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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0557.004 2008-2010 bra 1.5(1- / LOW. 1,551 United States Department of the IntQpor CA= NATIONAL PARK SERVICE C7 c"~ C- 1 Knioko-Ronokohau National Historical Park Z 73-4786 Kamlani St., Suite 14 N IN n FLY REFER To: Kailua-Kona. HI %740 • " ~ CD October 20, 2009 HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL X 6`T PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE,- Superintendent Geraldine K. Bell. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park Regarding the Proposed Amendment to the County of Hawaii General Plan Land Use Faifern Allocation Guide Map 11. Aloha Mr. Chairman and Council Members: Thank you for this opportunity to provide the comments of the National Park Service to you today. I'rm Gcri Bell the Superintendent of Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park. The National Park's southern boundary adjoins the lands included in the proposed amendment to Map 11, including 15 and a half acres of State lands in the Kealakehe ahupua'a. Kaloko- Honokohau is one of 391 areas in the National Park System established by the CnnEress of the United States for its nationally significant cultural and natural resources. The National Park Service is strongly supportive of the proposed amendment to change the land use designation from "Urban Pxpansion" to "Open", especially those IandS immediately adjacent to the National Park boundary. I previously submitted a detailed letter to the Planning Director in support of this amendment, and testified before the windward and leeward Planning Commissions. The National Park Service and the County of Hawaii share a commitment to care for and preserve our cultural and natural resources, and values for the people of Hawaii and the United States. Kaloko-Honokohau was created in 1978, through the efforts of this community, to preserve, interpret, and perpetuate traditional Hawaiian activities and culture. In particular, the community was concerned that this place of great significanco 1u Hawaiians would be lost to urban development. These concerned citizens prevailed in 1978, but even today the imminent threat to the Park's resources from urban development continues. Any large-scale development project on lands adjacent to the National Park will siguif ciuitly impact its cultural landscape, traditional and customary practices by native Hawaiians in the Park, and cultural and natural resources. Comm. No. S s T, Ref. To: ' / ' Ref. Date OCT 2 0 2009 7n 7C1NJ nr1V nnll.r 7f" rn •VT rnn7 /n7 InT In 1974 the Hono-kohau Study Advisory Commisswu i'ccuinmended in their report to Congress, `The Spirit of Ka-loko Hono-kohau," that the Honokohau Settlement National Historical Landmark (NHL; designated in 1962) and its adjacent waters be preserved for the benefit of the Huwuiiau people and the nation as part of the National Park System. Even at that time, the early 1970's, in their recommendations to Congress, the Advisory Commission was concerned about future land use adjacent to the National Park. They stated: "Furthermore, since moat of the land in the ahupuaa of Ke-ula-kehe is owned by the state, its use will have direct impact on Ka-loko, Hono-kohau. Finally, lands that are designated or owned by the state in the area should be given special zoning limiting their uses to activities compatible to a cultural park. The County General Plan and zoning ordinances of the area should limit the uses of the lands immediately surrounding Ka-loko, Hono-ko-hau to compatible activities, Lands further mauka should be restricted in density in order to preserve the integrity of the park and protect its water resources." (p.54) The Advisory Commission report and the 1994 General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the Park point out that Kaloko-Honokohau is a small and fragile portion of the larger environment that has influenced its history, and that continues to affect it today. The enabling legislation of the National Park (16 USC 1 53964 et set,.) states that the Park shall be administered generally in accordance with the guidelines provided in the 1974 Congrossional report, and that management "shall to the maximum extent feasible utilize the traditional Native Hawaiian ahupuaa concept of land and water mansgement. The Commission reminds us: "Each ahupua'a developed around a recognition that all of its elements were interdependent. What affected the mauka regions, affected the mak4 What affected the neighboring ahupu'a affected it. What affected the land affected the fishponds and the sea. What affected the water cycle affected the total environment. This is the way it was and is at Ka loko, Hono-ko-hau" (p. 51) The National Park Service is seriously concerned that urban development projects on lands adjacent to the National Park and National Historic Landmark, especially the cumulative effects 2 Q ~rlki 1 f~rlyl QQ) br,75:' PM _ b T G.QQ7 1Q7 /QT of these projects, will result in long term degradation of the National Park, threaten the integrity of the Honokohau Settlement NHL, and further diminish the rapidly disappearing Huwuiiau cultural landscape. Large-scale urban development adjacent to the National Park will fundamentally alter the water, air, sounds, sights, and traditional and customary practices by nativo Huwaiiwts in the Park and the NIIL. Water quality and quantity will be altered forever by fresh and brackish groundwater withdrawals, and non-point source pollution inputs; the air will be filled with construction dust, and the smells of cars and restaurants; the natural sounds in the Park will be impacted by heavy machinery, automobiles, and the incessant hum of air conditioning. Development on these lands will be visible day and night from the National Parts, forever degrading Park cultural landscape and vistas. The urban expansion foreseen by the Advisory Commission 35 years ago is now underway. This Proposed Amendment of the General plan provides a rare opportunity for outright protection and preservation of the last remaining undeveloped coastal lands and resources around the Park to the benefit of all citizens of Hawaii and the United States. As you are well aware, commitment of coastal lands for development has irreversible and far reaching consequences. The National Park Service greatly appreciates your careful consideration of zoning of these sensitive and fragile lands. The National Park Service strongly supports the Proposed Amendment, and we respectfully urge the County of Hawaii to take a further step and increase the proposed area of "Openv, designation in the General plan to more closely reflect the m e n t zoning of "Open" for makai coastal lands. Preservation of coastal open spaca will bandit the quality of life in the Kona community, Native Hawaiian values and traditional and customary practices, and nationally significant natural and cultural resources. Mahalo for this opportunity to speak to you on this izupwtaut issue. Geraldine K. Bell Superintendent DATED. 20 October 2009, Kailua Vona, HI 3