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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 1784.003 1984-1988 for the people ... _ ,r the ocean ••• STATE ADL SS: P.O. Box 1809 Kailua,HI.96734 COUNTY CHAPTER ADDRESSES: Kauai Maui Cc/o aaKuhi Hwy. PO•Box 1627 Kapaa, HI.96746 Lahaina,HI 96767 Oahu BIORTA(Hawaii) The Ocean Recreation Council of Hawaii P.O.Box 661 P.O.Box 5306 Kailua,HI 96734 Kailua-Kona,HI 96745 Council Chairman County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni St. Hilo, Hawaii 96720 7 November 1988 Dear Sir: Enclosed is a copy of our comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concerning the proposed marina for Kohana-Iki, North Kona. Since this letter, our members have decided to oppose the marina development altogether and take part in the decision making process whenever possible. We have also received preliminary results from a UR. Sea Grant survey showing that the Pine Trees area is the most popular dive site for the Kona dive charter industry. It represented about $1,000,000 in revenue in 1986. This economic impact, along with the numerous other concerns we have articulated in the Corps of Engineers letter must be addressed in the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the marina. I have also enclosed a copy of a letter sent to Governor John Waihee concerning the marina development in which we articulate the same concerns and express our hopes that the Kohana-Iki marina will be disapproved and the state will offer to work with Kona Beach Development Venture to expand upon Honokohau Harbor instead. Thank you for your attention in this matter. Respectfully yours, David A. Tarnas Big Island TORCH / 78 44 3 Comm. No. File Ref. To:. �..,. Ref. Date NOV i 0 198$ • for the people ... for the ocean ... STATE AD DRESS: 1020 Aoloa Pl.#404B Kailua,HI 96734 vri 1 i @{ COUNTY CHAPTER ADDRESSES: Kauai �S9 Maul �� I w r zI q�' a x P.O.Box 1043 P.O.Box 1627 rtrtf> ;A Kapaa,HI 96746 Lahaina,HI 96767 V" Oahu BIORTA(Hawaii) P.O.Box 661 P.O.Box 5306 The Ocean Recreation Council of Hawaii Kailua,III 96734 Kailua-Kona,HI 96745 District Engineer (PODCO-O) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Building 230 Ft. Shafter, HI 96858 9 October 19888 Dear Sir: We are writing to express our concerns about the permit request for constructing a 180-slip marina at:I ohana-iki, North Kona, Hawaii as announced in Public Notice No. 2057. There are a number of issues we feel have riot been sufficiently addressed. We request that a public hearing be held in Kona to bring attention to these concerns. There are three main issues that require further attention; first is the impact on protected marine species through environmental degradation; second is the impact on commercial and-recreational diving, fishing, and other marine recreation in the area proposed for the channel and marina complex; third, is impact on marine water quality. The brief statement in the permit application on the impacts on endangered species is inadequate. In addition to the green sea turtle, a • threatened species, the hawksbill turtle, an endangered species, is also known to feed on the reef platform. Whether or not there is a nesting site near the proposed marina site, the feeding areas of these turtles would be irreparably altered by the destruction of the reef in the process of dredging for the entrance channel and marina. Increased boat traffic could also harass any turtles thereby forcing them away from their customary feeding and resting areas. These impacts must be investigated thoroughly to determine if any provisions of the Endangered Species Act are being violated. • • Humpback whales frequent the offshore waters of the project area. These whales are also known to venture nearshore to rest during calving and nursing. The construction of the entrance channel and marina and the • increased boat traffic in the area could result in harassment of these whales. This possibility of violating provisions of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act must be investigated further through • consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service and local whale researchers. The area for the proposed marina is heavily used by commercial SCUBA dive charters throughout the year. Impact on these commercial operations could be considerable through direct destruction of the reef area, cumulative damage to nearby reefs through siltation, and reduction in aesthetic quality of the site because of increased boat traffic in the area. This impact is not sufficiently addressed in the permit request.. We are currently analyzing data on user days for the area to determine the extent of economic impact on the Kona dive charter industry. In addition to commercial operations, this area is also used by recreational divers. This impact should also be considered. Other marine recreation in the area that could be detrimentally affected by the marina development include shore fishing for papio and ulua: There has been cases in Hawaii where disturbing the substrate in a nearshore marine environment has increased the incidence of ciqu.atera. poisoning of the fauna. This t1:'ou.ld be very detrimental to the fisheries in the area. These economic impacts should be weighed against any foreseeable economic benefit of the marina development. Impacts on marine water quality also need to be addressed. Siltation of nearby coral reefs during and after construction must be considered. The potential for ciqu.atera. poisoning must be addressed. The increased quantities of fuel oil, vessel discharges, and any effluent from marina operations could detrimentally impact the areas resources and water quality. The surface water intake pipes for the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii and the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park are located about a mile north of the proposed site. Any impact of Water quality on these commercial and research operations must be considered. We understand that Kona needs more `'i ; for small boats. We suggest expanding Honokohau Harbor, possibly in the area south of the existing harbor. Perhaps a land swap or other mechanism could be devised so that the developers of the Kohana-iki marina would invest in the Honokohau expansion and operate it as a commercial marina. This would leave the Kohana-iki coastal area intact for the continued use by turtles, humpback whales, and the commercial and recreational marine user groups. . We appreciate your attention to then, :()ric erns and request a reply addressing them. We look forward to the announcement of a public hearing in Korea on this permit request. 'm=erely, A. Tarnas 1 Bland TORCH cc. Mr. Ernest Kosaka, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Mr. Harold E. Witham, National Marine 1 _ i s Service Mr. Ian Birnie, State Department of Transportation, Harbors Division . Mr. Ray Tabata, University of Hawaii Sea Grant Mr. Terry O'Halloran, State TORCH • for the people ... for the ocean ... STATE ADDRESS: Y P.O.Box 1809 Kailua, HI.96734 COUNTY CHAPTER ADDRESSES: Kauai Maui TaRCHc/o 4-1378 Kuhio Hwy. P.O.Box HI 9 Ka HI.96746 Lahatna,HI 96767 Oahu u BIORTA(Hawaii) P.O.Box 661 P.O.Box 5306 The Ocean Recreation Council of Hawaii Kailua,HI 96734 Kailua-Kona,HI 96745 Hon. John Waihee Office of the Governor Executive Chambers State Capitol Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 7 November 1988 Dear Sir: We are writing to express our concerns about a proposal to construct a 180-slip marina at Kohana-Iki, North Kona, Hawaii. The developer, Kona Beach Development Venture, has applied for a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is currently under review. We are opposed to the construction of this marina for a number of reasons, both economic and environmental. However, we are very aware of the dire need for more small boat moorings in West Hawaii. Therefore, we would like to see the developer enter into a public-private venture with the state to expand Honokohau Small Boat Harbor with its condominiums, hotel, and retail space it has currently planned for Kohana-Iki. We have written to the Corps of Engineers about our concerns and have requested a public hearing in Kona. The three main issues articulated in that letter are: the impact on commercial and recreational diving, fishing, and other marine recreation in the area proposed for the channel and marina complex, the impact on protected marine species through environmental degradation, and the impact on marine water quality. The Pine Trees area, as the proposed resort and marina site is locally called, is the most popular dive site for the Kona dive charter industry, according to a recent U.H. Sea Grant survey. It represented about $1,000,000 in revenue in 1986. The industry continues to grow, as does the value of this site. The waters are also frequently used by sport divers,and fishermen. For this reason, it has been designated a voluntary marine protected area by a negotiated agreement between the tropical fish collectors and divers. Tropical fish collecting is banned from the area. Building a marina and entrance channel could result in considerable impact on these commercial and recreational activities through direct destruction of the reef area, cumulative damage to nearby reefs through siltation, and reduction in the safety and aesthetic quality of the site because of increased boat traffic in the area. Two species of sea turtles are found in this area. The Hawaiian green s4 a. turtle, a threatened species, frequents the area to feed. The hawksbill turtle, an endangered species, has also been sighted there. The feeding areas these turtles would be irreparably altered by the destruciton of the reef ii_ the process of dredging for the entrance channel and marina. Increased boat traffic could also harass any turtles thereby forcing them away from their customary feeding and resting areas. Humpback whales, an endangered species, are also known to rest in these nearshore waters. The a marina would harass these whales in the same way. Impacts on marine water quality also reed to be considered. Siltation of nearby coral reefs during and after construction could cause considerable d:Irriage to the reefs. The potential of ciguatera poisoning of the marine life caused by the dredging is unknovan. The increased quantities of fuel oil, vessel discharges, any effluent from marina operations, and increased runoff caused by the marina itself, could detrimentally impact the area's resources and water quality. The surface water intake pipes for the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii and the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park are 1f-%ated within a mile north of the proposed site. Any impact of water q uality on these commercial and research operations must be considered. For these reasons, we don't want a marina built at Kohana-Iki. Because Kona desperately needs more small boat slips, we would like to see Honokohau expanded. This expansion is already in the DOT long-range plan, but other projects have priority in the current budget. Discussions with DOT- Harbors Division officials have convinced us this is a very opportune time for a private developer to come in and.expand Honokohau and build a surrounding commercial complex. This plan fits into a larger plan for the area south of Honokohau as shown on the attached map. A municipal golf course, a well landscaped and unobtrusive sewage treatment facility, coastal parkways, and sports facilities would all complement a marina-resort. operation. We urge you and-the State Planning Office to consider this plan carefully. We hope you will oppose the Koriana-Iki marina plan and instead offer to work with the developer, through a land swap or other mechanism, to expand Honokohau Small Boat Harbor. This would protect the most popular dive site on the Kona coast, avoid major harassment of protected marine species, provide much-needed small boat moorings in Kona, offer the developer a good investment, and support part of a popular and cohesive plan for the area south of the harbor. Respectfully yours, 1 nA David A. Tarnas Big Island TORCH