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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0258.012 2008-2010 Preserving the Kohala Coast Malama Kohala Kahakai April 20, 2009 Re: Please Support Resolution 106 Aloha, County Council, • Pao'o and Kaiholena have the most numerous intact, pre-contact archeological and cultural sites in the State. Preserving these lands will assist with preserving the longest stretch of coastal open space in the State accessible by a road. • The landowners are willing to sell these parcels. See the attached letters. • The North Kohala Community Development Plan identifies these parcels for preservation. See attachment • The Open Space Commission has prioritized these parcels for purchase. See attachment • The North Kohala Community has been working for 40+ years to preserve these lands. See attachment. • The parcels are threatened by development. The community barely saved Pao'o from development last year, otherwise there would be a luxury vacation mansion on top of a burial complex, right next to a heiau. The community does not have the time and resources to do that again. Kaiholena is for sale and listed on the MLS, has two wells sunk, paved access ways to the highway, and the original parcel has been subdivided into six TMKs. • Zoning does not protect these lands from development. Most of Kaiholena is Ag-5 land and a great number of the cultural sites are in the ag zoned areas. Pao'o is Ag-5 and Conservation zoned land. The luxury vacation home that was proposed at Pao'o was approved by the County. Building is allowed in the Conservation zone. [n fact, HB 2606 and HB 26 were introduced this and last year at the State Legislature to downzone State lands on this coast because the AG and Conservation zoning were not considered protective enough to stop development. • No maintenance or County expenditures for management are needed by the County for these sites. Research verifies that this coastline is well taken care of by the descendents of the land and the community. We need to buy the parcels NOW to save them and then take the next ten years to develop a management plan. The North Kohala community does not want their coast to become a manicured park with parking lots. This area should remain natural, more of a wilderness experience - true open space. The County should not spend a dime on the land for maintenance or management ~S 19 J Comm. No. Ref. To: Ref. Data APR • References and data have been previously submitted that show that open space stabilizes local economies, reduces crime, and improves public health. • In 2001, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (representatives of all Civic Clubs) passed a resolution urging the Hawaii County Council to redesignate the North Kohala Coastline to Conservation/Open and recognized the long history of community support for preserving the Kohala Coast and that the North Kohala coastline is historically and culturally very important to all people of Hawaii, but particularly to Native Hawaiians. • Pao'o has a unique complex of canoe hale and a burial complex including a unique burial enclosure for a Kohala Ali'i with walls that are sacred and hold special meaning for Hawaiians. • Kaiholena has many sites including ahu, burial sites, platforms, enclosures, terraces, walls, compound structures, etc. • The community has been working for 40+ years to preserve this coastline including Kaiholena and Pao'o. • In 2006 30+ businesses and organizations sent a letter to Mayor Kim asking him to prioritize the North Kohala coast for protection. See page 8 for the letter to Mayor Kim. • Nearly 8,000 signatures have been collected calling for the preservation of the North Kohala Coast • In 1990 community members created a video featuring kupuna William "Papa" Akau and Clyde "Kindy" Sproat expressing the communities desire to preserve the Coast for future generations, and Thank you for your time and please support Resolution 106. Aloha, Fred Cachola Gail Byrne Malama Kohala Wahi Pana Malama Kohala Kahakai Paee 2 of8 Confirmadon that Landowners of Pao'o and Kaiholena Are Willing to Sell Jati_crx Ati r COHFN t~ .ayril 6. 2CIN To Wrom H:nay Cmns , cwtvo"Wai Ret: PaoGTfAK-S?-01:5 FdkWng Yom! Opaify i OM'M Iha#. B mutjaly ac%ptaW pme and tanm m be agreed, I am KNing ~:nl Paob (rEfabnrE~F_amns~vatlan pUrp~ses. iam aisa wi:m~ic cNaruss Qtia vdg~ 5+a Cnunty. d{{v t/ f Ja~han J Cdien Pave 3 of8 { i f i Mjtdl 2i" 2,90 T./:Iii ['1 41gU`.il; t 3 o t r.;._; xi£nf (?.:~•3a3xt >cwzgL F? K x i ft rIv i! OrQ4 rsp>rzx 1i1 s rc jOwrv z1laSUUf i<:'K v; r U ,u2 rayx.nex 31 i u.,} Ch%T, r C \3 31;w lc LLL' 1 i t t;r t < 2 t ~ ~ ~ + uu1ax1 n t ~ wr ~ni.4, _ ^e )t { i f {j 4 3£i iL~ jla din f]T- C. ~..1 3 a... t. ,f a s l , fi jtVANXi' r.nM i l.v-E1t t. lS ? ns hn F tren,-;-s i 4 1 3 L.. j i 1(( n t~ f t f i i i r i F k Pacific 65-4323 Kawalhaa Road • K3MU03, HXVaii 96743 • Offte: (8081 885-5557 • Fax: {808) 885- 805 Page 4 of8 From the North Kohala Community Development Plan, Page 31 Pao'o and Kaiholena identified as key purchases to preserve North Kohala Coast figure 6: Key Purchases to Preserve the North Kohala Coast j Key Purchases To Preserve North Kohala Coast m G:YtlWC&.KfC;YN+1TWwli2?•.AV.n.- s~ ~ t x l + rw F'. + x r + ~s - s l )r r" 3 • ar: 1 ~qs k.. Y tf .tin Roa,.. i rd11"lSnflflYtllJSe4 ~ - Y 2.nM4n 3. IM ~Jn 4. M nr ea v+o.;oanc pme HJ.w~v aar. rx as Anger ZAWMM Snnging GlS To The Community! Lt-!^+c.omamrn u+,cos. tc:vcsra+~--arn cal. iare)uNww Open Space Commission Reports Pao'o and Kaiholena have been on all three Open Space reports (2006, 2007, and 2008). Pao'o was ranked #1 for purchase by the County in 2007 and #2 in 2008 and Kaiholena was prioritized for purchase in the 2007. 40+ year History - Preserving the North Kohala Coast Preserving the North Kohala Coast has over a 40 year documented history of community support for and work to preserve this incredible coastline in open space and keep it free of any development makai of Akoni Pule Highway. The 40 years worth of petitions, government resolutions, letters, and plans are summarized below. For decades, four of Kohala's most beloved kupuna and community leaders have worked to preserve the Kohala Coastline in open space. Their names and signatures are on many of the documents, petitions, and letters summarized below. These kupuna are: Marie Solomon, William Akau, Armstrong Yamamoto, Clyde Sproat In 2009, HOUSE BILL 26 TO DOWNZONE STATE LANDS TO CONSERVATION TO ENSURE NO DEVELOPMENT OF STATE LANDS MAKAI OF AKONI PULE HIGHWAY between Kohala Ranch and Kukuipahu-Haena was re-introduced. In 2008, the HAWAII COUNTY'S PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION again identified Pao'o as a top priority for permanent protection by the County. In 2008, HOUSE BILL 2607 TO DOWNZONE STATE LANDS TO CONSERVATION TO ENSURE NO DEVELOPMENT OF STATE LANDS MAKAI OF AKONI PULE HIGHWAY between Kohala Ranch and Kukuipahu-Haena was introduced. Organizations from around the State have testified in support of HB-2607 including the University of Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs In 2007, the HAWAII COUNTY'S PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION identified the four North Kohala coastal parcels as the top four priorities for permanent protection by the County. These properties are: Pao'o, Kukuipahu-Haena, Mahukona, and Kaiholena. In 2006, the HAWAII COUNTY'S PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION identified the three private in-holding in Lapakahi as a high priority for purchase for permanent protection. The Commission also identified Mahukona, Kamano, Kou, Hihiu, and Kamona ahupua'a along the Kohala Coast as priorities for purchase In 2006, THIRTY (30) KOHALA BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS signed a letter requesting Mayor Kim to prioritize the North Kohala Coast for permanent protection In 2001, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 146, S.D. 1, passed both houses of the State Legislature, urging the retention and preservation of open space and view planes, historic sites, and traditional access along the coastline of the North Kohala District and again called for collaboration to discourage subdivision and building development In 2001, CHAIRPERSON of the STATE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Mr. Gilbert Coloma-Agaran, testified before the State Senate Committee of Water, Land, Energy and Environment, in support of SR 146 and pledged DLNR's support to coordinate with the residents of Kohala and County of Hawaii. His testimony also recognized the importance of the numerous natural, scenic, historic and cultural resources abounding in Kohala and its coast. Pace 6 of8 In 2001, the ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS (representatives of all Civic Clubs) passed a resolution urging the Hawaii County Council to redesignate the North Kohala Coastline to Conservation/Open. The resolution recognized a long history of community support for preserving the Kohala Coast and that the North Kohala coastline is historically and culturally very important to all people of Hawaii, but particularly to Native Hawaiians. In 2001, the KOHALA HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB, KOHALA FILIPINA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, KOHALA PUERTO RICAN SOCIAL CLUB, KOHALA HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION GROUP AND REVERED KUPUNA WILLIAM AKAU requested the Hawaii County Council to place a moratorium on all subdividing and development makai of Akoni Pule Highway from Kawaihae to Pololu Valley. In 2001 and then again in 2002, the KOHALA COMMUNITY REPRESENTED BY REVERED KUPUNA and community members signed and sent a letter to the County documenting Kohala's 30+ years of work to protect the Kohala Coast. This letter recognized that people from all over the Island (Ka'u, Hilo, Puna, Hamakua, Kona) still come to Kohala with their families to fish and camp. In 2002, the KOHALA HISTORIC AND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE submitted a petition with more than 1,000 signatures requesting the County protect and preserve the Kohala Coastline In 2002, the COUNTY OF HAWAII PLANNING COMMISSION with the agreement of the HAWAII COUNTY PLANNING DIRECTOR recognized the significance of the feeling of open space that is so important to North Kohala and incorporated SR 146 into the Hawaii County General Plan In 2000, the KOHALA HISTORIC AND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE collected well over six hundred signatures from Kohala residents and submitted them as part of a community response to the update of the Hawaii County Comprehensive Plan, urging the preservation and protection of the region from Kawaihae to Pololu Valley In 1994, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 116 called on the Department of Land and Natural Resources to consider public acquisition of the Kohala Coast prior to construction of any additional infrastructure In 1994, SENATE RESOLUTION 85 urged DNLR to consider Kohala Coastal acquisitions In 1993, HAWI TOWN CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS identified the "undeveloped coastline" as a defining element of the town character In 1992, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 211 called on the County and State to develop a plan to protect the open space and historic sites makai of Akoni Pule Highway and to promote non-exclusive public enjoyment of the area AND that the County and State should discourage any subdividing and building until such a plan is in place. In 1992, THE NORTHWEST HAWAII OPEN SPACE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN, calls for a comprehensive effort to protect valuable North Kohala coastal areas as open space for public use and enjoyment In 1991, THE GOVENOR CALLED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE NORTH KOHALA COAST IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS. In 1990, LOCAL RESIDENTS PRODUCED A VIDEO FEATURING CLYDE SPROAT AND WILLIAM AKAU (revered kupuna) documenting the community's desire to protect the Kohala Coast In 1990, the HAWAII STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY and the HAWAII COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY both adopted resolutions at their conventions calling for the State and County to develop and implement a plan to protect the open nature of the coast, preserve its valuable historic sites and promote nonexclusive Page 7 of8 enjoyment of it by residents and visitor alike." In 1990, DECISION - ACTION 901s, a report to Hawaii County, calls on the State and County to "quickly and clearly establish areas in the County that are never to be developed° and cites Kohala as an example where development should be discouraged In 1990 COASTLINE CONFERENCE - recommendations to form a special area designation for the coast such as scenic heritages or historic corridor In 1989, the HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE passed a resolution calling for protection of the coastline from development and calling for a survey of the coast. The resolution was passed unanimously In 1989, the WEST HAWAII REGIONAL PLAN says the State and County have already over-committed West Hawaii in resort and resort-residential development and shows no resort-residential development in North Kohala. The plan identifies the cliffs and valleys of Kohala Mountain and the panoramic coastal views from Kohala Mountain as highest on its list of "important scenic heritage resources" In 1988, almost 6,000 HAWAII ISLAND SIGNATURES WERE COLLECTED FOR A PETITION CALLING FOR A BUILDING MORATORIUM makai of Akoni Pule Highway. The signature were collected by the Citizens for the Protection of the North Kohala Coast and over half of the signatures were from Kohala In 1988, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 179 passed both houses of the State Legislature and called on governments to work together to ensure public view and open space along the coast and to discourage development makai of Akoni Pule Highway In 1988, DLNR commissioned the study "NORTH KOHALA: PERCEPTIONS OF A CHANGING COMMUNITY", which indicated the intent of past state administrations and DLNR staff to preserve and protect the North Kohala Coast. This study also stated that the North Kohala Coast has the most numerous and intact, pre-contact archeological and cultural sites in the state In 1983, THE NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN, adopted by resolution by the County Planning Commission, which implements the General Plan for the North Kohala District, recommended for OPEN classification the entire length of the North Kohala Coast In 1972, the DLNR study entitled "NORTH KOHALA, PRESERVATION OF ISTORICAL RESOURCES" indicated the intent of past state administrations and DLNR staff to preserve and protect the North Kohala Coast. Early 1970's newspaper articles discuss the need to preserve the coast In 1963, the KOHALA-HAMAKUA REGIONAL GENERAL PLAN stated that development and resorts should be concentrated in South Kohala and away from existing residential areas such as Hawi. No resort zoning was identified along the North Kohala Coast. Additionally, many important community organizations have continually offered their support to preserve the North Kohala Coast and have signed and supported the above petitions and letters and resolutions. These organizations include: • Kohala Kupuna Council • Kohala Filipina Association • Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club • Kohala Puerto Rican Club • Kohala Historic and Preservation Group • Long time local merchants Paee 8 of8