HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0893.001 2016-2018CQUNT'Y CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
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OFFICE OF 14AWAIJANAFFAIRS
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April 13, 2018
The Hawaii County Council
c/o Office of the County Clerk
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
HRD18-8511
Re: Letter of Support for the Protection of Waikapuna, County of Hawaii Public Access, Open
Space and Natural Resources Commission's No. 1 Ranked 2017 Project
Resolution to be heard by the Hawaii County Council.
Kahilipalinui and Kahilipali`iki Ahupua`a, Ka`u Moku, Hawaii Mokupuni
Tax Map Key: (3) 9-5-007:016
Aloha e Chair Poindexter, Vice Chair Eoff, and Councilmembers:
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is writing in strong support of the Ka `u community,
Ala Kahakai Trail Association, and the Trust for Public Land's efforts to purchase and protection
of the makai portions of Kahilipalinui and Kahilipali`iki Ahupua`a, including Waikapuna fishing
village in Ka`u, Hawaii Island, in partnership with the County of Hawaii and the State.
OHA is the constitutionally established body responsible for protecting and promoting the
rights of Native Hawaiians. Hawaii law mandates OHA to "[s]erve as the principle public agency
in the State of Hawai `i responsible for the performance, development, and coordination of
programs and activities relating to native Hawaiians and Hawaiians; ... and [t]o assess the policies
and practices of other -agencies impacting on native Hawaiians and Hawaiians, and conducting
advocacy efforts for native Hawaiians and Hawaiians." Hawaii Revised Statutes § 10-3.
As the principle state agency tasked with' serving Native Hawaiians, one of OHA's six
strategic priorities is Mo `omeheu (Culture), focusing on strengthening Native Hawaiian identity
through preservation, practice, and perpetuity of our culture. In the 2012 reorganization of OHA,
Mo`omeheu was elevated to a top priority of our agency. It is for this reason, that OHA writes
today in strong support of the preservation of Waikapuna.
Gomm Ng.
Ref. To:
Ref. ®ate BRAY Q
Chair Poindexter, Vice Chair Eoff, and Councilmembers
April 13, 2018
Page 2
The lands of Waikapuna contain innumerable cultural resources important to the
preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture. The ancient fishing village of Waikapuna
contains a cultural landscape imbued with ancestral features including heiau, habitation sites, and
the ancient coastal trail, which empowers our lahui to walk in footsteps of ancestors. The uplands
of Kahilipali contain numerous cultural sites as well. Waikapuna's sandy bay and tidepools
contain near shore and intertidal resources used for sustenance. Large strands of native coastal
plants exist along its coast and the uplands provide habitat for native trees and shrubs such as
alahe`e and wiliwili. Waikapuna's sea cliffs provide habitat for endangered birds important in
Hawaiian culture and history.
Mo `olelo of Waikapuna tells us of the symbiotic relationships between Hawaiians and
sharks and that resources were shared and protected by the inter -species relationships developed
historically in this place. Waikapuna was once the beloved home of renown Hawaiian scholar
Mary Kawena Pukui, who was raised in Waikapuna by her maternal grandmother,
Nali `ipo `aimoku from Waikapuna who was a kahuna la `au lapa `au, midwife, and hula dancer in
the court of Queen Emma. Much of what we know today about past Hawaiian traditions comes
from this beloved kupuna and many of her contributions contributed to the rebirth of Hawaiian
culture in the 20th century. What better way to honor her contributions and memory than to
preserve the area associated with the traditions and resources she taught us of.
In combination with Waikapuna's cultural richness is the proximity to other tracts of
preservation land. Quite possibly, there is nowhere else in the Hawaiian archipelago that we have
the possibility to preserve and protect such a combined large acreage of undeveloped and rural
lands that still serve as the "icebox" for our lawai `a, still provide resources for gatherers, and allow
Hawaiians to connect with ancestral places. These elements are intrinsic to maintaining a
Hawaiian cultural identity and are harder and harder to come by in our rapidly developing state.
Our young people need places such as Waikapuna to nourish their spirit, to teach of possibilities
and to perpetuate traditions that will endure for the future generations to experience.
Not only is Waikapuna important as a Hawaiian Traditional Cultural Property but also as
a model of community stewardship, that could potentially be shared by other stewardship
organizations. The model that is emerging of a community based stewardship empowers our
people to protect their cherished resources, to be involved in their care and preservation and to
truly protect them for the benefit of all. It is OHA's wish to see Waikapuna protected and
preserved so that these lands may both physically and spiritually nourish many in the generations
to come and to allow for the cultural traditions of this place to continue in perpetuity.
OHA understands that the resolution would authorize the County of Hawai `i Director of
Finance to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of property interests in the Waikapuna parcel,
and that a possible outcome is that the County would hold a conservation easement over the
Waikapuna parcel rather than holding fee simple title. This structure has been beneficial to OHA,
which holds a conservation easement over Kuamo`o Battlefield and Burial Grounds. In the
Kuamo `o land protection effort, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit Aloha Kuamo `o `Aina purchased the
land with primarily State funds. OHA contributed partial funds, and was granted a conservation
easement. The Kuamo `o conservation easement restricts future land use and permanently protects
the significant burials and cultural sites, thereby benefitting the interests of our beneficiaries.
Chair Poindexter, Vice Chair Eoff, and Councilmembers
April 13, 2018
Page 3
Contributing funds to acquire a conservation easement furthers the County's Public Access, Open
Space and. Natural Resources Commission's purposes, and leverages non -County funding to
achieve the permanent protection of one of Hawai `i Island's most unique and special places.
OHA again reasserts our strong support for the Ka`u community, Ala Kahakai Trail
Association, and the Trust for Public Land's efforts to purchase and protect the Makai portions of
Kahilipalinui and Kahilipali`iki Ahupua`a, including Waikapuna fishing village in Ka`u, Hawaii
Island. This acquisition is perfectly aligned with OHA's goals and priorities and would serve our
beneficiaries well. We hope that you consider this effort as a top priority for the people of Hawai `i,
as we believe it should be.
Should you have- any questions or concerns please contact Lauren Morawski, Compliance
Archaeologist, at 808-594-1997 or laurenm@oha.org of our Kia`i Kanawai (Compliance
Enforcement) division.
`O wau iho no me ka `oia `i `o,
Kamana`opono M. rabbe, Ph.D.
Ka Pouhana, Chief Executive Officer
KC;lm
C: Robert K. Lindsey Jr.-OHA Chairman and Trustee, Hawaii Island