HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 184 Draft 01 1994-1996COUNTY OF HAWAII • STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION N0. 1~ ~
A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAIL SYSTEMS IN PUNA
WHEREAS, a Recreational Policy of the General Plan of the County of Hawaii states "The
County in coordination with appropriate State agencies shall establish a program to inventory
ancient trails, cart roads and old government roads on the island"; and
WHEREAS, the district of Puna is woven with miles of trail systems identified with pre-contact
and eazly historic periods; and
WHEREAS, major traditional trails in Puna include (a) the Hawaiian coastal trail from Paradise
Park to the Hilo Airport, (b) the old Volcano Trail from Kurtistown to the 22-mile marker above
Glenwood, (c) trails from Hilo to Keaau and Pahoa and on to Kalapana near existing roadways,
(d) the Glenwood-Makaopuhi Trail, and (e) the trail from Pahoa following the rift towards
Kilauea through Kahauale'a; and
WHEREAS, early historic trails in Puna include old railroad easements (some of which are
physically intact) referred to as (a) Railroad Avenue from Hilo to Kapoho and (b) the Glenwood
line; and
WHEREAS, there is a growing recognition that these trail systems should be formally identified,
surveyed, preserved, managed and/or developed as an alternate transportation network; and
WHEREAS, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)-Division of Forestry
and Wildlife has identified portions of the coastal trail to be a 10-foot government right-of--way
and has subsequently petitioned the State Department of Accounting and General Services
(DAGS) to survey this alignment; and
WHEREAS, due to the State's budgetazy shortfall, the trail was only partially surveyed by
DAGS before receiving personnel cutbacks; and
WHEREAS, as part of its Puna coastal trail planning efforts, the Hilo Branch of the Division of
Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR) has submitted an application through the State DLNR for
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) funds to conduct an archaeological
reconnaissance survey and develop a historical management plan of the coastal trail segment;
and
WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is also studying the feasibility of
opening the coastal trail for public use; is studying the associated pressures and problems of
maintenance and preservation; and is seeking the participation of community groups to assist in
trail maintenance; and
WHEREAS, the Council acknowledges the inherent problems of adjacent and underlying
ownership, necessary acquisition, multiple and often competing uses, natural resource conflicts,
the fear of increased crime, decreased property values and liability, and funding priorities.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII that it commends and supports the efforts of the State Department of Land and Natural
Resources-Division of Forestry and Wildlife to identify and establish the alignment of the 10-
foot government right-of--way known as the'coastal trail" of Puna.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it requests Governor Benjamin Cayetano to direct the
allocation of personnel and funding towards the completion of the Puna coastal trail alignment
survey.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it wholeheartedly supports the ISTEA funding request by
the Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Forestry and Wildlife (Hilo) in order
to conduct an archaeological reconnaissance survey and to prepaze a management plan for the
Puna coastal trail.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it encourages the State to evaluate and prioritize the trail
systems in Puna for inclusion in the Na Ala Hele Hawaii Trail and Access System program and
that it work with the various public and private parties at creative resolution of conflicting
interests.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this
resolution to the Honorable Benjamin Cayetano, Mr. Mike Wilson--Chairman of the Board of
Land and Natural Resources, Rodney Oshiro--Trails and Access Specialist for the Department of
Land and Natural Resources, Senator Richazd Matsuura, State Senator Andrew Levin, State
House Representative Jerry Chang, State House Representative Eric Hamakawa, and State
House Representative Robert Herkes, and the Na Ala Hele Hawaii Island Advisory Council.
18th da of October ~ 1995.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii this Y
INTRODUCED BY:
KBA, BD, AS/CRK
OUNCILMEMBER CO CILMEMBER
~~~ ~~~~~
COUNCILMEMBER
ROLL CALL VOTE
COUNTY COUNCIL AYES NOES ABS EX
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii Arakaki X
Bonk-Abramson X
Childs X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the De Luna X
vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of Domingo X
October 18, 1995 psorio
the County of Hawaii on
Rath X
ATTEST: ~~/~, ~„ Ray X
//~~~~4i~~j~i~ i ,.fipU<i Smith - X
~LVV" 9 0 0 0
-54
Reference
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COUN'T'Y CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.