HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1008.005 2016-2018 •
Ka`u Hawaiian Home Lands Association
PO BOX 153, Naalehu, Hawaii 96772
J CD-1(
The Hawaii County Council P
c/o Office of the County Clerk
25 Aupuni Street `425
Hilo, HI 96720 , v
RE: Letter of Support for the Protection of'Waikapuna, PONC's #1 Ranked 2017
Project, Resolution 650-18
Aloha Chair Poindexter, Vice Chair Eoff, and Councilmembers,
The Ka`u Hawaiian Home Lands Association is writing in strong support of the. Ka`U
community; Ala Kahakai Trail Association, and The Trust for Public Land's effort to
purchase and protect the makai portions of Kahilipalinui and Kahilipali'iki ahupua'a,
including Waikapuna fishing village in Ka`u, Hawaii Island, TMK (3) 9-5-007: 016, in
partnership with the County of Hawaii and the State.
The Ka`u Hawaiian Home Lands Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in
Naalehu. Founded in 2014 by Department of Hawaiian"Home Lands beneficiaries in our
region. The Ka'u Homestead Region includes 11,312 acres of Homestead Lands within
the ahupua'a of Kamaoa Pu'u'eo, Waiohinu, and Wailau. A total of 25 leases have been
awarded which include residential homesteads in Discovery Harbor and farm/ranch
homesteads in Kamaoa Pu'u'eo.
A significant portion of the lands in Kamaoa Pu'u'eo include the area known as South
Point or Ka Lae. This is a special and unique place for the people of Ka'u as it was one
of the earliest Hawaiian settlements. With an area of approximately 710 acres, Ka Lae
has been designated as a National Historic Landmark because it provides "the longest
and most complete record of human occupation in the Hawaiian Islands." In addition to
its long history, Ka Lae is rich with cultural and natural resources. The marine resources
are valued by many Ka`u `ohana who still rely on subsistence fishing, gathering and
hunting to sustain their families. Unregulated vehicular access throughout Ka Lae has
compromised ed the integrity of its heritage sites and delicate coastal ecosystems. Our
, organization is currently working with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to
implement the Resources Management Plan which will guide future actions to steward
the land and resources at Ka Lae.
Only a few miles north of Ka Lae is Waikapuna, another important settlement for early
Hawaiians connected by the ala kahakai. Like the area of Ka Lae, Waikapuna is also
known for its wealth of cultural and natural resources. Many beneficiaries visit
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Waikapuna to fish and to engage in cultural practices. We believe that preservation and
careful management of these lands underline the importance of protecting the entire
Ka'u coastline including Ka Lae.
Mahalo,
Jeffrey Kekoa
President •
Ka'u Hawaiian Home Lands Association
(808) 928-0320
j kekoa1956@hotmail.com