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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-23 Game Management Advisory Commission Mintues Game Management Advisory Commission County of Hawai’i Minutes Meeting Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Time: 6:30pm Place: Hawai’i County Building, and West Hawai’i Civic Center, Mayor’s Conference Rooms - Via Zoom 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:31pm District 1 - Stanley Mendes, present (in person) District 2 - Kean Umeda, Excused District 3 - Vacant District 4 – Brian Ley – present (Zoom) District 5 - Abraham Antonio, present (in person) District 6 - Grayson Hashida, present (Zoom) District 7 - Vacant District 8 - Vacant District 9 - George Donev, present (Zoom) Quorum Established GUESTS: Maurice Messina, COH Director of Parks & Rec STAFF: John Mukai, Corporation Counsel Pomai Bartolome, Executive Assistant to Mayor Barett Otani, Executive Assistant to Mayor Roth Barbara Kossow, Administrative Specialist Mayor’s Kona Office 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Action: A motion was made by S. Mendes to accept the February 23, 2021 minutes. Seconded by B. Ley. Motion, carried unanimously. 3. FINANCIAL REPORT: 1 Action: A motion was made by S. Mendes to accept the Financial Report as circulated. Seconded by G. Donev. Motion carried unanimously. 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: None at this time. The chair welcomes anyone that may want to say something regarding an agenda item, may do so anytime throughout the meeting. 5. PRESENTATION: a. Maurice Messina, Director of Parks and Recreation will discuss possible county involvement in public shooting range development and update on COVID procedures at the County Trap and Skeet Range. MM: How’s it going everybody? Thanks for letting me come on. Sorry I couldn’t make the last meeting – I was coming over the Saddle Road and it just lost all signal. So as far as our COVID policies and COVID rules at the Trap & Skeet Range – right now everything is still just status quo – the social gathering sizes have increased to 25 with the latest Rule of the Mayor. We just asked that if you do want to do an event there – that you please contact us and let us know and then what we’ll ask for is your COVID protocols and if you don’t have those – we’ll help you work those out. But for right now – everything seems to be working well – everybody’s following all the procedures through the Mayor’s COVID Rules and the Governor’s Emergency Proclamations – does anyone have any questions about those? BL: Brian – District 4. Do you still have to do the email to request the time to go shoot at the range now? MM: Yes, you do. Yes. BL: OK. AA: Abraham – District 5. Is that the only way to make reservations is to just email or can you still call in? MM: Well, we’re asking for the email right now… And so – if we do change it for call in we’ll let you guys know. I do understand that there have been a few people that have called in who don’t have emails and we’ve been able to accommodate those guys but we would ask for the email for right now – continue that policy. AA: So what days do you guys have it open? Is it still just Wednesdays and Saturdays or you guys have more days open or? MM: Yes – Wednesdays and Saturdays. And we do want to increase our days there. If we can get where we need to be with staffing and if we can get where we need to be with the COVID then we will increase days there – that is one of our agenda items that we have for the Mayor’s Rules Committee – so we’re working with our recreation staff that’s overall in charge of that right now and all the other gyms and every other thing that we have, you know, drag race and drag strip 2 and everything else – so we’re looking at every single one of our facilities every week to see if there’s any changes that we need to make and we present those changes up to the Mayor’s Rules Committee and they let us know if those changes are good or not. AA: Abraham – District 5 – and then as far as you guys COVID protocols is the one you’re asking the public to do – that’s the same for all sports events, right, like baseball, football – I heard that everybody got to support their own COVID protocols, right, so you’re basically looking for the same thing, right? MM: Yes, sir… AA: Yeah, we got an idea, too – well, actually how did you guys’ updates go, the facility? Last time you were here you guys had some updates – so how did that go? MM: Our ADA project? AA: Yeah… MM: Yes, yes, it’s complete and if any of you have been out there to shoot you’ll see that we’re totally ADA accessible now out there and I think that everything went great. AA: So did you guys make better restrooms – you guys updated the restrooms or still the same? MM: ADA accessible… AA: Yeah… SM: So – Stanley – District 1 – so the only way to use the facility is email? MM: Yes. SM: You cannot just show up down there? MM: No, because we still got to maintain just like everybody does – we still got to maintain all of our proper safety protocols during COVID and we want to make sure that – for instance – if we – with the gathering sizes increased – we have a group of 15 or 20 down there – we can’t have another group of 15 to 20 just showing up. So that’s what we’re asking everybody - is just for your patience and continued patience – and I know it’s a pain right now to do this but we’re doing it at all of our facilities right now to ensure that we don’t have too many people there – that’s something that would require a shutdown of one of our facilities because the rules aren’t being followed. AA: Right. As far as the facility itself – is there any chance that we could like update or create more shooting area – like let’s say – maybe putting in a pistol range? Maybe like 5 slots pistol range or something down in that area? 3 MM: So that question was raised and so what we did is we went back and looked at the Executive Order from the State. The executive order specifically says skeet range – trap and skeet. It doesn’t allow us to do anything else there. AA: Is there any way we can go back and look into and changing that order? MM: Change the Executive Order from the State? AA: Yeah? MM: Um, well, that’s something that’s gotta be talked about with the State, ah, I’m not 100% sure on that… SM: Stanley – District 1 – and that’s because that’s Hawaiian Homeland or? MM: State… SM: But… Where the gun range is – is it State land or County land? MM: So it was given to the County via Executive Order and the Executive Order specifically states that they’re giving it to us for this specific purpose. And a pistol range was not part of that purpose. Um, if that’s something that this group wanted to petition the State for, you know, where right not we have no intention of turning that into a pistol range. AA: Abraham – District 5 – well, not the whole area but just a section, you know, of that area would be great – that’s kind of like updating, so that’s something I guess we can look into… MM: Well, yeah, it would be… AA: Would you… MM: Yeah, it would be a change of the Executive Order which would have to be approved by the Governor… AA: Right… MM: ….go through the DLNR Board and all that… AA: Great… MM: If that’s something that this Commission wanted to petition the State for, next thing would be the money, how we’re going to do it and is that site specifically, I mean, cause we’ve got a transfer station back there – we’ve got quarries back there – is that site suitable for a pistol range – I don’t know those answers – I’m not an expert at this – I just read through the Executive Order that says these are your explicit – we’re giving you explicitly for this purpose and pistol range was not part of that one. 4 AA: OK. Sounds good, Maurice. Does any member of the public have any comments or questions? Yeah – we got Dexter up here, he has a question. You got to unmute yourself, Dexter… BL: This is Brian Ley – District 4 – while Dexter is trying to get up maybe I can throw a quick question out – hey – does the facility have enough property to do a pistol range, number one – do we have the land available to do it if we get the nod? MM: You know, I don’t know – that was a good question that was brought up earlier and so I made a quick note of, to look at the area that we have ‘cause right now we have the V outright – the shooting from both sides. I’m not sure how much available land is there – but that’s something that I can find out – what I’ll do is I’ll go back to that Executive Order and if that’s OK I can email it to this group so that you guys can see specifically what it says in there and the boundaries. AA: Yeah, that would be great. MM: OK. AA: Thanks, Maurice… BL: Appreciate that… Any luck with Dexter? TN: This is Teresa – can I ask a question? AA: Yes, Teresa… MM: So, I’m sorry, so real quick – eh, Dexter since you can’t come in maybe you can type your question in the chat and I can answer it for you. AA: Good idea Maurice. Dexter look somewhere on your lower bar – you going see a chat – should have number 3 in red and you can just type the question in there… Teresa for now you may ask your question… TN: What would it take for a pistol range to happen and how can we assist in making that be a part of the Executive Order? MM: It would have to actually be a change to the Executive Order…. TN: Would that be an addendum to the Executive Order? Is it something that you would support or, we need to know the availability of manpower from the County and the availability of the facility to have such a shooting range for pistols. MM: Oh, Teresa, I got to look and see what it would take to change an Executive Order – I don’t know that but from my very first conversation I had with Tom and the guys - we hundred percent support a range. I’m from Louisiana and we had ranges all throughout and it really helped us growing up, so I completely support. If it’s within the confines of the Executive Order then we can look at that – but what it takes to change an Executive Order I don’t know that information but I will get that to you guys… I can tell you that the Executive Order process is a very long, multi-year process – multi-hearing process. We’re going through a couple of Executive Orders 5 right now from the State and I’m not sure – well, first we got to see if we got enough room there for that, right James? J: Yes… \[Not speaking into mic\] TN: Thank you… Abraham – I’d like to ask you a question? AA: Yes, Teresa… TN: Why is it that when GMAC wants something to be done it’s like moving a mountain to accomplish anything so how do we move forward in all the issues that we face and overcome the obstacles we have to do. It seems like the Island has been in such a backward situation every time we have an issue in front of us and it’s like moving a mountain every time we want to go forward so… What will it take for us to move forward on all the issues that we face? AA: For one – we need more public support. That would be like a main thing… TN: All right – thank you… AA: Eh, Dexter, did you find the chat part on the bottom? BL: Eh, Dexter, if you go where your mute button is there’s a little arrow there and if you click that little arrow it may have a spot to where you can say switch to computer audio – that may be your issue… OK, well maybe when – after the meeting – after Dexter can – if there’s a question that he needs to send it directly to me he can email it to me or give me a phone call. AA: Yeah, that’s basically what I was thinking. Dexter – maybe you can get Maurice or Maurice can you share your email with him thru the chat and then… MM: Yup… b. Darren Ogura of DLNR Hunter Education Program will speak on phase 2 of the 16 Mile Marker shooting range rules. AA: Next we’re going to Darren Ogura – he’s from Department of Hunter Education – he’s gonna speak on the two phases of 16 Mile Marker and the shooting range development for 16 Mile Marker. Eh, Darren, you there? DO: Darren Ogura – any questions you guys have? AA: Well, the status of 16 Miles for one… DO: OK. The last meeting I had as far as 16 Mile Marker with Jim O’Keefe, I believe, that was in 2019 October – right before COVID. So our plans were – right now there’s only a few berms we put up cause we only had the dozers and ran out of a little bit of money there so the Phase 2 is to finish grading – put a nicer, smaller gravel down on top of the berms – the side berms – and I want to 6 add side berms to the top range between the two ranges and we want to add two side berms on the bottom range and finish extending it up to at least 100 yards. When we did the first phase we only had dozers so we couldn’t move that giant rock in the middle of the bottom range, you know, we need an excavator for that – and better shooting line: we want to put a – this is all ideas from the community too… AA: OK… DO: We want to put down like a cement shooting line or to put – where to put benches on top or asphalt or whatever we can come up with after the grading cause the community wanted what we gathered all these – last couple years – is they want to do a community work day to help build the benches and fix it up nicer and put the trash cans back. The first trash cans we put out there somebody stole one and shot up the other one so… But that’s about it. We got a lot of – we can’t do too much with the parking on the lower because there’s a gulch right behind it so that we have to figure that out – better parking – so once we put up the side berms maybe we can put the parking in the middle somewhere so you have a little more parking. So that’s the main thing – is the side berms – I want to put those side berms up. AA: OK… Abraham – District 5 – is there any possibility that you can put softer material instead of just gravel onto the piles just to help prevent ricochet prevention? DO: Right now there’s no – only the top range has that pretty fine \[unclear\] that red cinder we put up there… AA: Right… DO: ….so that was according to the range expert Loren Kramer – that should be fine – that size. But as you know there’s nothing on the bottom – on the floor – which would be nice to put a layer of softer dirt or something. And that big red pile on the right – we want to put real fine cinder on that, you know… There’s pretty big rocks there. AA: Some of the questions that we’re getting about 16 Mile Marker one of the major things – why do they need their hunting license to shot there if it’s a shooting range and not a hunting area? And Andy you may chime in on this one too. c. DOCARE Officer Andy Ford of DOFAW will talk on 16 Mile Marker shooting range rules AF: Yeah, OK, you hear me right? AA: Yup. You’re fine. AF: OK. I wasn’t sure about that I’ve just been kind of hanging back. AA: Yeah, so Darren you can kind of touch up on it first and then we got Andy Ford. AF: Alright… 7 AA: It’s just because we have DOCARE here because they do the enforcement of the area but we want to be clear to the public of what the rules and regulations is up at 16 Mile Marker because there’s a lot of – besides the Vog that rolls in there’s a lot of gray area up there. ?: Well, according to the letter of the law – 130-5 you do not need a hunting license to shoot on a shooting range. But Mile Marker 16 is still designated as a restricted watershed. Am I correct? AF: You’re correct in that – therein lies the biggest problem as a protected watershed you can’t go into the area without either a hunting license or a watershed permit – that’s in the Hawai’i Administrative Rules – 1315 and that’s the rules that govern the restricted watershed. And, as I said, you have to have a permit to go in or a hunting license to make any entry into the area where the range sits. The range itself has not yet been designated with a designated access that you would have to have to get around that question. AA: I see what he’s saying. TN: Abraham? Teresa… AA: Yes… Go ahead Teresa… TN: Administrative rules are not laws so we can put in an admin request for an exemption. AF: Well, you could maybe do something like that but that’s got to go through Forestry & Wildlife. Someone needs to make contact with one of the – I guess it would be Steve Bergfield is the initial person you would want to talk to but… AA: Well, he’s her tonight so Steve you want to chime in on this too Steve? TN: Abraham – GMAC can write a letter for a letter of exemption because administrative rules are not State laws. AA: Right… TN: I’m sorry, this is Teresa… ?: Say, Abraham, it’s something that we can discuss with DOCARE on what their requirements are for entering the range… AA: Steve – sorry – you like state your name – sorry… SB: Steve Bergfield – Division of Forestry and Wildlife… So the restricted watershed permits are required to enter the watershed – if you have a hunting license that is part of your hunting license is the restricted watershed permit. If we’re gonna by-pass that process then that’s something we would have to talk to DOCARE and Hunter Ed about. AA: So can we move forward with that? SB: I can discuss with Andy and \[unclear\] and Darren and see what decision is on that. 8 AA: OK. That would be good – thanks Steve… So, it sounds like we going get one group chat with DOCARE, Hunter Ed and Forestry and as soon as you guys come up with a plan – maybe you can come back and do a presentation on you guys plan. TN: This is Teresa. I would suggest that one member of the Commission be part of that meeting. AA: Yeah, that’s a good idea. So when you guys have you guys meeting maybe you can reach out to one of us or reach out to me and then we can schedule one of us to attend that meeting also. So we’ll come back to that 16 Mile Marker when we get more information about that. BL: Brian – District 4. Hey, I got a quick question Darren in the future is there any plans in like putting a pavilion or benches or something at Mile Marker 16, you know like some shooting ranges you know they have a covered pavilion… DO: Right… BL: ….stable benches for shooting platforms. DO: Well, we were gonna put that – like a cement or an asphalt shooting line with benches on top – that was one of the ideas… BL: OK. DO: .Some ideas were also to put a covering on it and then that idea was kind of shot down by the community actually because of theft… BL: OK. Yeah, cause I know the rain is a major issue on trying to get out there and nobody wants to sit there and get their guns all wet… DO: Right, exactly, so the solution we came up with so far is your pop-up tent. I brought in the idea of the covered, you know, a nice covering to keep you dry but they said it’s gonna be gone… ?: It’s possible… ?: I think you’d have to make some kind of major structure before it wouldn’t get vandalized and stolen… AA: Nothing portable… ?: Yeah, nothing portable… DO: Well, hopefully once this COVID stuff dies down – I actually had a meeting last week with Jason Omick and we were talking about proceeding with Phase 2 as soon as everything settles down – which should be soon, hopefully. BL: Hopefully… 9 DO: We couldn’t travel all this year – over a year now - I haven’t been there. BL: Brian – excuse me… TN: Sorry – I’m just wanting to repeat Dexter’s question in the chat box – and he’s asking is it ADA accessible because he has a disability and because there’s a chained barricade to the entrance to the 16 Mile Marker. A cable or something… DO: I believe that’s open… TN:: There’s a cable… ?: It’s always open… The only time I can think of when the cable was closed was back when Darren did the last improvements over there – they closed it to keep the public out while they were doing their work… TN: But normally, I’m sorry, this is Teresa – so normally the cable is open? ?: That is correct. TN: All right – thank you… DO: Yes, this is Darren… You know we closed the cable when there’s trail maintenance and stuff like that for construction. Otherwise, it’s 7 days a week. AA: Any other questions from the public or commissioners? Tom Lodge – you had a question? TL: I did but I think it got answered. AA: OK. No other questions from the public or commissioners. OK. Thanks, guys. AA: See you guys at the next meeting… ?: Thanks you guys… AA: Thanks for showing up… ?: You had good instructions this time… AA: OK. We’re going to West Hawai’i DOFAW Wildlife Biologist Kanalu Sproat – he’s going be giving a report on predator control and a trapping program. Eh, Kanalu, you in? d. West Hawai’i DOFAW Wild Life Biologist Kanalu Sproat will give a report on predator control and trapping program KS: Yeah, howzit? 10 AA: Howzit… KS: So I emailed like a 2 slide presentation over there – I don’t know if there’s somebody over there that could just pop it up. If not, I can just present without it. AA: No, I seen it – right there – there it is. KS: OK. So I was asked to kind of give some information about our predator control on Mauna Kea, , so, I’ll just present kinda how many traps we have and what we’re – what our targets are and why we’re doing it – so the predator control is designed to reduce feral cat, mongoose and rat numbers on the mountain with the objective of reducing predation pressure which would increase reproductive success for both native and non-native birds. We are – trapping program is kind of split up into two different parts – I just have one half time DOFAW general laborer so he’s a civil service position and his main responsibility is Puuwaawaa but he does two days a week up on Mauna Kea – we just trapped the water units – our game bird \[unclear\] up there – so we have 13 traps and he checks them like I said about two days a week and for last year he captured 11 cats, 40 mongoose and two Erckel Francolin. So I think the reason I was asked to speak about this was concerns over non-target species that we do sometimes – we do sometimes catch game birds, specifically on Erckels. Next slide – the second portion of our predator control and the main guys that do predator control on the mountain is Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Program – they are contractors through the University of Hawai’i but work under us – so that right there is kind of a good graphic they have of how many traps they have out and their total numbers last year so… They have almost 600 traps between the northern part which is in Puu Mali Mitigation Area and then on the western side of the Island \[unclear\] mitigation – the \[unclear – sounds like kauimigalee\] and a little bit outside of that and then also that – above that park over there – so like I said they have almost 600 traps out and in blue are their total captures for the year – so this is just for last year – last year they had 71 cats, 94 mongoose, 20 rats and 11 Erckel . So we do catch some game birds – but we’re pretty successful at catching the things that we do target and minimizing bi-catch or catching things we’re not intending to. We use mostly conibear body grip traps which are designed to be lethal traps – kill traps – we also have some live traps – Have a Heart Traps – and then also some A24 – those are the resetting traps for rats. We trap from – well traps are closed from September through the end of the fall game bird season so the end of January – and then we also close them during the spring turkey – but other than that they’re open. The live traps we do leave open throughout the year – those ones we’re supposed to check every 24-48 hours. And so if we’re not able to check them that frequently then we will close them or just removed them. So, yeah, that’s kind of rundown of what we do for trapping and why we do it – willing to take any questions. I think we close them during spring turkey just cause we have more users in the area than normal. But that’s just the kill trap. We do leave the live traps open. Any other questions? BL: Brian – District 4 – Are you guys still using bait in the mongoose PVC traps? Is that still being utilized on the mountain? KS: No, we’ve – as long as I’ve been here – I’ve been here 7 years – we’ve never used those traps for – we’ve never put bait in those traps and so actually we just did have a meeting with some of our guys and we’re gonna do a little bit more of a coordinated effort to start removing them – that project was 20 years ago or something – I don’t know – it was long before I was here. 11 BL: OK. Another question – is it possible we could have like a tip line when I’m out there hunting other areas I’ll see cat signs – is there any way we could notify you guys that there’s a cat – mile marker here running around on the road? KS: Yeah, OK. BL: \[Unclear\] them a little bit if we just notify you maybe? KS: Yeah, you want to shoot me an email or if you have my phone number you can text, yeah, for sure, and maybe it would be real helpful if you sent me some pictures too GPS point, yeah – that would be helpful. BL: OK. Yeah… Just to target it cause I know sometimes I see tracks out there and the other thing – I don’t see anything on dogs – I know a couple of buddies ran into some goat hunting and I know that there’s a large pack of wild dogs on the military base – is there a reason we’re not really targeting these animals? KS: …access to the military is very limited and so I would talk to their natural resource program about anything they might do about controlling dogs. We ourselves – we really wrapped up the dog control program about 3 years ago in Puuwaawaa and Puuanahulu – maybe three or four years ago and across about 2 years we removed 36 dogs and then just – it’s very labor intensive – our program – our strategies for removing dogs – so we kind of pulled back from it – we’re just doing other stuff and we’ve had quite a few reports – I know you’re one of the guys that ran into dogs at Puuanahulu that open weekend – so we’re starting to ramp that up again and it’s a little harder so we put out leg holds for the dogs – most of the time it takes a good month before – with our traps set and our baits – our scents to lure ‘em in – it takes them a little while before they get comfortable and start coming closer to our traps so it’s a little harder with hunting actively going on in Puuanahulu right now – for us to set those traps cause we can’t leave them open during the weekends but we are – we did put out some cameras – we already got pictures of dogs in our water units just within weeks so we’re aware of it and we’re developing it and starting to go in there to try to address that. BL: OK, yeah, cause I’m sure they’re just hell on the nene… KS: Oh, yeah, I know there was some concern about some of our traps – so sometimes we opportunistically will either like I said – we do sometimes catch Erckel Francolins by accident or we’ll find a carcass and they end up being good bait – so sometimes we’ll throw ‘em in the trap as bait for those cats and stuff and maybe it doesn’t look so good but we don’t ever go out and actively try to capture those birds to use as baits. BL: No, I know. It’s just people were saying, you know, nobody sees cats – they were just wondering if we’re catching more Erckels than we’re catching cats… KS: Yeah… BL: If we’re being counterproductive… It’s looking like you guys are catching your fair share of cats so that’s good. No more questions from me, thank you, I appreciate it… 12 KS: OK. SM: Kanalu – Stanley – District 1… KS: Yes… SM: What about maybe bounty – offering bounty or deputize people to, you know, while they’re hunting they can take of these animals because that’s when you see ‘em, you know, while we’re hunting so… Maybe one… KS: Um… I would – I don’t know what the legal process of that would be for us to say you’re deputized to do this thing – I know that the laws allow for agents of the State to remove wild dogs and cats, but I don’t – I can ask our Admin and maybe we can issue a permit to hunters that would say if you’re in the hunting area you can remove these animals – I know for you we had this conversation a little bit – you’re concerned about maybe recovering the costs of an arrow or something if you try to remove the animal so – that’s something that I have to have a conversation with our Admin to find out the legality of that. SM: That’s only the arrow head… TL: Kanalu? KS: Yes… TL: Tom Lodge… KS: Hey, Tom… TL: A few years ago Jon Giffin issued permits in – well, at 26 miles and they were for dogs and I don’t know if you can call that an agency thing or not but, he did give us a permit at one time. KS: OK. So it’s been done… TL: ….we didn’t collect anything but we had the opportunity with it… KS: OK, yeah, let me, OK, that’s good to know it’s been done so I can go and do a little bit of research on that and maybe we can – I will ask, I will find out if we can, you know, I wouldn’t be so comfortable with doing a “bounty” per se because we’re gonna have – you’re gonna have to somehow prove that you got that animal where you said you got it. But maybe we can do something to help cover the cost of a broken or lost arrow or something – I don’t know – but at least I’ll go and check out about the permit. TL: I think the benefit overrides the – if you can remove the dog – that benefits everybody. I don’t know that I’d want to get a dollar back for my arrow necessarily… KS: No, yeah, I mean… SM: It’s like $30.00… 13 TL: Well, that’s right… I carve mine. KS: There’s a question in the chat box… What do you know about the \[unclear – sounds like cawli\] pest control contract? I only know that the contract went to a different agency and that they – if I remember correctly – they don’t euthanize animals the way the Humane Society did, that’s kind of the extent of my knowledge on that. AA: Anymore questions or comments from the public? This is Abraham – District 5 – as far as me - Kanalu you answered all my questions – the other fellow commissioners asked all my questions so... KS: OK. I’ll go find out about issuing a permit to any interested hunter – I’ll get back to you guys. AA: OK. Thanks, Kanalu… KS: Yeah, thank you… AA: Goodnight… Old Business – State GMAC… 6. OLD BUSINESS a. State GMAC – Mayor Roth’s recommendation to Gov. Ige of two representatives for Hawai’i Island: Brian Ley, East and Teresa Nakama, West. AA: Mayor’s Roth’s recommendation letter to Governor Ige for our 2 representatives Brian Ley – East Hawai’i and Teresa Nakama for West Hawai’i. We tried to get an update for that but there was no update provided but yet I see Jason Omick in the audience – I think he’s part of the process of the State GMAC – so Jason would you be able to give us an update on our possible two future commissioners for the State GMAC? Or do you have any update for the State GMAC representatives? JO: Can you hear me OK? AA: Yup, you’re loud and clear… JO: How you guys doing? Nice to see everyone and, yeah, I haven’t been on this forum before so I just thought I’d jump in and… AA: Welcome, you talking already first night… JO: Right, right. Yeah, for the GMAC all those applications go to the Governor and he reviews them and makes, you know, sometimes maybe asks the Chair for recommendations what not – it kinda goes back and forth but mainly it’s just coming straight from the Governor – he makes his choice and then pushes that forward, right now – if you look at the Hawai’i Legislative website – I do see there’s 3 nominations for GMAC members – one for Oahu, one for East Hawai’i and confirming Nicolai Barca for Kauai. So all that is available to the public on the Legislative website 14 and so basically right now I’m just kind of waiting for their oath of offices – but so it does look like there was a confirmation or selection for East Hawai’i and Oahu - the Kauai member was already – signed their oath of office \[unclear\] – so we’re just kind of standing by for that. As far as West Hawai’i – I haven’t got anything that came down from the boards and commissions on any decision making on that – but I can look into that and try to see if there’s any additional movement on West Hawai’i. So that’s kind of where we’re at with that – an update for the State GMAC. AA: Thank you… TL: Who’s the representative from East Hawai’i? JO: The representative that’s being shown is Jason Sanborn. He submitted an application and a letter of intent to the boards and commissions and they do take a little bit of time to review all this stuff, I mean, some go kind of quick, maybe within a few months – some take about 3 months for them to go thru the process. I’m hoping that as we move forward the process goes a little bit quicker – there is a bill that was introduced into this session that is putting some of the decision making process to the Legislatures and then they’ll make a decision, ah, the President of the House and the Senate will make recommendations and provide that to the Governor – so, maybe they’ll be a little bit more pressure from the Leg to the Governor on applicants and that bill’s kind of getting reviewed right now. They’re saying that – if they get nine applications they’ll choose a few and push this over to the Governor but we never get nine applications – we may get 2 or 3 within a five month period so, anyways – but that is a bill in legislation so I kinda just stand by and wait for the boards and commissions to contact me and they’ll let us know that there’s some applicants – we kind of look at their information and if they ask for recommendations we provide but it’s \[unclear\] set up to the Governor to make his choice and move forward – but we do have confirmation on three people: Kauai, East Hawai’i and Oahu and we’re watching those go through right now for a confirmation. AA: So when you go back to work – maybe tomorrow or something can you double check and see if you guys even have – what’s the status of Teresa’s application since you guys have an East Hawai’i applicant already pushing through… JO: Of course, yeah, I think I did see that application and I can follow up with Boards and Commissions to kind of see what the movement on that is and follow up with one of the district guys on the Big Island so they can send that information over to you guys… AA: If not, you can just email it to Barbara and Barbara will send it out to us. She’s our secretary. JO: OK. Sounds good. AA: Thanks, Jason… JO: No problem… AA: Any other comments or questions for Jason from our members or from the public? TN: Abraham, this is Teresa… 15 AA: Yeah, go ahead Teresa… TN: I was just wondering – I left Jason – well, Jason – really for you – I left you several messages I never got a call back and I was wondering how I could follow-up with you. JO: Um, of course, again this is Jason Omick DOFAW – to reach me my email address is the best way to reach me – I do have a work cell phone number that the branch can provide to you but the easiest way to reach out to me is Jason.d.omick@Hawai’i.gov. We’re working kind of remotely so you know getting in to the office and I go in a few times a week but not checking messages constantly so pretty much my main work phone is my cell phone and you can contact me there and Kanalu or Ian can give you that information and I will take your call any time. TN: But please put it in the chat box so we have it on record – your contact information by email or cell phone? JO: Yeah, I can do that… TN: Thank you, this is Teresa… AA: Anyone else? Members any questions for Jason? OK, thanks Jason. Thanks for showing up. Thanks for participating. JO: No problem. Nice to know you all – to meet everyone. b. Potential commissioners, Districts 3, 7 and 8. AA: District 3 and District 8 are two representatives – future representatives – which is Leomana Turalde and Cortney Okamura – they gotta get officially confirmed on April 7 and then sworn in – then they’re gonna be active members hopefully as of next meeting. So congratulations. CO: Thanks, everybody… AA: Gotta state your name, Cortney, sorry… CO: This is Courtney Okamura – District 8. Thanks, everyone – can you hear me now? AA: Yeah… Thanks… TL: Oh yeah… AA: For the public – we need a representative for District 7 – that’s North Kona – am I correct Cortney? District 7? CO: I believe so yeah… I had thought I was District 7 but I’m District 8 so I’m Kalaoa and I’m not sure which direction is 7… Sorry… 16 AA: So if the public knows anybody in District 7 that would want to be a member… BK: Chair – this is Barbara… AA: Yes, Barbara… BK: District 7 is portions of North and South Kona. So Kealakekua, Kona Vista, Alii Heights, Lono Kona, which is downtown Kailua Town. AA: \[Unclear\] hoping for potential commissioners. BK: Correct… AA: OK. Thanks. New Business: 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Discuss a potential mentor program to teach interested youth and adult hunting and fishing skills. AA: I going turn New Business over the Brian Ley – District 4. He’s gonna discuss the potential membership program to teach interested youth and adult hunting and fishing skills… BL: Brian – District 4 – the last thing I ran into some poor guy – he had no idea on anything and I was thinking we really need a mentor program even for young and old people and I was thinking maybe we could run it under Parks & Recs as far as the County thing if we could kinda go under their umbrella and kinda open it up where we can get people to mentor, you know, willing to take people out – teach ‘em to shoot – take ‘em to hunt and basically the big thing is nobody knows where to hunt – nobody knows the areas – nobody knows the procedures because the opening day of goat season me and this other guy we were in the wrong place and we finally got it figures out but, you know, everybody’s totally lost – so I suggested that maybe we could come up with a mentoring program under Parks & Rec where we can get young and old into the hunting field and work that – if we can vote on it and see if we want to go ahead and push that through and see what we can work out. TL: Have you tried working with the Hunter Ed program \[unclear\]? BL: Ah, no, not yet. TL: They might be an avenue and they have resources and they do have a list of names of kids that, , want to go to the camp and other things – so they may be a resource for you if you want to participate with them. BL: Yeah, OK, because I know that I’ve taken people to the Trap Range that have no idea and I’ve got a couple extra guns and take out there – so I know there’s plenty of people that are interested in it but just don’t know how to go about getting into the field – so that’s why I was thinking we could do a little bit more public… 17 AA: Yeah, Darren, go ahead… DO: This is Darren Ogura from Hawai’i Hunter Education – we are doing programs similar to that – the actual mentorship program we tried a long time ago, Tom (Lodge), right? And there wasn’t enough mentors. So the program we came up with – actually they’re just COVID time and the idea is to actually take one of our graduates or a bunch of our graduates into the field – show ‘em what pig traps look like, you know, that kind of mentorship – that way – but so far as actually taking them out hunting – that hasn’t been successful - on a big scale. JM: You know, this is John Makai (attorney assigned to GMAC)– I just have some concerns with youth and guns and potential liability for the County so I want you guys to keep that in the back of your mind and also you probably would have to consult with the Deputy who advises Parks before moving forward with this. I mean, I just, you know, the minute I hear “youth and guns” and the County is gonna be the umbrella over it I just kinda, I just thought I’d point that out – that was my thought so and that’s it and I’m sorry. I’ll shut up. AA: Thanks, John… OK, Darren you can continue with yours – like you was saying… DO: OK. So some of our other programs we actually take them out to the shotgun range and teach ‘em trap to get them used to the firearms and, of course, we do the same for adults. So those are some of the programs that we run – we’re very short on volunteers though – our program, you know, runs off of volunteers and that’s dwindling rapidly. SM: District 1 – Stanley, so these people – these kids – they need to have their hunter education course done first or they can, you know, bring ‘em in and then slowly work ‘em to get their Hunter Ed? DO: Right now it’s Hunter Ed graduates… SM: See, I think what Brian is thinking of is, you know, kids on the outside… BL: Right… SM: Yeah… ?: You know we all went through Parks & Rec’s archery – we actually did BB guns and stuff like that but – so I’m gonna teach ‘em the safe way and it should be good. TL: \[Unclear\] AA: What is that Tom? TL: I have a question for Darren. Are you guys still doing the Keanakolu thing? DO: Keanakolu? TL: Yeah… 18 DO: Or for Puuanahulu? TL: Keanakolu… The camp out there at Keanakolu… DO: No, we haven’t been up there in years… Then it was out at Puuwaawaa… \[Unclear\] time to drive up there… AA: Eh, Brian, you had another question? BL: Yeah, I was thinking well maybe GMAC can participate in finding mentors, I mean, if we got some programs set-up maybe GMAC just needs to get some hunters involved cause I know like during the training season I’m more than happy to take people out – run the dogs, you know, non-gun – it’s for people that are interested in seeing what it’s all about running dog – behind dogs. AA: So let me get this, um, so Brian – you asking GMAC to possibly reach out to fellow hunters to become volunteers and assist Hunter Ed with their program… BL: Yeah… The mentoring program like Darren was saying – they had a situation set-up but they didn’t have enough mentors to keep the program going. AA: Well, I think now with this being public – maybe you might get a few phone calls Darren – maybe… DO: Oh, yeah, that’d be great. BL: And, of course, we’re gonna have to wait for COVID to slow down so we can get people together without everybody having issues over that bit too… DO: Yeah, exactly… AA: Right… Hey, Darren so recently and just to make it public so the public can understand – Milo just – I see Milo just made a comment about it – my two younger boys they just recently passed the Hunter Ed program online so can you just confirm that that’s all people need to do now is just pass your online class and you get your card and you’re a licensed hunter now… DO: Right… TL: You don’t have a field day anymore? DO: Well, I put the field day inside the course… The virtual field day. I like the virtual field day, actually… It’s pretty, you know, it goes through the scenarios of ethics and safety – it concentrates on firearms safety. How did your kids like it? AA: One did it in 3 days and then the other one took like 3 weeks. DO: That’s fine… 19 AA: Yeah, so they had two different paces, the one took 3 weeks he was grumbling to me – Dad, I get 90 days to complete this. I’m like, brah, you need to do it now so you can get it fresh in your mind – so it was a little forced but, yeah, he completed it and they both liked it. They both learned different things than what I can teach them. DO: Now’s your job to take them out in the field… AA: Yeah, well, they was already going before that so, yeah. DO: And just for your information we certified 950 students in January and February. AA: Right on. TL: Oh… DO: Yeah, over half of our yearly, actually. A lot of \[unclear\], you know, the students wait for the in person class due to COVID. AA: Yeah, we were waiting for the in person class but that didn’t happen so I’m kinda glad that this is the only way to do it and it’s much faster now cause technically I graduated that class, I think, about 5 times so I am almost an expert with you guys class. DO: The class will still be around. AA: Yeah… This is from Milo - a question from the public – does this online course qualify you to get pistol from HPD? DO: Correct. AA: OK. He says yes, Milo. DO: I would strongly suggest that anybody wanting a firearm – should take an NRA class also. TL: Yeah. DO: Definitely… AA: And I strongly support that too. Any other comments or questions? BL: Brian – District 4 again. AA: Yeah, go ahead Brian… BL: Just another idea cause I know like a lot of the handicapped hunters are usually looking for somebody to help ‘em, you know, haul game – cause I have a friend who, you know, he shoots but he can’t get off the road so I have to go, pull the goat out or fetch something with him. I was wondering if we could hook up some of these younger people with some handicapped hunters, 20 help the handicapped hunters and the experienced hunters can give them some tricks and stuff – it’s just an idea, we can, mix-match people together that looking for help. DO: Well, we were all the goat getters and pig getters and we’re kids now. AA: Yeah. DO: Well, if you guys want to look up on the IHEA website there’s videos called Hunters’ Connect. AA: Yeah, it’s unusual… DO: Look up the IHEA website and it \[unclear\] but there is a mentorship program they’re running – it’s like a ball park – Hunters Connect… AA: Hunters Connect – what site was that again? IGA? DO: IHEA… International Hunter Education Program AA: Brian we’ll spend a little more time looking into the – investigating into this first and then we can move forward later on… BL: Sure, sounds good… AA: Right on, thank you… DO: OK, Brian… BL: Thanks, Darren… DO: Sure thing… 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS AA: As far as announcements – I’ve covered that already in pretty much Old Business for the potential local commissioners. 9. COMMISSIONERS REPORT BY DISTRICT AA. Any Commissioners’ Report by District? No Commissioners’ Reports? 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS: AA: Any Committee Reports? No Committee Reports… Ah, actually, we get one announcement – the Mayor supported and sent our letter to the Governor and that letter was to help stop the eradication up on Mauna Kea. So that’s good news. We actually have a Mayor that supports us so – thanks Mitch – if you listening or on or you going read this later. Thanks a lot for the support. 21 11. ADJOURNMENT: Action: Stanley Mendes moved to adjourn. Seconded by G. Donev. Motion passed unanimously. Next Meeting: April 20, 2021 at 6:30pm AA: We good. Goodnight everybody. Thanks for showing up. Respectfully submitted by, Barbara Kossow Secretary 22