HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-15-2021 State DLNR-SHPD Agency Comments (Kumu Hou Project) SUZANNE D.CASE
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DAVID Y.IGE '� 4 BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
GOVERNOR OF HAWAII i[P N�g�9.p 9% COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
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ROBERTK MASUDA
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AQUATIC RESOURCES
BOATINGANDOCEANRECREATION
BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES
COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
CONSERVATION AND COASTAL LANDS
STATE OF HAWAII CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT
ENGAIEERAIG
FORESTRY AND WMDLIFElate ofVAOIDEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES KAIIOOLAW ISLAND E R:OMMISSION
LAND
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION STATE PARKS
KAKUHIIIEWA BUILDING
601 KAMOKILA BLVD,STE 555
KAPOLEI,HAWAII 96707
November 15,2021
IN REPLY REFER TO:
Zendo Kern,Director Project No.2021PR00971
Planning Department Doc.No.2111 SN05
County of Hawaii Archaeology
101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3
Hilo,HI 96720
plannin hawaiicouj&. oovv
Dear Mr.Kern:
SUBJECT: Chapter 6E-42 Historic Preservation Review
County of Hawaii Special Management Area(SMA)Use Permit Application
Change of Zone(COZ)Applications
Kumu Hou at Waikoloa Project
Archaeological Inventory Survey
Waikoloa Ahupua`a,South Kohala District,Island of Hawaii
TMK:(3)6-9-008:022,025,033,and Portions of(3)6-9-008:012,021,027-029 and 031
This letter provides the State Historic Preservation Division's (SHPD's) review of the subject County of Hawaii
SMA Use Permit and change of zone applications received by our office on August 13, 2021 and a supporting
archaeological inventory survey (AIS)report titled,Draft Archaeological Inventory Survey TAX.- (3) 6-9-008:022,
025, 033 and Portions of(3) 6-9-008:013, 021, 027-029 and 031, Waikoloa Ahupua`a,South Kohala District,Island
of Hawaii (Haan and Henry, revised October 2021). The initial submittal included the SMA and COZ permit
application, photos, a draft AIS (dated May 2021) and construction plan for the proposed project (Submission No.
2021PR00971.001). Subsequent submissions included revised drafts of the AIS report (Submission Nos.
202IPR00971.001 and .002)and,following consultation, SHPD received on October 4,2021 the final revised draft
(Haan and Henry, October 2021) which incorporated comments provided by Na Ala Hele and the Ala Kahakai
National Historic Trail Program(Submission Nos.2021PR00971.003 through.005).
The applicant/landowner, the Waikoloa Land Company (WLC), seeks the County's approval of four SMA Major
Use Permit applications,and two COZ applications.The submittal indicates that the permits include the following:
1. SMA Application # 1: to withdraw the Project Area from SMA 25 (excluding the 0.9-acre portion of
Puakala Place that will provide access to Area A).This is an area of f 182.9-acres.
2. SMA Applications#2,#3 and#4:to implement new"Master" SMA Major Use Permits covering all lands
that were withdrawn from SMA 25 by the first SMA application:
a. Application#2 will address f 38.6 acres of land defined herein as Area A(71/72);
b. Application#3 will address f 7.3 acres of land defined herein as Area A(L2);and
c. Application#4 will address f 136.9 acres of land defined herein as Areas Band C.
3. COZ Application#1:to approve four rezoning requests in Area A:
a. f 16.0 acres from Open to RM-6;
b. f 3.3 acres from Open to RS-10;
c. f 22.6 acres from RM-8 to RM-6;and
d. f 4.1 acres from RM-8 to RS-10.
Mr.Kern
November 15,2021
Page 2
4. COZ Application#2:to approve four rezoning requests in Area B:
a. f 95.3 acres from Open to Project District;
b. f 21.7 acres from RM-8 to Project District;
c. f 0.2 acres from RM-4 to Project District;
d. f 12.0 acres from RM-6 to Project District;and
e. f 4.5 acres from CV-10 to Project District.
The Master SMA Major Use Permits being sought would permit the development of the proposed new facilities and
amenities. The requested new SMA permits would also allow WLC or other existing or future landowners in the
Project Area to upgrade, repair, maintain, and operate existing or future facilities in the Kumu Hou Project Area.
The various COZ applications are necessary for implementation of the Kumu Hou Master Plan. Kumu Hou will
encompass 1,189 residential and visitor units, all of which have LUC and SMA approvals in place, and a new
brackish water irrigation system. The plan would result in no more development than what is already entitled with
the LUC and SMA approvals.
Project Description
Kumu Hou is located within Waikoloa Beach Resort, in Anaeho`omalu Ahupua`a, South Kohala District, Island of
Hawaii. The Resort encompasses f 1,353 acres between Queen Ka`humanu Highway and the Pacific Ocean. TMK
parcels included by Kumu Hou total approximately f 362.7 acres, including all or portions of TMK: (3) 6-9-008:
013, 021, 022, 025, 027, 028, 029, 031, and 033. Within these TMKs, the areas planned for development involve
f 182.9 acres and are referred to herein as the Project Area.
The WLC development within the Waikoloa Beach Resort project area involves three areas which WLC has
designated as Areas A, B and C. Area A consists of an approximately 45.9-acre portion of the King's Course golf
course, of which 9 of the 18 golf courses holes will be repurposed for timeshare, single-family residential and
community use. Area B is an approximately 133.8-acre area containing a portion of the King's Course golf course
seaward of the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and north of Waikoloa Beach Drive that is slated for the construction
of 900 additional timeshare units,related support and community facilities, updated golf amenities, and new public
parks and trails.Area C is an approximately 3.1-acre area located at the north end of the proposed development area
that will be used for a brackish water irrigation system.
Findings
At the request of the WLC,Hann and Associates conducted an archaeological inventory survey (AIS)that included
summaries of the archaeological and historical history, oral histories and mo`olelo pertaining to the area, the post-
contact history throughout Kohala and the vicinity of the current project area. The AIS also includes a summary of
previous archaeological studies in the vicinity of the current project area. Of these,the earliest are Reinecke(1930),
Barrera(1971),Kirch(1979),and Hommon(1982).A total of 40 additional project reviews have been conducted in
the general vicinity of the project area. These include field inspections, reconnaissance surveys, archaeological
inventory surveys, data recovery and monitoring projects, site preservation plans and archaeological mitigation
programs, located in `Anaeho`omalu, Kalahuipua`a, Pu`u-anahulu, and Lalamilo areas. These studies comprised
more than 7,300 acres and identified 483 sites and more than 9,440 features. Sites documented in the area include
petroglyphs and features associated with the quarrying and production of abraders.Habitation sites are dominated by
cave and overhang shelters,and surface architecture consisting of C-shapes and enclosures,primarily occupied on a
temporary basis. Fishponds,burial caves,trails, and small ritual sites have also been documented. Most of the sites
are concentrated along the coast especially near sheltered bays and coves and the fishponds.
The AIS fieldwork for the current proposed project included portions of the project area occupied by existing golf
course fairways that were examined by the careful inspection of all isolated pockets of lava. The remaining portions
of the project area were examined with crew members spaced at ten (10) meter intervals. The ground surface
visibility was excellent due to the absence of vegetation. Fourteen (14) sites were identified within the current
project area that consisted of 417 features. Most of the features are associated with the procurement of natural
resources.
Mr.Kern
November 15,2021
Page 3
The 14 sites include nine sites identified during previous archaeological studies:
Site Number Type Features Function
50-10-10-26869 Complex 10 Temporary habitation,Resource procurement,Tool manufacture
50-10-11-26871 Complex 6 Transportation,marker
50-10-10-26872 Complex 30 Resources procurement
50-10-10-26873 Complex 16 Temporary habitation,Resource procurement,Tool manufacture,Transportation
50-10-10-26874 Complex 51 Temporary habitation,Resource procurement,Tool manufacture
50-10-10-26875 Lava Blister 1 Resource procurement
50-10-11-26876 Complex 16 Temporary habitation,Resource procurement,Transportation
50-10-11-26877 Complex 14 Temporary habitation,Marker,Resource procurement
50-10-10-26878 Complex 13 Temporary habitation,Resource procurement
50-10-10-31230 Complex 5 Transportation
50-10-10-31231 Complex 2 Resource procurement,Tool manufacture
50-10-10-31232 Complex 10 Tool manufacture
50-10-10-31233 Complex 3 Temporary habitation
50-10-10/11-31234 Complex 240 Resource procurement
The report (Haan and Henry, October 2021) indicates that based on previous consultation with SHPD concerning
archaeological preserves in the area during the review for a previous project(Haan and Henry 2017),research was
undertaken to provide a context for the evaluation of sites in the area based on areas already within the
archaeological preserves.The research indicated that there are 17 archeological preserves located in`Anaeho`omalu,
Kalahuipua`a, Pu`u-anahulu, Waikoloa, and Lalamilo areas. These preserves consist over 5,350-acres and almost
5,900 features. The features within these preserves include petroglyphs,habitation area,caves,cairns,trails,burials,
ponds,ceremonial sites,and quarry sites.The presence and preservation measures of these sites within these existing
preservation areas provided a basis for the proposed treatment recommendation of no further work based on similar
sites already in preservation within these reserves.
All sites within the current project area have been assessed for integrity and determined to be significant under
Criterion d. The mapping, written descriptions, and photographs of 11 of the 14 sites (Sites 26869, 26872, 26874
through 26878, and 31231 through 31234)provide sufficient documentation and,the report recommends no further
work or preservation for these sites.Based on consultation with Na Ala Hele and the Ala Kahakai National Historic
Trail Program, the Site 26871 trail and portions of the Site 31230 trail are recommended for preservation. The
preserved portions of Site 31230 will consist of Features A-D and the well-defined portions of Feature E. The
remainder of Feature E will be memorialized as a series of dots or markers across the landscaped and paved parking
area. The ephemeral Feature F, possible trail, is not recommended for preservation. Additionally, at the request of
the the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Program, Site 26873 is also recommended for preservation. The WLC is
amenable to these preservation measures. A preservation plan for Sites 26871, 26873, and 31230 will be prepared
for SHPD review and approval.
Determination
SHPD agrees with the site integrity and significance assessments provided in the AIS (Haan and Henry, October
2021). The report indicates that the proposed development activities will have no effect on 11 of the 14 historic
properties (Sites 26869, 26872, 26874 through 26878, and 31231 through 31234). The three remaining sites (Sites
26871,26873,and 31230)are recommended for preservation.
The AIS (Haan and Henry, October 2021) meets the minimum requirements of HAR §13-276-5. It is accepted.
Please send two hard copies of the report, clearly marked FINAL, along with a text-searchable PDF copy of the
report and a copy of this review letter to the Kapolei SHPD office,attention SHPD library.Please also submit a text-
searchable PDF copy of the report to HICRIS Project No. 202IPR00971 using the Project Supplement option,and a
PDF copy of the report to SHPD at Lehua.K.Soaresk!awaii.gov.
SHPD's project effect determination is "Effect, with agreed upon mitigation commitments" for the proposed
proposed project. SHPD agrees with mitigation in the form of preservation for the three historic properties, Sites
26871, 26873, and 31230. As stipulated in HAR §13-284-7, when SHPD comments that a project will result in
Mr.Kern
November 15,2021
Page 4
"Effect, with agreed upon mitigation commitments," then detailed mitigation plans shall be developed for SHPD
review and acceptance prior to project work commencing.
SBPD looks forward to receiving for review and acceptance a preservation plan for Sites 26871,26873,and 31230
that meets the minimum requirements of HRS §13-277. Please submit the report and review fee to HICRIS Project
No.2021 PR00971.
SHPD shall notify the County when the preservation plan has been accepted, and the permit issuance process may
proceed.
Please contact Sean Naleimaile at(808)933-7653 or at sean.p.naleimaile&!awaii.gov for any questions or concerns
regarding this letter.
Aloha,
,419e Wee/-
Alan S.Downer,PhD
Administrator,State Historic Preservation Division
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
cc: Tracie-Lee Camero,tracie-lee.camerok!awaiiconm. og•v
Christian Kay,christian.kay_&hawaiicoiM.gov
Ann Bouslog,abouslogkpbrhawaii.com
Alan Hann,ahaunAb unandassociates.com