and low-lying portions are characterized by swamps and marshes (Fig. 2). More detailed background information and environmental data are given in the Environmental Assessment for Kaumana Springs Wilderness Park (Oct. 19, 1976) prepared by Walters, Kimura and Associates, Inc. for the County of Hawaii. Ms, osoa7s -2 SURVEY METHODS AND RESULTS The reconnaissance survey entailed: (1) walking systematic transects through the project area to locate any cultural resources; (2) approximate plotting of the sited areas on a map (Fig. 1) for future identification and location; ' (3) photographic recording of selected sites. The project area had been described previously as extensively altered by historic-period agricultural activities, and the presence of any cultural resources had been discussed: No archaeological or historical sites have been located in the . Kaumana Springs Wilderness Park area by the CDP [Iii to Community Development Plan]. The project site was formerly used for agriculture as evidenced by the furrowed land and rock mounds and walls, which were created when the land was cleared for cultivation. 'this use destroyed any possible archaeological or historical sites which might formerly have been in the area [Walters, Kimura and Associates 1976:9]. The current survey, however, revealed that much of the interior area is _ unaltered, and that some of the remains, such as walls and mounds, exhibit characteristics that are more typical of prehistoric construction than of his- „ toric construction. Six major clusters of sites were located (Fig. 1). Cluster 1. Near the western end of the survey area, adjacent to the swamp, are several disturbed terraces and small segments of stone alignments. , Cluster 2. Near the southwestern corner of the survey area are more rem- nants of terraces and intact portions of a stone-reinforced 'auuai {irrigation ditch). Cluster 3. Centrally located in the southern half of the survey area are several stone mounds and cairns (Fig. 3), a large elongate platform (Fig. 4), and a low stone wall that parallels the present fenceline along the southern boundary (included in the Preliminary Master Plan map, Jan. 1974, by George S. Walters and Assoc., Inc.). Cluster 4. Near the northern boundary of the survey area, immediately south of the existing residential lots, are several walls, Ms. 080478 -3- enclosures, terraces, and stone-reinforced stream banks. Cluster S. Centrally located in the survey area and NE of Cluster 3 are terraces, platforms, mounds, cairns, and 'autoai. Cluster 6. Near the northeastern corner of the survey area, adjacent to the Kaumana Springs aqueduct and pastureland, are several circular and oblong cairns (Fig. S) and a small, high-walled enclosure (Fig. 6). No portable artifacts were recovered during this survey. DISCUSSION , Although the clusters of sites appear as discrete, spatially isolated units, the sited areas are probably continuous and could be considered as components of a single extensive complex. The apparent discontinuity of sites as described in this report is primarily the result of the physical limitations imposed on the survey by dense vegetation cover. The false staghorn fern (IYicr+vxopteris Zinearis) and rrllelaiki (Sehtinus terebinthifolius Raddi), in particular, were often impene- trable and prevented continuous transects. Thus, more sites may be present within those areas that are densely vegetated (see Fig. 1). Also, since the past alteration of land is clearly evident in the peripheral areas, additional, also- . ciated sites may already have been destroyed. Most of the sites located exhibit construction that is characteristic of an aboriginal (prehistoric) Hawaiian agricultural complex. The 'aurxzi, terraces, rock mounds, cairns, and modified stream banks are common elements found in prehistoric-type agricultural areas, and have been documented from other areas in the Hawaiian Islands (Kirch 1975; Rosendahl 1976; Green 1969 6 70; Ladd 1972 F, 7 Further, the generally wet conditions, and the wild stands of wetland taro (Colo- casia eseuZenta) and 'ape (Alocasia macrorrhtiza) found in the area, suggest the gractice of irrigated cultivation in the Bast. Some of the other sites, especially the stone walls, appear to be historic cattle or boundary walls. The origin of the amorphous piles or mounds of stone is difficult to determine without further investigation; mounds of this type were produced by land clearing in both prehistoric and historic periods. Sweet potatoes were sometimes cultivated on mounds of earth and stone. Ms. 080478 _4_ A distinction must be made between the crude amorphous mounds and those that exhibit some structural form. The term "cairn" has been used in this report in , _ reference to the latter type. This type of structure was commonly used for boundary markers and burials in prehistoric times. In summary, the preliminary results of the survey indicate the presence • of a prehistoric-type agricultural complex in the interior portions of the pro- posed Kaumana Springs Wilderness Park, with some historic-period remains in the peripheral areas. RECOhA9ENDATI ONS Since the types of cultural resources present are fairly common and research potential is minimal, further investigation is not imperative. It is recommended that the archaeological remains be included in .the park for public interpretation, which seems compatible with the wilderness theme. Specific recommendations are enumerated below: (1) Accurate instrument location mapping of the sites and/or clear demarca- lion with colored flagging tape may be required prior to any clearing or reforestation activities to protect the existing sites. (2) As much of the clearing of vegetation and trails as possible should be done manually, without the use of heavy equipment. (3) Selective site clusters should be cleared and stabilized for public interpretation as examples of prehistoric activities in the area. (4) The cairns can be dismantled to determine contents and function before restoration. (5) Qualified supervision would be necessary during the stabilization and restoration activities to ensure authenticity. (6) If new botanical specimens are to be brought into the area, exotics should be kept to a minimum, with more emphasis on native Hawaiian species. The terraces could be replanted with taro. (7) At the time of major construction activities for permanent facilities, camping or picnicking areas, and parking lots, monitoring by qualified personnel may be necessary to assure proper recording of any subsurface cultural remains. • ~ Ms. osoa7B -s- There are very few public parks today in the State of Hawaii with an aboriginal or prehistoric Hawaiian theme. If the Kaumana Springs Wilderness Park • is realized, it will be an important and educational asset for Hilo, as well as for the whole State. RIiPERINCES Green, Roger C. (od.) 1969 Makatea Palley Historical Project: Interim Report No. 1. Pacific Mthropological Records 4. Dept. Mthropology, B. P. Bishop Mus. Honolulu. 1970 Makatea Palley Historical Project: Interim Report No. 2. Pacific Mthropological Records 10. Dept. Anthropology, B. P. Bishop Mus. Honolulu. Kirch, Patrick V.,-and Marion Kelly (eds.) 1975 Prehistory and Ecology in a Windruard Har,~aiian Valley: Halawa Valley, • Molokai. Pacific Mthropological Records 24. Dept. Mthropology, B. P. Bishop Mus. Honolulu. Ladd, Edmund J., and E. D. Yen (eds.) 1972 Makatea Valley Historical Project: Interim Report No. 3. Pacific Anthropological Records 18. Dept. Anthropology, B. P. Bishop Mus. Honolulu. Ladd, Edmund J. (ed.) 1973 Makatea Valley Historical Project: Interim Report No. 4. Pacific Anthropological Records 19. Dept. Anthropology, B. P. Bishop Mus. Honolulu. Rosendahl, Paul H. 1976 Archaeological Investigations in Upland Kaneohe. Departmental Report Series 76-1. Dept. Mthropology, B. P. Bishop Mus. Honolulu. Walters, Kimura and Associates, Inc. 1976 Environmental Assessment for Kaumana Springs Wilderness Park (Oct. 19, 1976). Prepared for the County of Hawaii. 1' l l~ \I~ ~Y i ~ ~ i ~ ~ /~I y~,I ~ p°Q~/~o^' ~ W ms. usi 1` ~ i ~ i .o x ° i V \ \ ~1 ~ I \ / iJ ' ~ _.~~y~ ~ 1, l~l~~ ~ J ~ ~ - ~ - _ ~ z Ill ~ ~ a ~ ~ .Q~ ~ it 1 r. ~ :I..._~,~\~~~~~~ - ~~~11„I( /1I~;~~- (lily:,-,, .4 - ' _ ~ ~I~ ~ ; ~ 11111 ~r~~ f,-- v - - - - - x _ J ~ ~ ~1, ~ - Ms. 080478 _7_ ti~ I Y . a Fig. 2. MARSHY AREA SE OF RESERVOIR. View from W. Mti. U$1>~178 _g_~ i r ' ~ i S _f _ ~ ~~`I `b.! t~~~ ~ . ~ ,T i S ?ry, ~ ~ ~ M ~ 'r ~7. w f ~ y ~ 1' / .s .r ~ , i`_ i h ~I a. View from E. :4. w; • r ,~}K tid 't+e~ ~ ~j,,~ 'r) ` s ~ _ b. View from N. Fig. 3. CIRCULAR STONE CAIRN WITH LARGE llPRIQiT SLAB, IN CLUSTER 3. Ms. U8U478 _g_ i~ , r ~ • 'r7 ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ . 1 ¦ K' ~ ~1_1i I ?I if'~ Y'l 1~,~a: ~ ~ . M`_ _ ~ a Fig. 4. LARGE ELONGATE PLATFORM IN CLUSTER 3. View from SW. ~..s'y,' ilk' yV~~ „ Y, ~ • f~ L 4 _ , G ' ..k !6' ..~y.. r.~. l . ~ ;a 9~ v 't r ~ ,'i i _ lM~, .r ' : 1 ~ r... ~ . ~ ~ a ~ ~ . ~ ~ . Fig. S. OBLONG STONE CAIRN IN CLUSTER 6. View from E. ' Ms. 080478 -10- M _ 'fi • t i ~ 1 r l}L ~c;~ ~a: i • a • , y Fig. 6. HIGH WALL OF SMALL ENCLOSURE IN CLUSTER 6. View from S.