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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0921.000 2012-2014 r.OF N'M!+,� , Walter K.M.Lau \I�<o� Managing Director William P.Kenoi +: �.. :. Mayor _-- �.;' Randall M.Kurohara •+f:� r:.;,,ti 4: Deputy Managing Director County of Hawaii Office of the Mayor eV 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 a= CI C7 KONA: 74-5044 Me Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg.C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 c_ - 0 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 = •---1 Cr, t --` . . . " ∎--` TRANSMITTAL LETTER , 1,rri TO: Council Chairman J. Yoshimoto DATE: May 30, 2014 19 D and Members of the County Council Iv 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402 Hilo HI 96720 FR: Wally Lau, Managing Director RE: Game Management Advisory Commission(GMAC)Annual Report ENCLOSED ITEM(s) GMAC Annual report(9 sets) by Chairperson Tony Sylvester TRANSMITTED FOR: [X] Your information/files [ ] Your approval [ ] Your signature &return [ ] Your review&comments [ ] Your signature &forwarding [ ] See remarks below [ ] As you requested [ ] Filing&return (envelope enclosed) REMARKS: Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to call Barbara Kossow, GMAC secretary at 323-4444. Thank you for your kokua. Wally 0 Comm. No. 91 Ref.To: es County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Ref. Date, JU 4 To: Hawaii County Council, Chair J.Yoshimoto and Council members From: Tony Sylvester, Chairperson-Game Management Advisory Commission (GMAC) 7=1 c) .� on L.-CD Date: May 19, 2014 `— Subject: Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission-Annual report _LI-- Background: r" In 2012, concerns and issues related to sustainable food resources and access to them led to a char _- amendment proposal by the Hawaii County Council. It proposed that the county establish a game management advisory commission.The purpose of the commission would be ". . . to advise County, State and Federal agencies on matters related to the preservation of subsistence hunting and fishing, protection of traditional and cultural gathering rights, and the taking and conservation of aquatic life and wildlife . . ." The electorate agreed that such a commission should be established. Almost 60 percent (58.6%or 37,380 voters) agreed that such a commission should be enabled. In early 2013, Mayor Kenoi nominated the commission members and following council confirmation, the commission was seated. Since April of 2013 your GMAC has been organizing itself, learning to work within the legal framework of county government, becoming more familiar with the natural resource agencies in the state, federal and international venues, and building its capacity in the world of natural resource management and conservation.This report will present to the council a description of our findings and actions. Description: Section I State DLNR Some of our primary activities for FY 2013-2014 were subject to us better understanding "The Rain Follows the Forest" watershed protection plan and identifying the impacts that this initiative will have on our sustainable wild food resources.To improve our knowledge and provide more accurate, concise and factual data on said impacts and the communities that rely on them, A)We requested the presence of DLNR Chairman William Aila to attend one of our meetings to discuss the following: • The Hawaii State Game Management Plan; • The Pu'u Wa'awa'a and Pu'u Anahulu Habitat Conservation Plan(s); • The Dollar contribution made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to DLNR programs, and the percentage this represents in the DLNR budget; and • Chair Aila's thoughts as to the impact(s) of Priority 1 and 2 of the State's Watershed Protection Plan on sustainable hunting and fishing, as well as protection of traditional cultural gathering rights. B)We requested the presence of DLNR/DOFAW Administrator Lisa Hadway to attend our meeting and discussed in more detail how our sustainable wild food resources will be impacted by the fencing and eradication of 480,000 acres within Hawaii County. C)To better address access to our public lands, we made a request for Jordan Jokiel, DLNR's Access and Acquisitions coordinator to speak to the commission about their ability to improve access to our public lands. DLNR's Response: A) DLNR Chair Aila stated that if they had the money they would fence and eradicate all our forested lands within our county.They will not implement a Game Management Plan and USF&W contributes up to 20%of their budget. B) DLNR/DOFAW Administrator Lisa Hadway stated that they will do whatever they can to accommodate the hunters in the initial phases but all ungulates shall be removed as fencing units are completed. C) DLNR's Access and Acquisitions coordinator got the ball rolling on several key access areas but the position was soon cut from DLNR's budget and all potential projects fell through. Section II State Legislative work Prior to the 2014 Legislative session Commissioner Willie-Joe Camara and Chairperson Tony Sylvester meet with various House Representatives to discuss bills of interest and benefit to the hunting community. Representative Cindy Evans took the lead and sponsored five bills in a "Hunter package" of which we got support on HB1902 from twenty three House legislatures, Mayor Billy Kenoi, Councilmen Fresh Onishi, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, National Rifle Association, Hawaii Rifle Association, Hawaii Hunting Association, Hawaii Sportsmen Alliance, Huikuahiwi, and over a hundred individuals. GMAC Chair Tony Sylvester and Vic Chair Tom Lodge attended three separate hearings to help the hunter bills move through committee in the House and Senate. HB1901 HD2 passed the House, was not heard in the Senate. Bill died. HB1902 SD2 passed House and Senate, failed to secure funding in House and Senate conference committee. HB1903 HD1 passed. Act 012 GOV Msg. No. 1112 r HB1905 HD1 died in House JUD. HB1907 passed the House, was not heard in Senate. Bill died. Section III Guest speakers at GMAC meetings 1) Glennon Gingo of"On Target Inc", with an update on the proposed shooting range. 2) Mike Robinson representing DHHL with an update on DHHL's proposed game management pilot project on their Pu'u Huluhulu parcel on the slopes of Mauna Kea. 3)Teresa Nakama Big Island Fishers Council with information on the Ala Kahakai trail system. Section IV Other activities Several commissioners attended numerous meetings around the Island dealing with land and aquatic issues. Attendance at other State Councils and Commissions to gain a better understanding of the issues facing our Island residents was paramount. Changes to HAR Chapter 124, prompted GMAC to submit verbal and written testimony to the BLNR in opposition to specific changes that will impose criminal charges to anyone that transports or releases wildlife in the State. Section V Sportsmen's Caucus Commissioners Willie-Joe Camara and Mark Bartell escorted House Representative Cindy Evans to the Annual Sportsman-Legislator Summit at the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses held in Illinois. The purpose of this annual meeting is to exchange information and interaction between the individual caucuses with the intent to create a State Caucus here in Hawaii. A State Caucus can foster interaction between and among legislators, sportsmen's groups, industry partners, state fish and wildlife agencies and the media. Summary: As members of our natural resource "user and harvester" communities we take seriously our responsibility to be attentive, respectful, caring, and wise stewards of our land and water resources. It is for our communities that we commit our efforts. District 1 Willie-Joe Camara District 2 Dwayne D. "Ike" Yoshina District 3 Anthony H. "Tony" Sylvester, II District 4 Paul E. Bueltmann District 5 Tom H. Lodge District 6 Kenneth "Kalani" DeCoito District 7 Vacant District 8 Mark C. Bartell District 9 Vacant