RES 218 Draft 01 2018-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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i COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII �Tt 60;•11►•� i. I! RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION TO CONSULT AND WORK WITH PUNA LAWAI`A, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH FAMILIAL AND CULTURAL TIES TO PUNA,AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII ON PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF A BOAT RAMP IN PUNA. WHEREAS, the 2018 Kilauea volcanic eruption rendered Pohoiki Boat Ramp, the only boat launching facility in the district of Puna, inaccessible and unusable; and WHEREAS, Pohoiki Boat Ramp, which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, is located at Pohoiki Bay adjacent to Isaac Kepo`okalani Hale Beach Park, a public recreational asset owned and managed by the County of Hawaii; and i G` WHEREAS, prior to being buried in sand, Pohoiki Boat Ramp provided an ocean access point for Puna lawai`a (fishermen/fisherwomen)to exercise gathering and subsistence rights, and was a source of livelihood,playing a significant role in food security and sustainability, and as a major economic driver for the local and state economy; and F WHEREAS, with Pohoiki Boat Ramp no longer accessible,the nearest launching facility is the Wailoa Sampan Basin and Boat Harbor in Hilo, which results in Puna fishers incurring i substantial additional costs to access their usual fishing grounds off Pohoiki Bay; and WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources engaged Oahu-based Sea Engineering, Inc. to determine the feasibility of restoring access to Pohoiki Boat Ramp, a potential relocation site, and cost estimates for both concepts; and WHEREAS, Sea-Engineering made a one day visit to Pohoiki Bay and the proposed alternate ramp site, but neglected to engage those with knowledge of and familial and cultural ties to the area, those with experience gathering and fishing in Puna, or representatives at the County of Hawai'i, all stakeholders with unique and valuable perspectives as well as vested interests in the area; and I k WHEREAS,the study proposed an alternative ramp site be developed at Ka`akepa, a wahi pana (sacred and storied place)without considering the cultural and historical significance of the place, and incorrectly referring to this site as Malama Flats; and WHEREAS, in examining the feasibility and potential of boat ramp options, the estimated financial cost cannot and should not be the only driving factor in decision-making; the impact to community, culture, and environment should also be considered when evaluating possible concepts; and {