HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 218 Draft 01 2018-2020 i
COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
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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
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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
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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
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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
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WHEREAS,the process to restore safe, ocean access for Puna fishers must be
accelerated, as it is of utmost importance and key to overall regional recovery; now,therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is
strongly urged to consult and work with Puna lawai`a, individuals with direct familial and
cultural ties to Puna, and the County of Hawaii, which is coordinating disaster recovery efforts,
on all aspects of planning and development of a boat ramp in Puna.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DLNR-DOBOR should consider establishing a
Puna Boat Ramp Working Group made up of State, County, lawai`a, and community
stakeholders to affirm partnerships, share information, discuss planning,process,permitting,
funding, action steps, and timeline for creating ocean boater access for Puna lawai`a.
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BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable David Ige, Governor, State of Hawaii; Suzanne Case, Chair,
Department of Land and Natural Resources; Robert Masuda, First Deputy Director, Department
of Land and Natural Resources; Members of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Edward
Underwood, Administrator, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation; Stephen Schmelz,
Hawaii District Manager, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation; Reid Siarot, State Land
Surveyor; Russell Ruderman, State Senator - District 2, Hawaii State Legislature; Joy San
Buenaventura, State Representative - District 4, Hawaii State Legislature; Honorable Harry
Kim, Mayor, County of Hawaii; Roxcie Waltjen, Director, Department of Parks and Recreation;
Michael Yee, Director, Planning Department; Joseph Kamelamela, Corporation Counsel; Tina
Neal, Scientist-in-Charge, U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory; Leila
Kealoha, President, KAPONO; Michael Trask, President, Big Island Fishermen's Association;
Ku'ulei Cooper, Trustee, Kealoha Estate; and Mililani Trask, Member, Na Koa Ikaika Ka Lahui
Hawai`i.
Dated at Kona , Hawai`i, this 24th day of July , 20 19.
INTROD ED :Y:
OF tAy/( li/L_.._._
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawaii CHUNG X
DAVID X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
County of Hawai`i on July 24, 2019
KIERKIEWICZ X
LEE LOY X
ATTEST: POINDEXTER X
RICHARDS X
VILLEGAS X
9 0 0 0
Reference: C-362/Waived GREDC
CO Hl` CL RK HAIRPERSON&P SIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 218 19
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