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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN GREDC 2018/07/24 (2016-2018)Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development 17th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii July 24, 2018 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic ORDER: Development was called to order at 1:09 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Chair Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron Chung, Member Ms. Karen Eoff, Member Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Member Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Absent & Excused: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS CC)N4N4T TNT - CATIONS ORDER OF RESOLUTIONS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. (There were none.) The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Communications. (There were none.) CHR KANUHA: We will close Statements from the Public on Agenda Items and move on with Resolution 640. Mr. Clerk. The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order of Resolutions. GREDC-11 October 17, 2017 Res. 640-18: URGES THE STATE BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES TO CONSULT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECT TRADITIONAL, CULTURAL, AND FAMILIAL TIES TO THE DISTRICT OF PUNA TO ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE NAMES FOR THE FISSURE 8 VENT AND OTHER FEATURES OF THE 2018 ERUPTION OF KILAUEA VOLCANO The naming of this fissure and other new volcanic features associated with this eruption in the Hawaiian language may be based on its physical characteristics, historical events associated with its formation, ecological surroundings, geographical location, or related oral histories. Reference: Comm. 985 Intr. by Ms. Lee Loy Motion to Approve: Ms. Lee Loy moved to recommend adoption of Res. 640-18. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter. CHR KANUHA: Ms. Lee Loy, you have the floor. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. This resolution came up because of events that are happening in Puna. I actually learned a lot through this process. I didn't even realize there was a State Board on Geographical Names and how they developed those names. But, what was rather interesting is within the State Statute, there's a provision that says if the board should desire or would consider, and this gave rise to a conversation from people within the Native Hawaiian community, along with the people who live in the district about who are those with knowledge of the area, or what we call `ike `aina or the knowledge of the land? So, this resolution created that framework so that we would begin to engage those with genealogical, lineal, or cultural ties to the area, and help with the naming of these features that are occurring with this event. I do want to turn the floor over to both Council Member Ruggles and then Council Member O'Hara, who kind of is in the heart of a lot of that conversation and have them share a little bit about what the community is sharing about the naming of these features and how they really do want to be part of the process. I truly believe that this resolution provides that framework to engage them and put them at the table. So, with that, I'll yield. CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Ms. O'Hara, Ms. Ruggles, whoever wants to go first. MS. RUGGLES: Seeing how it's Ms. O'Hara's district, I'll allow her to go first. CHR KANUHA: Ms. O'Hara, do you want to have the floor? MS. O'HARA: Thank you, Chair. Page 2 GREDC-11 October 17, 2017 CHR KANUHA: Go right ahead. MS. O'HARA: I support Ms. Lee Loy's efforts to provide a more concrete process for naming. What I've learned from the Native Hawaiians in my community, who are very close to this whole process, is that we haven't necessarily done the process correct. The naming of Pu`u `O`O, which wasn't done properly, so, they feel that can contribute to, for instance, the longevity of that particular eruption. The way it's named on the books, "o" with the macron over it, actually, in Hawaiian, has the meaning of over flowing, endlessly overflowing. We did see a 35 -year eruption out of Pu`u `O`o. It's very important that it gets named right. They don't feel the process should be rushed because it's still bringing forth characteristics that were, perhaps, foretold by some of the oral histories maintained by those in the Hawaiian community as an interaction between, not just Tutu Pele, but also `Aila`au, the previous volcano God. As the eruption continues, we see more evidence of that and there are certain things that need to appear in order to properly assess the name. So, that's still ongoing, so, they don't want to rush it. That's what I understand. Now, Pi`ilani Ka`awaloa, who is named in this resolution, at the very end of the page two, she is not with us today because she's on the mainland attending a church activity. I don't want to move forward without her invaluable insights into this whole process. I do, however, support the idea that Ms. Lee Loy is presenting, which is to create more of a process. If you go into State law and read what is required of the Board of Geographic Names, it doesn't really require that they consult with the community, just suggest that they consult with knowledgeable members of the community. I appreciate that we're trying to make that a more robust process. There are other individuals and organizations that may need to be called in because of the nature of this eruption, and Pi`ilani has offered up a few names already. But, like I said, I would prefer to wait until she's able to address us directly and provide more information on what and how she would like to see this move forward. Again, there's no need to rush. Fissure 8 is not a good name, 8 being the symbol of infinity. We don't want this to be an infinite eruption, so yes, it needs a name but we need to do it right. And again, I appreciate Ms. Lee Loy putting forth this resolution. Thank you. CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. O'Hara. Ms. Ruggles. MS. RUGGLES: Thank you, and thank you, Ms. Lee Loy for giving us this opportunity. I think that this resolution is brilliant and nothing could be more appropriate than requesting the people of the land who have ancestral ties, who truly come from this place, more than anyone else, come together with the elders, and with those with the knowledge of this place to come up with an appropriate Page 3 GREDC-11 October 17, 2017 name for this fissure. Because I actually have been getting many calls from people who have gone out of their way to call me and say, "Please Jen, you guys need to call Fissure 8 something else. You need to ask the Hawaiians." I'm not the one to do that. I am not Hawaiian, so, I didn't believe it is appropriate for me to be proposing any names. So, I appreciate Ms. Lee Loy taking the initiative on this. I will be supporting it. Thank you. CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Ruggles. Council Members that haven't had a chance to speak yet. Mr. Richards, all good? Okay, Ms. Lee Loy? MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. During the development of this resolution, I did reach out to the people who were named within the Hawaii Revised Statute. So, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, I spoke with them, got their support. I also spoke to Jim Kauahikaua who is with Hawaii Volcano Observatory and he expressed his support about the process because he, too, felt that he wasn't—he would be considered one of those knowledgeable persons, but he still felt really strongly that the stakeholders of the area should be consulted. During the development of this resolution, I also reached out to the Kanaka`ole Foundation who have genealogical ties to the area. And I did also talked to Pi`ilani Kaawaloa who also has lineal and genealogical ties to the area. They all did express their support for this resolution. There will be an opportunity at our next reading that if there's a need to refine the language, we can do it at that time. I do have an amendment in our folder which brings a little bit more clarity to the area that is being impacted by this event. I was actually thinking about introducing it now, but in light of what Ms. O'Hara shared with having Pi`ilani available, I'm going to actually hold off on that amendment right now and maybe when Pi`ilani returns, get more of her input. I would request that we just move this forward. It is a resolution urging the state, it's not an ordinance. So, it really just provides the framework for our stakeholders to be at the table. I yield. CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy. Ms. O'Hara? No? Go right ahead. MS. O'HARA: Yeah, like I said, I'm in support of creating this process, I think it's a great idea. I just was looking up some text I had gotten from Pi`ilani when we were discussing this back on July fourth I think is when it first came to her attention. Anyway, it is a complex process, and like I said, it doesn't necessarily need to be rushed. I appreciate that Ms. Lee Loy has amendments prepared, and maybe it would be advisable to review those first with Pi`ilani when she's back on island before we advance this measure to the full Council. I just want to make sure that it reflects the concerns that have been brought to my attention. That's all. Thank you. Page 4 GREDC-11 October 17, 2017 CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. O'Hara. Committee Members, any other discussion? I know we've heard to move this measure forward and to Council and we've also heard a possible postponement. Any recommendation from the introducer and the Council Members of this district of how we should this move forward? Mr. Richards. MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. I wasn't going to weigh in, but I will. Obviously, this is a very important thing to be done appropriately and I don't think there's any rush on it. My thoughts and my suggestions would be let's leave it in committee to talk story, get the appropriate people in to come and talk to us and give us their insights, the family members and the descendants and get some of their mana`o as far as making a determination. So, I'm thinking let's leave it in committee and make some decisions down here before we send it to Council. I'm fully supportive of it, but I think we don't have enough information. I yield. CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Mahalo for that comment. I'm fine with leaving it in committee. Ms. O'Hara, go right ahead. MS. O'HARA: Just to back that up, I'm reviewing my notes from Pi`ilani. She does have a PowerPoint that explains traditional name giving and I would love the Council to be able to have that presentation before we give full consideration to this measure. CHR KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. O'Hara, it sounds appropriate and I agree. If it's okay with all of you, I think I'd asked for a motion to postpone. Motion to Postpone: Ms. Lee Loy moved to postpone Res. 640-18 to August 7, 2018. Seconded by Ms. O'Hara. CHR KANUHA: We'll postpone this if it's okay with everybody, to the next committee meeting on August 7th. Everybody okay with that? Any discussion on the postponement? Ms. O'Hara? Okay, and I like the idea of bringing that presentation to the committee in concert with this resolution. If we can arrange that, that would be great. Okay, hearing no other discussion, I did want to say thank you, Ms. Lee Loy, for bringing this up. It's extremely important that we get all the information from our kupunas of the areas on doing what's right in how we name these important places. All in favor of postponing say "aye." Page 5 GREDC-11 October 17, 2017 Vote on Motion to The motion to postpong Res. 640-18 to August 7, 2018, Postpone: was carried by the following voice vote: (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair Kanuha — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member David — 1. Excused: None. CHR. KANUHA: May I have a motion to adjourn? BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 1:21 p.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to adjourn the MENT: meeting. Seconded by Ms. Eoff and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair Kanuha — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member David — 1. Excused: None. CHR. KANUHA: We are adjourned. A�pp.r_Q,yed: Mr. ru amo tanuha, Chair (Date) Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee DMK/jm Page 6