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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 05-14 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 Game Management Advisory Commission County of Hawaii Minutes Meeting Date: May 14, 2019 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Hawaii County Building – Council Chambers I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm. Stanley Mendes, District 1 – here Kean Umeda, District 2 – present James O’Keefe - District 3 – present Naniloa Poglen, District 4 - here Abraham Antonio, District 5 - present Grayson Hashida - District 6 - here Bronsten-Glenn “Kalei” Kossow, District 7 - here Teresa Nakama, District 8 – aye George Donev, District 9 - present Quorum established ALSO PRESENT: Malia Hall, Corporation Counsel Donna Urban-Higuchi, Executive Assistant to Mayor Kim GUESTS: Wao Kele o Puna – Palikapu Dedman History of the Game Management Plan – Richard Hoeflinger Game Management Plan – Department of Land and Natural Resources APPROVAL OF MINUTES BKK: Teresa Nakama moved for approval of the April 15, 2019 minutes as submitted. Seconded by Nani Poglen and carried unanimously by voice vote. FINANCIAL REPORT: BKK: Teresa Nakama moved for approval of the April 30, 2019 financial report as submitted. Seconded by Abraham Antonio and carried unanimously by voice vote. 1 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: BKK: Is there anybody in the public that’s wishing to testify at this time? PRESENTATION: Wao Kele o Puna – Palikapu Dedman BKK: The Chair recognizes Teresa Nakama for the introduction of Mr. Palikapu Dedman. TN: Aloha and good evening – members of the Committee and members of the public – I would like to introduce our first guest speaker – Palikapu Dedman of Pele Defense Fund. Mahalo for being here Palikapu. PD: Palikapu Dedman, Pele Defense Fund – I like pick up where I think Terri left off – if people were uneasy – had any problems – I saw the video – there was emotions on some peoples’ faces while she’s talking so if you got anything that you want to talk about that disturb you I’m here. So no comment to what she was saying representing Pele Defense Fund the last meeting? Any comments? TN: I think she did a wonderful job – it gave me insight of what you folks have done over the years and mahalo, Terri, for doing what you did and if anyone else had questioned her about... PD: That little history about how this all was created... TN: I didn’t quite get that – could you give us a brief overview? PD: It was all started with Billy’s time during campaign time – Billy needed the votes - Dominic Yagong was doing the whole campaigning against Billy – we started to organize the hunters – hunters came to see us on support – on some of the issues that DLNR was gonna be doing with forestry and hunting, eradication – so we all got together and Yagong came as a Councilman to organize with the hunters the language to create this Game Management Plan. That was all started away from Billy but as Billy started to need more votes toward the end – he started to take over the hunting commission. I’m not wishing nobody bad luck but that didn’t work out so well for everybody – especially the fish and game – because you folks sitting in a position after how many years of its creation and I see a lot of your agendas that you deal a lot with entertaining DLNR – the reason why we were after making our own fish and game was to create our own consciousness and ideas, rules and laws for our own Island. I mean, you can stick all the rest of those islands in 2 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 the Kau District – that’s how small it is and we don’t need to be compared by hunters or ideals or biologists from someplace else. We on this Island should be running our own island. These resources we had before we had Statehood – Statehood came in ’59 – we supposed to be controlling and running our own resource protection, environmental protection – it all should be coming from this Fish and Game because there is no other department that deals with that in the County. The fish and game was supposed to take the lead in preserving forests, its environment, its species and the hunting and fishing situation on this Island. DLNR always had a bag habit of coming to every island and telling everybody what they want and we have to yield to that every time and they’re not from here – but we had to yield to their ideals and their ways so this is important for us to create this organization or this game management. Too bad it got tangled up in political people’s minds and attitudes but it was all with the heart of every hunter about taking care of this Island. Its future, its resources. We did a lot of study, man, if you guys talk to Civil Defense – what do we got on a disaster – two week of food? Go do your homework and find out how important our game is and our future for that game and the protection of that game. Your position as this GMAC was to make rules for our Island – to challenge DLNR – they’re not supposed to come here and tell us what to do. We are citizens who pay taxes to a local government – this government’s responsible for its people who pay the taxes and that’s this Island. So you should be making rules and regs and getting it through this County Council in support of making ordinance – making moratoriums on the actions of DLNR and more protection about our resources – the palila bird argument – gosh, you know what that was? Early Seventies with 20,000 mouflons – what you got? Six hundred now? The birds went increase? What’s wrong with this Commission – making an inquiry about this whole palila bird – the palila bird situation and start preserving our mouflons. And why not apply these mouflons to these rare unique species that it is. Do some study. There’s no other place that has mouflons but this Island. This commission should be putting some kind of protection status for this mouflon and challenge the palila bird – they never got more birds – they killed a lot of mouflon, though, but they never get anymore birds – so that argument that was used to protect these birds and killing all the mouflons is already – should be reevaluated – it don’t apply today to what they used back then in the Seventies. This Commission got to be more strong about it – and dealing with fish too. You can’t have DLNR come out and make decisions on how we take care of our fish on this Island. How aquarium fishermen get permits or don’t get permits. That’s the responsibility of you folks. This is the responsibility of this commission – to start looking out for the environmental things that comes with this Island way before you guys came, right, I’m speaking as one Hawaiian that really got abused and if you lived in Hawaii you know dat – no Hawaiians in any of your homelands telling any of you people what to do but you all over here telling us how to live, where to live, how to practice, how we should survive – you should be embarrassed. We one Hawaiian – we should be telling you how you should act and how you 3 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 should be. Look at the situation we in – Hawaiians fault – yeah, maybe their fault for not saying nothing – that’s what you always say – but you guys practice all that pollution, eradication – now what I call a sacred food is an ungulate – what’s an ungulate – invasive species? We’ve been using pork in our ceremonies for how long till today – now why is that classified as an invasive species? What about the foreign mind that brought that concept? That’s an invasive mind and species. Wise up man. We not really all that dumb Hawaiians over here. We know what we want – we know what we did – we know where you should go – and it ain’t in the hands of foreign people – second, third generation migrant babies – look where you’re at man – focus – I never asked – no Hawaiian asked anybody to come here – they impose their ideals and themselves and now we got what? Situations where we’re the worst race in this State – the fastest to die – the highest on social statistics – and yet we number five in the census. Ahh. Do your guys homework. Feel more strong for this Island and the people in it. Start submitting language to protect this place. Start changing attitudes amongst your peers. Start doing game management. Get all your hunters together in every district – tell you how much pigs they catch – how much boars they see – how many billies they see – how many \[unclear\] – what part of the district they stay in – start getting one count about all your resources in this district – you guys go organize your hunters if you’re representing any hunters – get a count, get a map, get everybody kokua – so at least get a head count of how much game we got – then we can understand where get droughts, where get too much, where for move game – where for hunt more game – get your game plan management back – no wait for the State – they no more – they don’t know how – and how does Molokai fit o here? How does Oahu game fit o here? They don’t fit. You are the fit – make it fit. Be right this time. TN: Pali – are you saying that because we don’t have our game management plan together with discussions with the hunters that we have not been able to move forward to make rules and regulations? So how do we go about pooling all the hunters’ resources? PD: I’m from Kau and we call hunters call a meeting – the hunters come. Then when they come you give them the idea about how and where they hunt on the map and say what you see – what you caught. So we know how much game – at least some kind of count about where they stay and who hunting. Spread that – that’s the hunters’ responsibility to start looking out for his resource. Then at least you guys get a head count on how much game stay in each district all the way to wild cows, goats, sheep, pigs – then you give them an idea, at least, where the resources stay and how you can concentrate on moving it around with the climate change and the weather and the droughts and the hunt over here no hunt this side but at least get one game count. Start getting all the hunters together to give you one game count. Put your map together on where stay and what resources they saw. 4 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 TN: What would you call that when we – if each of us in the nine district did such a event and we called out onto the hunters – does everybody here feel that would... PD: They’re supposed to do that. You get your hunters in your district together – that’s who you represent sitting there – put up notices – get together, man, never worked the first one do another one. Be serious about what you want and you only want a head count – you just want an animal count and everybody can do that. What they see – what they record and it’s all for the purpose of looking for the future for their own kids as hunters. So hunters are educators too. TN: How does that fit in with Puna Wao Kele Forest – that you have been an instrument...? PD: That forest got taken up by Tutu Pele so there’s not much – there’s just kukupas left in the forest – no more game too much in there but they’re still hunting in Wao Kele and that was a hunting right for native Hawaiians – people got to understand that there’s a State Constitution that separates a Hawaiian for the general public. Go read it so you understand that there’s laws that you gotta comply with and there’s laws that you gotta uphold. Do your homework. Read where the Hawaiian fits in your environment and you’ll understand that he came with the environment – he should be fitting everywhere in the environment. TN: What was your case in Puna Wao Kele Forest? PD: It was on hunting – hunting and gathering rights – that the State gave it to the private person – which his Campbell Estate – we challenged Campbell Estate because people got arrested hunting-gathering and we won the law suit – that the State did not have a right to swap our rights away to a private landowner – so you see – when we beat one private landowner – the State, the County, the Feds all have to yield because we rights in them – not private – they us, so, if we beat somebody private the rest should be very well understood that our rights come with them too. Just did a lot of homework, man, it did a lot of challenges – I’m not here to blow smoke, man, that’s just how it is. And if you’re gonna drag ass and go try fight lawyers or wait for the State, wait for all the people – we in the same situation – more population coming – stuff disappearing – subdivisions growing – resources depleting – pollution taking over – commercialization – come on – throw up the fence already and this game commission gotta throw up fences to protect this Island and no scared – the State got to deal with you – and you got your own rules and laws – you got your own Corporate Counsel – he’s supposed to be standing up for this County – no get scared of the State – they’re the problem – they only came in ’59 like I said – this stuff was here way before them and our responsibility 5 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 living on this Island is to make that stuff for our kids – that’s about how we should be looking at it. NP: Wao Kele o Puna – so then OHA bought it – then after? PD: The idea was this – they had a forestry legacy program – the Feds had money – Dan Inouye made a deal with the Indians in Alaska – you give me that oil line – I’ll give you the forest – and our forest came with a federal deal for them to put up 3 million dollars to Campbell, OHA put up 250 and the State write off - $11,000,000 million – so the whole forest went to OHA hiding behind the State and the federal program. So Wao Kele can never be developed because it’s under a program from the Feds on a legacy protection program – so it can never be developed for development – it’s just got to left alone as a reserve and that’s fine. But at least you can hunt, you know. At least you can have reproduction or seed bank and whatever you like call ‘em but that’s what happens in forests if you keep it protected. It’ll keep producing. NP: Isn’t Wao Kele under DLNR management right now? PD: It’s under DLNR management to the agreement of OHA – Office of Hawaiian Affairs – but they cannot stop us from hunting cause that was a lawsuit that was won based on hunting and la’au gathering – medicine gathering. NP: Can they fence in Wao Kele? PD: That lawsuit is a – that lawsuit is not a settlement. So anybody can use that lawsuit as a gathering rights. In fact, our lawsuit is being taught at Richardson School of Law right now at the University of Hawaii, Manoa on gathering rights they using our lawsuit as a template for gathering rights – so that much difference we’ve made – I don’t know about other suits but that’s where ours is at. NP: So how much of the Wao Kele got taken by the lava? PD: About half of it already. No more the resource, no more the pigs. They move out, you know. And I think they all in the subdivisions now. NP: In due respect, Pali, but, you know, we’ve been really trying hard and you’re actually preaching to the choir – we – there’s all these things we feel what you say and we are advisory so we cannot be the boss – we don’t have power – we’re just advisory – and we’ve been doing our best to work with DLNR – you can ask these guys – we try really hard... 6 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 NP: Actually, it’s a hard job – very discouraging, very challenging and if anything – we need a pat on the back really, actually, so, you know, a pep talk would be good. PD: No, just get tougher man, you just can’t sit back and wait for the State to take the lead in anything. State has been the reason why this was created. The State was great – we no need this. We no need be grumbling to nobody – we just go along with the flow – that’s the problem – we’ve been doing that and they’ve been taking over – and all of sudden their ideals – sit in a cubicle in Honolulu becomes us – now we not that – we live out in the resources – we still using resources – and we’ll be strong enough to protect them – I think you guys should be doing that – you should be changing your mentality and saying that it’s about – not just the pigs – what they eat? What they eat? They drink water, too, I mean, you got to be involved with the whole environment that our resources need to survive – you gotta be involved in that and not let that be somebody else’s kuleana – their kuleana – it’s all inter-related – the pigs not waiting on one platter, you know that - they live in one forest that needs a lot of protection too – so you got to get involved with that part too – I think. I wanted to say that – this Commission – take away hunting and become the registered the hunters – the County takes away that – takes the lease from the State – all the State land and you become the place to apply for hunting license – cause you hunt on this Island. Would be the Game Commission set that up – it could run itself – you got fines that may come in on violations, you put that in the kitty but the County could be running their own game and license to come in and do hunting. You take care your resource to the end and protect ‘em and generate your own revenue cause everybody gonna grumble about, aw, it’s a budget, budget item cost money, cost money – brash – you never get one rifle range yet. Plenty \[unclear\] out there – I don’t know what the hang up, but, ah... Anyway... TN: With all your mana’o you’ve given us I was wondering if you could help guide us also? If we call a hunters meeting can we call you to be a part of it. PD: Anytime, no problem. TN: I’m all game for calling in the hunters cause I have a hard time maybe because I’m wahine and, you know, they don’t take me seriously... PD: Well, then you go find one hunter that will work with you and then they would be part of – connected to the other hunters. Like you say – you just getting one game count – you just want to start understanding the game in your district and be responsible and that’d be the easiest way to start doing it is people just report what they catch, what they see – where they saw ‘em – mark ‘em on a map – next time they go hunt another spot – you get the same 7 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 thing like that. Then you get together once a month – you selves is hunters – and meet to get a pavilion at the park – someplace – and bring out the map and show and discuss and get involved more – I think you got to get involved with the hunters a little bit more direct and let them be part of the planning and everything and no make the bureaucratic style that you just tell ‘em, you just tell ‘em, you just tell ‘em. No, they got to listen to them – they should tell you folks the ideas and how the things should be run – so anyway – I give you kokua – just call. TN: Mahalo, Pali for being here. Anybody else have questions? NP: Thank you, Palikapu. History of the Game Management Plan – Richard Hoeflinger BKK: The Chair recognizes Nani to introduce Mr. Richard Hoeflinger. NP: Before I introduce Richard – I’d like to give a little bit of background of tonight’s discussion on game management. So this last month I wrote emails to Bob Masuda – Deputy Chair of the DLNR and trying to persuade or request work be continued on a game management plan that’s been in process for over ten years and so, actually, I did get some response and Bob Masuda organized a meeting with Dave Smith – DOFAW Administrator – and Jim Cogswell, Wildlife Program Manager, and Shaya Honarvar, the DOFAW Game Program Coordinator and Shaya called me and she said that they’ve agreed to push a game management plan forward, which is good news and she said that they agreed to do it in a timely fashion – and then they assigned Kamal Sproat and Ian Cole to be our assistants and we’re so lucky to have Steve Bergfield here tonight too – thank you so much you guys for coming – so Richard Hoeflinger is gonna give us – as no one else can – the history of the efforts made for a game management plan – he’s sort of like the father of it – the beginning – the working group person – so thank you so much Richard for coming. RH: You’re welcome. NP: So as Richard’s talking – think about the questions you might have about a game management plan cause we’ve got the guys here to answer for us. Thank you. RH: What I’m going to do this evening is tell you a story about a job that started almost 12 years ago and I’ll lead you through what I remember transpired in that time. This is a game management plan – and I’ll tell you how it this – where it is now. It’s 175 pages – it has 70 illustrations, 90 references and 9 8 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 recommendations. So that’s – Alva Leopold for those of you who don’t know him – one of the fathers of conservation along with Teddy Roosevelt. So in late 2007 a group of hunters from this Island met at Waimea with the DLNR Forestry and Wildlife people – this was the Scott Fritz was new at being a Wildlife Program Manager – he had just come aboard – and the hunters requested that a plan be developed so we could sustainably manage Hawaii’s game resources. In early 2008 a working group was established – it was composed of DLNR representatives and Island hunters – it was determined early in the meetings that this probably would never get done also we had dedicated leadership so a job description was written for a Game Management Planner that were and one was hired. The scope of the plan was limited to Hawaii Island – early in the discussions of trying to develop a scope for the plan – we reviewed the hunting rules and at that time it was determined that that would be such a big issue to revise that we set it aside to stay focused on the game management plan. From 2008-2010 we developed a – what was gonna go into the plan – we worked on individual sections and at the conclusion of finishing each section we had a review meeting – we all sat down face-to-face – and there were 12 such meetings held over the course of that 2008-2010... RH: In April of 2010 – this plan was submitted – Hawaii Island Game Management Plan: A Five-Year Plan for the Management of Hawaii Game Animals – that would be from 2010 to 2015 and the plan was submitted to DLNR. This is what was in the plan – you can read ‘em if you like – this is the index – but you can see there were – we pretty much discussed all of the issues – each one was a chapter on to its own – we discussed all of Hawaii Island’s game at that time – individually – a history – there’s the contents of the plan – you can read ‘em yourself – we discussed all of the animals, as I mentioned, the land resources, we did a section on the economics of hunting – we talked about the human resources that were available and developed goals and objectives, etc. and there’s the recommendations, the references – all the rules we looked at and some – all the illustrations. From April 2010 to April 2017 nothing happened. The Plan was submitted and it disappeared. Every once in a while we would ask about what was going on and we never got any kind of response – meanwhile – the working group diminished – some people died – some left. This was the original working group - you can see the disposition – the ones that died – you’ll notice that DLNR was a viable, contributor to the plan – I listed the names of those that contributed and in April of 2017 we got an email – the survivors of the working group – were emailed a version – a revised version of this Game Management Plan – we just got it and there was no discussion on what we were supposed to do with it or where they were gonna have meetings or whatever. Again, the original plan was developed by the working group of hunters and DLNR – but it was modified without any notation of where the changes occurred. We tried to go through and compare the original plan with the modified version using some software that went 9 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 page – you could look at both pages and it would tell you what had changed – it didn’t work – we got to about page 3 and it blew up because the plan was just all shuffled. Couldn’t follow and there was no pagination on any of the new stuff. But it appeared that the current DLNR staff opinions significantly differed from the DLNR members that participated in the original draft and as I mentioned as presented the revised version of the plan was – we just couldn’t do anything with it. It appeared that there were a number of PC insertions that provided no discernable benefit to the management of the game resource – there was stuff in there that I have no idea why it was stuck in a game management plan. In March of 2018 there was a State GMAC meeting held in Hilo – the game management plan was one of the items on the agenda – the current DOFAW Administrator said that DOFAW really – that DLNR didn’t really need a plan – it had a hunting program and a couple of us kinda jumped on him for that but it makes no sense – a hunting program is part of management plan – it isn’t a management plan. So the GMAC chair recommended a minimum of four DLNR and Plan participant follow-up meetings – that was what came out of the GMAC meeting. In May of 2018 – Tom Lodge and I were the only ones that did have work commitments during it for a day meeting – we met with DLNR – we were told there would be no management plan for mammals and that the game bird plan would be contracted to an outside source. It wasn’t what we hoped to hear and the meeting ended abruptly with no follow-up. That gets us here. NP: Thank you, Richard. So now we have representatives here to answer questions... BKK: I’m sorry – is there anybody that wants to ask any questions to Mr. Hoeflinger before we move on? GH: Mr. Hoeflinger – can you briefly just summarize some of the nine recommendations that was originally made? RH: Well, you caught me unawares. I’m gonna have to look it up: 1) Establish an effective game management program 2) Facilitate cooperative management 3) Quantitatively analyze game animal populations 4) Characterize available game habitat 5) Remove legislative impediments 6) Revise hunting rules 7) Reorganize the hunter education program 8) Develop standard operating procedures 9) Publish a hunting newsletter – number 9 did get done. There is now a newsletter on the web. I don’t think anything else happened. 10 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 GH: So at the time there was no other push besides you and Tom to – like to follow up on the meetings or anything like...? Yeah, so there was no one else pushing? RH: I know nothing other than that Nani indicated she got a telephone call from DLNR indicating some work was gonna go on – I received an email from Mr. Masuda who kinda said the same thing – but I don’t know what that’s gonna be. TN: Why aren’t we doing anything? Why aren’t we acting upon this as our project as game management? RH: Who is we? TN: The Commissioners. I mean, I don’t have a copy of that and yet in the front cover it says do not distribute. RH: That’s right. TN: I don’t understand that. We are here as Commission members and we cannot be receiving a copy of this? RH: You’re asking the wrong person, ma’am. I can’t answer that question. TN: As you being part of the working group – why hasn’t that been... RH: The plan is unpublished, ma’am. TN: It was never published. RH: It’s the property of DLNR. TN: It’s the property of DLNR. RH: That’s correct. TN: And the original copy is whose property? The original. RH: It’s all – belongs to DLNR. DLNR funded the development of the plan. NP: So Shay told me that they were gonna follow the original draft plan of 2010. RH: If you’re asking me what Shaya’s gonna do, I can’t answer that... NP: No, I’m not asking – I’m just saying as something to bounce off of her questions. So is that what you guys heard? 11 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 KS: Yes. NP: Yes, thank you Kanalu Sproat. GH: Mr. Hoeflinger - What are some personal take away lessons you’ve taken from this whole process? What are some take-away lessons you’ve taken from this process? RH: What lessons did I take from the process? Is that the question? GH: Yes. RH: I guess I’d rather not say. Game Management Plan – Department of Land and Natural Resources KS: So we were instructed by – Kanalu Sproat – DLNR – we were instructed by our administration to basically update because the plan is so old to basically update it but to use the current plan as the framework for the update – that’s what we were instructed to do. NP: You mean the 2015? KS: So – they started drafting this plan in 2008, right? But, we – like I said – we were instructed to just update it because some time has passed but to use the existing framework of the plan so basically use what’s there and just update it with current goals and objectives and current information. That’s what we were told to do. TN: Kanalu – 2008 or 2015? KS: Well, 2008 is when they started drafting it, right? RH: The working group was formed in 2008. We had the initial meeting late in 2007. GD: Do you plan on collaborating with our commission in establishing the plan? KS: So we were instructed to draft it internally first and then bring it to you guys – so our internal draft is just a draft and then we bring it to you for comments – so, yes, but we draft it first. Does that make sense? That’s what we were instructed to do. 12 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 NP: So the one that you’re gonna work on is it the original or is the one that was revised where Richard explained that it had gotten all jumbled and they couldn’t even work with it. So which one are you gonna start from? KS: All of them. We were sent all – the original – so we have the original and we have the revised version... We’re gonna work with both to make an updated plan. ?: So what’s the time frame of getting all this going because if you guys going draft ‘em then going come back to us and then we going do the whole thing and do our thing and back to you guys and then it’s only going be one tennis game... KS: We didn’t discuss a time frame and I have the same questions. GD: I find it slightly ironic with what Palikapu Dedman said earlier in the meeting how with little input that the County gets to do with the State and then – now we’re hearing – OK. DLNR is gonna draft this internally and then bring it to us for comment. It seems like... NP: Or, no, aren’t you guys gonna be working with us? I mean, the Commission on that or? KS: We were told to draft it internally and then bring it to you for your comments after that. TN: Where do we put our objection? Seriously. KS: I don’t know. TN: Seriously, I mean, this is a plan for our people – the people that we represent – DLNR does not represent us – I’m sorry – they’re a political entity telling us what to do when it should be us telling them what to do. We should be a part of it – so what is the message we need to give to DLNR to say it should be a cooperative thing – not a one-sided thing. Because if they’re telling you – ordering you to draft something to tell us what to do – that’s not our purpose. Our purpose is to be cooperative – where is the cooperation from DLNR to us. They are responsible to hear us – not we’re responsible to hear them. This is such a backwards instruction given to you that we haven’t even – I can’t even fathom... BKK: Teresa – is there a question? TN: The question would be – how do we object to this? 13 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 KS: I would suggest to take those concerns and this is also what we were counseled – through your State GMAC representative and to – so that’s Ryan, right, Kohatsu, take those concerns to him and he can bring it up at the next State GMAC meeting is what we were instructed. I understand what you’re saying – there maybe there’s other ways that I don’t know but that’s how we were instructed to counsel you. TN: So we as an advisory board are being counseled by the State and we’re the County of Hawaii – on our natural resources. You don’t have an answer... KS: I mean – we’re tasked with managing State lands and State resources and so we – whether you like it or not – have to go by State laws and State rules and part of that is the State Game Management Advisory Commission – so I would try to work through that. KU: Who has the authority to make the decision? I’m sorry Kanalu – I know you gotta take a lot of gas here but you’re an employee so who has... KS: I take it every time I come... KU: Who has the final authority to make the decision? Is it Bob Masuda or just the person’s name? I’d just like to know... KS: The Governor. KU: The Governor – OK. I see. Good to know. KS: Am I wrong? I’m glad my boss is here too. SB: Aloha, Steve Bergfield with Forestry. I would suggest if you’re asking for a person to talk to go to the chair of our Department and the representative on the State GMAC is First Deputy, Bob Masuda, so if you make that recommendation then between our chairperson – Chair Case – and Deputy Masuda and our administrator Dave Smith – those are the three main people that will give direction on things that we’re asked to do. NP: Can we make the request to you and you can take it to them? SB: You can – but I think it’s also... NP: Richard – wait a second – don’t go yet... SB: You certainly can make recommendations through us and we will share that with those three people that I just mentioned but I think another way to do that is to it through the State GMAC Commission, which was formed by state law. 14 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 NP: My request is really simple – that a Game Management Plan in the writing of it would be all about sustainable game management – that that’s what it would be about and shouldn’t it be about sustainable if it’s about our game – a management plan for our game – shouldn’t it be to sustain them – make a plan their sustainable. And the reason I asked you to stay Richard is cause I wanted to ask you in a nutshell – what is good game management? RH: Oh, I’m sorry. Are you talking to me? NP: Yes, in a nutshell – what is good game management? RH: Well, it’s right here is somewhere – all I got to do is find it. Hang on. NP: I just wanted to be really clear that we want a policy of good game management... RH: How’s that – well, I’ll read it to you. NP: Well, your own words are good... RH: This is Aldo Leopold in 1933 – in his book – game management. “Game Management is the art of making land produce sustained annual crops of wild game for recreational use.” SB: I suggest that the Commission drafts a letter and sends that to our Chairperson describing what you want to see in that plan. NP: Pretty much did. TN: What happened to home rule? We’re the County GMAC Commission – how come we can’t make our own home rule? To be part of your game management plan – not you telling us what to do – but we sharing our information with you so we can collectively put a management plan together. AA: Abraham – isn’t there a constitutional right – Hawaii Constitution that states you guys supposed to protect our game? NP: That they’re entrusted – they belong to the people... AA: It belongs to the people and it’s entrusted – a constitutional right. So why is there – I see there is a need of a game management plan – but as far as all the eradications and stuff I know the part of endangered species – and invasive species and all that – but it’s a constitutional right that you guys should have stopped the Feds for even coming in in the first place and doing all that. 15 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 SB: I can’t speak to that – I wasn’t part of that – that happened a long time ago. AA: It happened a long time ago and then it also wasn’t revised yet either, right? SB: No. I know it was challenged once in the early 90s and it failed. AA: And it failed. SB: Yes. GD: Going forward now – considering that – are you going to be able to implement that into the plan effectively? SB: Exactly what are you asking...? GD: What Abraham was just talking about. SB: About protecting game mammals... AA: Protecting all our game not only our mammals our birds, our fish – the Constitution says you guys supposed to protect our game management and our resources. SB: We’re tasked with that and we’re also tasked with protecting all the species... AA: All the species... But it’s almost like a one-sided thing – only endangered species get priority out of everything else. SB: Yeah, sometimes that happens. NP: Do you guys know who’s gonna be in the group that’s gonna do the next draft? Who are the members? KS: Myself and Ian were tasked with drafting it. NP: Oh, so it is – and then you’re gonna submit it... KS: Probably in conjunction with Shaya. So working together. TN: Are you gonna incorporate Article 12, Section 7 and the other Constitutional rights to protect our game animals – I mean you have to look at that. KS: I need to – I don’t know – I can look that up – I don’t know that article – I’m sorry that I don’t, but, yeah, I mean, if it’s appropriate I don’t see why not but I don’t know what that article states. 16 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 TN: So it’s something that you need to look into. KS: Yeah. So Article 12, Section 7? TN: Article 12, Section 7 and there’s others. And do you have the number, Abraham, of the protected game animals that you were talking about? BKK: This is Kalei – that’s HSC Article 11, Section 1. RH: Before I leave Nani, if I could make a recommendation to all of you people. You will never get a game management plan without an appointed leader to get the job done – it’ll never happen – you have to have dedicated leadership to get it done – that’s number one. Number two – they output of a group is inversely proportional to the number of people that participate in it – so think about it. TN: I agree with you. Thank you for your suggestion, Richard. NP: Thank you so much, Richard. TN: That was Teresa. NP: So what you guys are saying is like we’re out and the State Game Management is in and whatever influence we might have at the County commission we have to go through the State Commission. Is that what you said? KS: I wouldn’t say that you’re out – what I’m saying is that our department is responsible to the State GMAC Commission by the statute that was put together but we also – us on Hawaii Island that work here – we’ve also been working with County GMAC since the inception and we hear your voice because we understand that it’s the same as what other people are voicing at the State GMAC so it’s not like we not gonna listen to what your recommendations are. But that’s an official avenue of putting forth your thoughts and ideas to our administration. SB: If I could make comment real quick. And so we’re drafting it internally but before it ever gets – goes out into I guess being applied – we bring it to you – so we are asking for your comments and revisions – we just are going to draft it first. Does that make sense? And then, but before we ever start doing anything and applying those things internally, we bring it to you and ask for your comments and your – it’s – it’s not exactly as you want it – which I understand – but it’s not – we’re not keeping you out of the loop completely. Does that make sense? And, if not, I can try again. BKK: Is it normal to have a plan, oh, sorry, was that a question? 17 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 SB: He asked me to try again. So we’re gonna draft our plan internally and then bring it to you for your review and comments before we start applying it – and then implement, you know, address your comments – maybe – put – make changes accordingly – so that’s what we were told to do. BKK: Is it normal that the Department creates and drafts its own rules? Or plans before it is presented to the public? SB: I would say it’s normal to just put together a framework of what staff thinks the plan should be and then it’s put out to comment after that and then that’s when we take into account everyone else’s comments... BKK: So if there were high objections to the plan – and the plan moves forward – where does it leave the hunters or people involved in that community? SB: Well, I think part of the process is that we take those comments into consideration and if no one can support the plan then, I mean, because this plan, I would believe, would be taken to the Board for approval. The Board of Land and Natural Resources, so... TN: I’m confused. The initial working group was both parties. Now why isn’t there a task force within your order of saying, you know, by the way boss – we should include the hunters and not just us because the initial working management plan that was submitted to you folks was done by both parties. So why can’t we have the same situation? The same working group, I mean, with new faces, of course, but the template is there. You have a template. We want to be a part of it. I mean, that is something you need to deliver to your boss – the original template was done with two parties – not just by one party. It’s ironic that you come back to us and say, we’re better than you. I mean, I feel that that’s how it’s coming from the top – not you two – but the top of you two. I feel that they say we’re better than you so we’re gonna do this without you – when the original working template is already there done by hunters and DLNR – so why can’t we have the same situation. NP: Teresa? These men want to work with us and they actually have their hands in a lot of ways. It’s not... TN: How can we untie your hands? Seriously. How can we untie your hands? Do we have to go to DAG – do we have to do a lawsuit? I mean, that’s what it’s coming down to. SB: I would share your concerns with the two State GMAC representatives for Hawaii Island and I would also outline that in your letter that I mentioned earlier about describing that to our chairperson and just say that you want to be a part of this process. 18 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 And like Kanalu explained, I mean, you’re gonna be a part of the process – it’s just that they’re cleaning up a few things in the plan and then they’re gonna ask for your comments and I would suggest that once it’s shared with the County GMAC then you guys share that with your constituents in each of your districts for their comments. NP: I would like to make a request when you guys are sitting down working on this that as Palikapu mentioned and it’s been mentioned so many times before is – would it include that there would be a count of the game animal in – say any given area – a count that will be protected – that will... SB: I think they have the game check-in stations that hunters supposed to be checking in – is a voluntary process so the hunters need to go in it – sign in – it’s for that reason. NP: The count of the game animals... SB: Yeah, it’s for that reason. KS: That was one of the objectives that Mr. Hoeflinger had in that drafted game management plan and, I mean, I wouldn’t remove that so – and we do it on some levels for some species already – so, yes... NP: And then maybe, um, habitat improvement could possibly be worked through – change their rules and regulations somehow... KS: Modifying habitat for game is something that would definitely require statutory changes. NP: Right, exactly. But it’s possible, right? SM: Kanalu, Stanley... We need to provide, though, for these animals. These animals especially in Puuanahulu/Puuwaawaa they getting sick – they no more water. I haven’t seen the damage that, you know, when you guys come and say, oh, they eating up the native plants – but I haven’t seen the damage that you guys claim, I mean, the lama trees that growing there – the ohia – I no see ‘em being, you know, de-barked or – they browse on ‘em but, you know, I no see any damage as far as they – they mostly whacking the small young grasses coming up but they need water cause they sick. Something got to be done now to – it’s just like cruelty to animals what is happening. GD: Who has the final approval for the game management plan that you’re gonna put forth – is that DLNR itself, is it some other body – how does it get approved? 19 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 SB: I would say it has to have the support of our administrator and then that’ll be – and our Chair and Deputy Chair and then it would be taken to the Board. GD: And so it’s essentially implemented internally without any vote by any representatives of the people? SB: Well, the Board – all the Board meetings are public meetings – testimony can be submitted to the Board in favor or against anything that’s put together at the Board. GD: So this would be a game management plan for our County without the input of our advisory commissions or the County – implemented by a board that’s on a State agency that isn’t even directly overseen by any – say like legislative representatives or anyone like that. SB: No, I think you missed what our conversation earlier about that the plan – the draft plan will be shared with the game commission for your comments. GD: Right, but that’s not binding is it? That’s just like how – how do we know you’ll take our comments in good faith and implement that? Is that something we can count on? Is that something that we’ve seen in the past? SB: I can say we’ll take your comments in good faith and, um, submit those comments to the Board. I can’t guarantee you that all your comments are gonna be... KU: Steve, ah, this Kean – my question is – in the 50 states in the United States are you familiar that – correct me if I’m wrong – but we’re the only state that does not have a game management plan. Are you familiar with that or is that something that I’m incorrect? SB: I don’t know the answer to that. TN: I believe we have members of the public that want to ask question. Is it OK, Chairman, that they have two minutes to ask a question? BKK: Yeah, they can come up at any time and grab one of these mics – as long as they state the name for the record. But I have a question – as far as the content of the plan – is there any changes from 2008 draft or whatever – it sounds like there were five different plans that we’ve created but whatever draft there are – is there like content we can look at before you guys start creating your own draft and what changes do you plan on making. KS: I’m not ready to start talking about changes or anything because the last time I read that plan was – I mean I glanced through it today – but the last time I read it, read it was about two years ago. There were things that stuck out in 20 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 my mind that – so one of the objectives was to change our – get rid of statutory limitations, um, I’m not saying that’s wrong – that’s just – that’s a lot easier said than done basically, so I don’t know if I would remove that or if I would word it differently but removing statutory limitations on what we are allowed to do as an agency or not is not just wave a wand and it happens. So there were a lot of things that were very similar to that that things that are really are out of our control as an agency – things that we cannot do – so I would look at revising those things. Sorry, like I said, I read that plan a couple of years ago, um, so I can’t go into details on it and I’m not ready to say what I want to change now. I would say, I mean, we’ll try – we should have a discussion internally about what kind of time frame we can have to get a draft back to you guys – maybe by the next – your next meeting we can have a time frame. I’m sorry, I’m committing myself – that’s not a good thing but maybe that is a good thing. TN: Pali you want to ask a question? BKK: Then go ahead and re-state your name for the record... PD: Palikapu Dedman. I’d like to say a little bit about our lawsuit that we had against DLNR and that was the Kau fencing in Kau. And they did a study and they were talking about fencing off about 14 miles and putting little ladders over the fence for the hunters – but then again it’s like shooting fish in one aquarium – you know, you hunt between the fence till you no more nothing left. That was the idea of how to use the hunter to be part of the eradication program – by giving them that kind of ideas – they came into the community DLNR and talk and hide LLC people cause they had to do an EA study about what the impacts gonna be in that forest and it was State land so it belonged to everybody – not just DLNR. So we took it all the way up the Supreme Court and by the time we took it to the Supreme Court it took about three years and in those 3 years – DLNR took a lot of our arguments and created bills that years to answer and plug all the pukas cause we had a lot of strong arguments about their neglect so they took our arguments and started correcting them at DLNR by passing bills to correct ‘em before we get to the end of the court case which was three years down the road. So they took a lot of our comments and fixed up their books real quick or changed lot of their policies cause it made a lot of sense. The eradication program they had in killing the rats – so they had that – what you call that – it’s a green type of poison – and they used that... PD: ....pellets. They used pellets to kill the rats but then the ‘io eats the rats – the owls eat the rats – so they were killing their own native birds that they had laws of protection – then the hunters would catch pigs – cut the opu open – and they would see the green pellets inside. So it’s called Emmett Green, I think, they use and there’s Emmett Brown – but the green was being used for the rats but that’s an agent that goes inactivate when you drink water – so the 21 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 pigs would run down to the where get water – the river – the creeks – whatever – and they would drink that and activate it and a lot of them would die so the contaminants are what going in the water from what DLNR was creating. So anyhow – while that lawsuit was going on it was to protect the alala birds so they was gonna make 14 miles of fence for one bird when your bird needs cages not fences – but the idea was to get 10 million dollars to do this project. We went after the DLNR – all the way up to the Supreme Court and we lost at the Supreme Court – they said that they have a right to regulate our rights as Hawaiians – the State – and our rights to these protections of resources. But the idea was – we lost the lawsuit but that project didn’t happen – so they lost the project because of our lawsuit they moved that alala bird someplace else and I think the ‘io’s number one predator is the alala bird from growing up time we know that – the cowboys used to tell us a lot that they would see the ‘io \[unclear\] at all these black ravens or crows because they were invasive looking to them – they eat the other birds but they never eat the crow – so that was wiping out the crows and the other wipe out was shooting ‘em – we’d get rid of them by shooting ‘em – because they was taking up the aina or taking up our place of hunting and there was all signs over Hawaiians I mean over gathering rights – that’s years ago. So I know that the process of DLNR going out and making rules per se – if it’s rule making Chapter 31 or Chapter 13 rule making then that’s not their making laws – they’re making policy – and when you make policy or rules you gotta go out and do public hearings and the public hearings got to give input before they go back and write up stuff – not they write ‘em and they give ‘em to you and ask for your comments. The public gives comments then they get all the comments back and then they do the draft. When there’s a problem in the draft like we challenge – that’s when you get into the draft stage – you’ve got 30 days to make this argument and the draft – then when you don’t address your comments in the draft you get to put it – they’ll put it into the final – then when it gets to the final of you not getting yours addressed now you got 30 days to take ‘em to litigation – so that’s where we took ‘em to court – all our lawsuits at Pele Defense Fund has been against DLNR. It’s never really been against private people it’s the process of DLNR and the permits that they give and it’s all about science and not about subsistence. So you gotta be strong about saying I don’t care what you say – we’re a government agency – we get paid by the taxpayer and I saw your charter – the taxpayer put you in this position – not the Mayor, not the Governor – so you got to stand up for those people that put you in this position and challenge these people DLNR. I’m embarrassed that I pay these guys my hard work tax dollar and they short change all the guys on this Island because they get one comfortable job. That’s the name of the game. Comfort – got a good job – really no care inside about where they live and the resources – if they do they wouldn’t be doing this, if they really care... TN: So Pali, if they’re taking orders from their boss – isn’t that who we should be addressing? 22 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 PD: I would address Susan Case a lot. I’d \[unclear\] her face as much as possible. These guys all staff people. I’ll be dealing because of your level all at the top and not with this. This is what you’re gonna hear all the time. Dime a dozen saying the same thing over and over just for job comfort – they not going really take care nothing. TN: Would you suggest to us that we address this – as to how we address this because as Pali says that the next level that we address is wouldn’t be you because you’re just taking orders, as you say. SB: I think I mentioned that earlier and Palikapu agrees with me on that that that’s who you should be addressing your comments to as far as our chairperson – our administrator – and say in that letter – like I suggested through your GMAC representative for the State and then also directly to the Chairperson. PD: And one thing I saw lack was – there wasn’t nothing about gathering rights Article 12, Section 7. And it’s embarrassing that you guys work for DLNR and you don’t know those rights. It’s all about native gathering rights and we only gather in the beach – down the beach or in the forest. We don’t gather in neighborhoods so... It should be something – you guys should be on already – off the top – and when you make policies look if there’s conflict – no ignore ‘em and then we gotta go court. You know it’s a rule – look at that and see if it applies and not bang each other when you make your process so no more this kind humbug, you already went do your homework and that’s what you’re supposed to be doing – sad that you still hear this stuff in two thousand – like this at this time when this is like the 80s we were raising a lot of these concerns and never grow man – I see the Department doesn’t grow. So you gotta be more strong – no scared – submit your own management plan and let ‘em go like this and figure out what’s this, what’s that, what this, what’s that is. But don’t accept this at the last part and then they try fit you in with your concerns – you should be up front – be part of the whole planning – if not – plan yourself – and then give it to them so that when they do their plan you got yours already that they got to incorporate in the draft. No scared, I mean... TN: Pali? Would you be part of our planning? PD: Yeah, if you like. TN: Thank you, Pali. TN: Terri Napeahi with Pele Defense Fund – since the last presentation that I have given – there was some conversation with our community and I heard from the State GMAC regarding the fact that, you know, and conversation about there isn’t a State Management Plan because that was stated in my last presentation and then someone from – a worker – an employee from 23 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 DLNR – sent me a link to say that they had a game management plan already – so in the conversation they – some of our hunters mentioned that what they actually say that it’s not a game management plan – it was more of a control and eradication plan, which is something that they’re concerned about – so I think – the thought of having a game management plan – that is one of the biggest concerns our hunters have – is it just to control and eradicate and also the fact that I didn’t hear anything about our subsistence gathering – I heard recreational hunting – nothing about subsistence gathering – which I think is important – which is Article 12, Section 7 – very important – because that’s Constitution – it’s not a rule and regulation and that’s all I wanted to point out, OK? GD: Now hearing about all these different concerns from the public and from our commission – are you going to take that into account when writing and drafting the game management plan going forwards? AA: Anybody else from the public at any time and at any meeting you guys can just come up and speak. BKK: And then go ahead – press the red button and just state your name for the record/ DE: My name is Danny Idos – I try to come to a lot of these GMAC meetings – I went to some several years ago – there’s a lot of new faces – but I did bring up something at a previous GMAC meeting several years ago when DLNR was here – that was never touched on and I’m speaking on behalf of a lot of my hunter friends. I’m – just to let you know that I’m a pig hunter – bird hunter, a fisherman, bow hunter. I hunted pretty much all over this Island and people that have been hunting here long enough have a concern and it’s brought to my attention about – my question to DLNR is what’s being done about the invasive weeds that are overtaking our prime hunting grounds. I mean, all you got to do is go over there to Mauna Kea – or drive on Saddle Road – and you see these – it looks deceiving – it looks like green – but it’s these vines that are just overtaking our prime hunting spots. These are hunting areas that used to have a lot of goats, a lot of sheep – a lot of birds and so all we have left are these grounds that have no game – because I know on the mainland where they do real game management – they do things to sustain the game there – not only water – but they do like controlled burns – some places for deer they do – they put food plots – but, um, just like Mr. Umeda brought up - I think Hawaii is the only place that doesn’t have real game management and I’m just a simple hunter here but I’m really concerned because – and that’s why I try to go to these GMAC meetings is because it affects all of us – all of us hunters – and fishermen – so I really don’t know if they have an answer but the last time that I did ask DLNR that question – they’re response was well we do some mowing. And we got laughter in the audience and brother Hoeflinger – that just left – his response was bring in 24 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 the goats. You know, he was trying to be funny but seriously – what can be done about he invasive weeds. That’s something that we should be discussing because it doesn’t seem to be touched on. And I wasn’t planning to come up here but I just wanted to bring that up. This is something that could be added to the game management if that ever happens. TN: Earlier, you know, our lack of knowing what is out there – what has happened in the past – and our hunters sharing it with DLNR – their knowledge – it fell on deaf ears and because we didn’t have science with us and maybe now we can share more information with DLNR and maybe they already knew that but didn’t want to listen but we’ll have a guest speaker next month talking about goats – having goats back into those areas to clear out invasive weeds. I hope DLNR has science behind that but it you don’t then maybe we should look in other areas that possibly may have answers for us. I mean, does DLNR know about goats and weeds and how they take care of an area? SB: I know we’ve seen that in a Kapapala Ranch uses managed goat herds to control guava and other weeds to improve grazing habitat and Dick has shared with me recently some information on the – how they use goats for fuel breaks and stuff on the mainland. NP: Would you like to share a little bit ahead of time about that. TN: I’m sorry. There’s Mark Crivello in the back there – that’s gonna be our guest speaker and he raises goats to take care of what a lawn mower would do but he does it in a natural way. So Mark you want to – I know you’re not prepared cause you’re not on until next month but just a little bit of information, Mark, of what you’ve discovered that your goats do... NP: For the draft game management plan... MC: Mark Crivello – ‘Aina Pono Livestock and Land Maintenance – just quick one about the goats and sheep – they are very useful helping us take care of our land and natural waste – I do have a lot of research which I have done with DUH and other organizations that we do have proof that my livestock can clear a native forests without disturbing the native plants. They take out invasive trees, grass, vegetations and if you utilize the right animals in the right places you can make this work, so, um, hopefully, I could give you guys a few insights on how things work with the animals like that – cause it is a very touchy situation due to native plants, animal numbers and all that so it’s gonna take lotta strategies and... MC: It can be done and I have proof and hopefully next month I get to share with you guys all these documents, pictures and so forth what we have done. 25 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 GH: I have a question for DLNR. Mr. Hoeflinger showed us a slide of the original people who worked on it – on the game management plan with DLNR and community hunting members – it’s kinda like déjà vu for me – what can we do so that 15 years from now they’re not putting up a slide of our names saying we’re deceased and incapacitated and still having the same conversation about a game management plan not being implemented. What can we do differently this time? SB: I think you need to hold us to task and keep reminding us that this needs to move forward because we get busy with a lot of other projects that we’re involved in – so everyone needs to make it a priority and help move it forward quickly so that that doesn’t happen. And a commitment from everybody involved. TN: I’d like to share a bright idea. If I may – this is Teresa. Why not community input first before you do your draft? Is that a hard action to take? I know the instruction was you folks do the draft, OK, go ahead – do the draft – but what about community input first? Something to think about. Yes, so... Why not a whole community island-wide and information like this would be helpful before you folks start your draft because you have no information right now from the public to even think what the public needs are, or what the public wants to share with you or the public’s knowledge – that’s vital – you folks don’t have that – you don’t have ancestral knowledge. This is Hawaii – this is not anywhere else – we’re unique – our island is unique, our species are unique, our island style is unique and you go ahead and draft something that is not island style, I’m sorry, I mean, I feel perplexed here that you’ve not incorporated but why not public first and have a meeting island- wide. Just a suggestion. BKK: Is there any other questions from the commissioners? OK. Thank you, gentlemen very much. Appreciate it. KS: Thank you. BKK: We’re looking at 6 a. on the Commission Rules and Regulations. Is there – I’m gonna go ahead and table this because I don’t think I have amended it. I don’t know, which one it was... BKK: I’m just going to table it for now. Ah, 7 a. under New Business – the Kaupulehu – under New Business – on behalf of the Commission I’ve written a letter to the DAR Division on an update of the Kaupulehu Fish Replenishment Area – the letter has been shared to the Commission and will be placed on the – to the record. I hope it’s too have a briefing for the Commission by the next meeting. Is there any other New Business any commissioners want to bring up? 26 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 GD: Not sure if any of the other commissioners have heard but, um, I think the Hawaii Supreme Court has basically like rules against Hu Honua, um, because, I’m not 100% sure and this may not be 100% accurate – but basically because the agency responsible for reviewing Hu Honua’s environmental impact failed to explicitly look at their greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution impacts that any deal with HELCO like is void because of that and so... ?: Excuse me, so what does this have to do with Game Management? GD: Well, because Hu Honua came and presented to us so many times. I thought it would be \[unclear\] to give an update to... ?: Yeah, so... That one should be kinda tabled too that, if I saying the right words... COMMITTEE REPORTS: Government Relations – Bills update/Testimony BKK: That was originally for Old Business so I’m gonna go – unless there’s any other comments that is – needs to be made on the issue I’m gonna move on to Committee Reports. Under 8 a. is there anybody from Government Relations that wants to bring anything up? The Legislature ended two weeks ago... NP: No report. Traditional and Customary Practices BKK: No report. OK. Ah, Traditional Customary Practices? TN: I was hoping that John Kaiapu from DOCARE would have been here to help me with the update of Kaupulehu but I guess I’d like to move it to our next meeting next month that we can talk about Kaupulehu. Public Relations: BKK: Under 8 c. Public Relations? ?: \[No answer\] Shooting Range Working Group: BKK: Any updated from the Shooting Range Working Group? 27 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 JO: Yes, Jim O’Keefe here. Yes, the Mayor has tasked somebody on his staff to work with us on getting some recommendations of where to proceed. We’ve been working with – that person’s Malia – and we’ve been working with her getting a summary of the kinds of things that are required for proper shooting range safety, environmental management, hydrology, you know, the whole works – and we have presented a list of several sites and the pros and cons of those sites – the kinds of things that would take for each or any of them to become a working group and we’ll be awaiting a response from the Mayor’s Office on that to see where we go next. BKK: Jim, what sites are those? JO: That would be Puuanahulu, Puu Kaohe and 16-Mile. BKK: Thank you. All right – next – Communications Committee? \[Pause\] Committee on Mauna Kea Information sheep task force? \[Pause\] Anything from the Committee on Wild Game? Nothing? OK. Anybody – any commissioners’ reports? COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS BY DISTRICT: NP: Not particularly for my district, but I made a motion that we respond to Tony Sylvester’s request that we talk to DLNR or DOFAW about this hunter survey and I looked for it and the survey’s been closed, so they removed it, I guess, because possibly there were a lot of complaints about it but I think a hunter survey is a good idea to feel the pulse of the hunters – the problem was that the questions – Tony pointed out that the questions were all sort of geared toward getting the hunters to say, yeah, we want to just go and have’ open season and kill ‘em all, you know? Like using hunters for eradication purposes, so, even though the survey has been closed I feel that we still maybe should respond to Shaya suggesting questions that would be beneficial to the hunters that they could respond in a way that is giving them options to support renewable resource so, anyway, should I pursue that? We made a motion – the survey’s closed... BKK: I believe Tony was supposed to send both of us something regarding that? NP: Right, he was but then he said he didn’t have time. I corresponded with him and said that I would do it. BKK: OK. We’ve already made a motion for it \[unclear\].. NP: Yeah, so we should even though the survey’s closed. BKK: Is there any other commissioner’s report? 28 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 GD: First of all, we’ve seen some dumping in Waimea of like killed boar – like whole pigs being dumped out at Mana Road, which is – it’s somewhere I just go and walk like recreationally, whatever – I go for a stroll – so every so often and it’s been like getting – it’s always been somewhat of an issue – not like, you know, you see one like every year or so but like more recently there’s been a lot... So that was something that I thought might be pertinent to bring up – I’m not exactly sure what we can do about it or anything... TN: I don’t think they’re dumping. I think accidents happen and people are not aware so they’ve been hit by a car and the car just speeds off and they’re just left alongside the road so whether – if it’s a state zoned area then the state highway division takes care of it and if it’s county road then the county are obligated to remove the animal from the roadside, but mainly because they’re banged – not because they’re dumped. NP: Could you tell how they were killed? GD: It didn’t look like they were hit by a car. There was one carcass that was clearly like taken apart and skinned so, I don’t know – it wasn’t a very pleasant sight or smell and I thought maybe that’s something... Mana Road. Yeah. And then, a second thing – there’s been some reports of small baby deer being sighted both in Waimea and in Ocean View. My own parents saw a lot of little baby deer in Ocean View. I’m not sure about like the Waimea ones. I haven’t seen these myself. Allegedly, apparently we have deer on the Island which, like, I’m not sure. NP: Maybe they were goats? GD: Maybe, that’s what I’m thinking but no – people seem to be pretty adamant that no, no, it was deer – it’s not goats but who knows... BKK: You have anything else? AA: Been working with DOFAW with Ian Cole they’re been doing great work up in Kulani area – Stainback – road widening through Pig Hunters of Hawaii we’re working on a trash pick-up probably sometime in June, so, as far as District 5 we’re moving forward, you know, we’re doing progress – some progress work and you guys know anything about the NARS area up in Glenwood – you know, what’s the status on when they’re gonna reopen that? The end of Captain’s Drive. 29 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2019 SB: I think the existing closure is just gonna expire – so probably sometime this summer. I don’t have a date... AA: You going make ‘em public notice that it’s gonna reopen? SB: I’ll have to check with the NARS staff. But I think that it’s just gonna expire. BKK: Is there any other commissioner’s reports? OK. I have something on - next week Monday, Tuesday and Thursday – May 20, 21, 23 – there’s hunter education out in Kona at Kealakehe so if anybody needs to go for some hunting license you find Teresa over there. All right – any other reports? AA: Just over the last few weekends – probably two weekends in a row – one the weekend before last there was a hunting tournament out in Hamakua somewhere – I think it was Laupahoehoe – had a significant number of turnout – I think about 15 pigs in all came out – I never went to that one – but one of my friends said about 15 pigs came out of that one. I was recently at the one in Panaewa – had 40 entrants – 40 hunters – and I stayed – the weigh-ins was 12:00 and it was done at 4:00 and I stayed there the whole afternoon. We weighed in I would say at least 30 pigs came in and not all 40 people came – about 30. One of them was island-wide tournaments and sizes ranged from one 200 pound laho’ole that came in from Kona to one 86 pound boar that came in from Keaau. There was also 180 something pound came in from Volcano, if I’m not mistaken. So there’s still lotta game throughout the Island but there’s also some areas where there’s not and we need to get better communication with the hunters to figure out like what Mr. Dedman said. And we’re working on it. ADJOURNMENT: BKK: Teresa Nakama moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 pm. Seconded by George Donev. Motioned carried unanimously by voice vote. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted by: Donna Urban-Higuchi Secretary ASTTEST: Bronsten “Kalei” Kossow, Chairperson 30