HomeMy WebLinkAboutKahuku Coastal Resource Management Plan - Draft (November 2021)Primary Road
Project Location
Road to the Sea - Resources Management Plan County of Hawaiʻi
TMK (3) 9-2-001: 075 (3,128 acres)October 2020
Disclaimer: This graphic has been prepared for general planning purposes onlyand should not be used for boundary interpretations or other spatial analysis.
Kahuku Coastal
Resources Management Plan
2021
DRAFT - FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
(From left to right) Rocky beach area suitable for green sea turtles and monk seals to bask; salt pans; pili grass; anchialine pool;
’a’ali’i; lava channel, petroglyph.
Kahuku Coastal
Resources Management Plan
DRAFT – FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
November 2021
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Mahalo nui loa
to the people of Kaʻū for welcoming the planning team
into their community and to all who provided manaʻo
and contributed to this management plan.
We would also like to acknowledge the work of many kūpuna,
descendants of the place, cultural practitioners,
environmentalists, and individuals who have helped to preserve
these lands for current and future generations to enjoy.
[This page intentionally left blank.]
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | i
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... iii
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Background.................................................................................................................. 2
1.2 Location ....................................................................................................................... 7
1.3 Regulatory Requirements ............................................................................................ 8
1.4 Summary of Stakeholder Consultations ......................................................................11
2 Planning Area .......................................................................................................................17
2.1 Topography.................................................................................................................17
2.2 Geological and Natural Features .................................................................................17
2.3 Soils ............................................................................................................................18
2.4 Environmental Hazards ...............................................................................................18
2.5 Infrastructure ...............................................................................................................20
2.6 Mo‘olelo/Wahi Pana ....................................................................................................20
2.7 Land Tenure History ...................................................................................................23
2.8 Archaeology ................................................................................................................25
2.9 Traditional Cultural Practices ......................................................................................28
2.10 Nearshore Resources .................................................................................................29
2.11 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................29
2.12 Anchialine Pools .........................................................................................................30
2.13 Hawksbill Sea Turtles .................................................................................................31
2.14 Green Sea Turtles.......................................................................................................33
2.15 Hawaiian Monk Seals .................................................................................................33
2.16 Other Mammals ..........................................................................................................34
2.17 Birds ...........................................................................................................................34
2.18 Invertebrates ...............................................................................................................35
2.19 Summary of Key Threats to Resources .......................................................................35
3 Management Plan .................................................................................................................37
3.1 Goals and Objectives ..................................................................................................37
3.2 Management Strategies ..............................................................................................38
3.3 Implementation ...........................................................................................................59
References ...............................................................................................................................62
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List of Figures
Figure 1. Project Location .......................................................................................................... vi
Figure 2. Land Use Regulatory Designations Map ..................................................................... 9
Figure 3. Lava Flow Hazard Zones ...........................................................................................19
Figure 4. Management Topics and Strategies ...........................................................................38
Figure 5. Overview of Management Strategies..........................................................................41
Figure 6. Access .......................................................................................................................49
List of Tables
Table 1. Summary of Regulatory and Land Use Information ....................................................... v
Table 2. List of Species at Kahuku Coastal ................................................................................ 5
Table 3. Native Plants at Kahuku Coastal .................................................................................29
Table 4. Priority Management Strategies ..................................................................................60
Appendices
Appendix A Hawaiʻi County Charter
Appendix B Warranty Deed
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | iii
Executive Summary
Kahuku Coastal is a special place with many important qualities for the people of Kaʻū and
residents from other regions of the island. This place, also locally referred to as “Road to the Sea”,
is located in Kahuku Ahupuaʻa, Kaʻū District, on the island of Hawaiʻi. At Kahuku Coastal, one will
find a relatively pristine, unaltered landscape with open space and impressive vistas of the Kaʻū
coastline. The sense of peace and tranquility this area provides, accompanied by the rugged and
remote location, adds to the natural beauty this place offers. It is one of the few locations where
families can still enjoy an undeveloped coastline without the crowds. This area also provides
access to resources along the shoreline that local families rely upon for subsistence. The sensitive
cultural and natural resources, including habitat for the federally listed endangered hawksbill turtle,
the threatened green turtle, and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, are naturally protected
because of the challenging road access. The desired outcome for this Kahuku Coastal Plan is to
protect the resources so that current and future generations may continue their way of life that
makes Kaʻū, Kaʻū, and to perpetuate cultural practices that have been passed down for
generations.
Recognizing the intrinsic qualities of this place, the County of Hawaiʻi (County) purchased this
3,127.95-acre coastal parcel, TMK (3) 9-2-001: 075, by using monies from the County’s Public
Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund (Preservation Fund) and by
leveraging funds from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Legacy Land
Conservation Program (LLCP) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife (USFWS) Recovery Lands Acquisition
(RLA) program in 2016.
Kahuku Coastal, along with many other parcels along this coastline, has been subject to major
development proposals. Since the 1980s, this area has been proposed for resort development
twice. As a result of the County’s acquisition of these lands, Kahuku Coastal will remain as open
space in perpetuity. While Kahuku Coastal is now protected from the threat of development, it is
important to develop and implement management strategies to ensure that resources are properly
cared for before human impacts irreversibly compromise the ability of future generations to enjoy
this place. Many kūpuna, lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, and environmentalists have
fought hard for decades to preserve open space along the Kaʻū coastline, which sustains the
unique lifestyle that makes Kaʻū, Kaʻū.
In 2020, the County’s Department of Finance, Property Management Division contracted with
Townscape, Inc. to prepare a Resources Management Plan for the long-term stewardship of
Kahuku Coastal. This management plan fulfills the conditions of the federal Recovery Land
Acquisition Grant Agreement No. F12AP01107 with USFWS. Pursuant to the terms of the federal
award, Kahuku Coastal shall be managed in perpetuity for the protection of threatened and
endangered species’ habitat including the hawksbill turtle, Hawaiian monk seal, green turtle, and
22 other rare, endemic, and indigenous animal species as per the grant proposals submitted by the
DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the state award, the
warranty deed that conveyed fee title for Kahuku Coastal from Sands of South Kona, LLC to the
County of Hawaiʻi includes a restriction that “the property shall be managed consistently with the
purposes for which the LLCP grant was awarded and Chapter 173A, Hawaiʻi Revised Statues.”
The LLCP grant was awarded to protect the Property resource values relating to the coastal area,
habitat protection, cultural and historic sites, passive recreational areas, natural areas, and open
space and scenic resources.
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This management plan describes the cultural heritage and natural resources of Kahuku Coastal;
outlines specific management strategies and actions to ensure resources within the County’s
property are properly cared for, including habitat for native, threatened, and endangered plants and
animals; and provides general guidance on the next steps for implementation. Management
strategies and actions presented in this plan are based on huakaʻi, field visits, and consultations
with stakeholders knowledgeable about the place and with agencies involved in the management
of resources specific to Kahuku Coastal. Stakeholders included kūpuna, lineal descendants,
neighboring landowners, site users (e.g., cultural practitioners, recreational and subsistence
fishers, beachgoers, campers, cavers, and hikers), community organizations, and government
agencies. Three key themes relating to the importance of Kahuku Coastal that emerged from the
stakeholder outreach are: 1) Some of the most important qualities of this place are its pristine
natural beauty and its rugged, remote location; 2) This site provides access to the shoreline and is
one of the few places where families can still spend time together and experience open space and
the undeveloped coastline of Kaʻū without the crowds; and 3) This beautiful, untouched area
provides food for our families and allows us to perpetuate cultural and educational practices
passed down for generations.
Understanding the role that this area contributes to the way of life for the people of Kaʻū and
residents from other regions of the island, the following goals for Kahuku Coastal were identified:
• Goal 1: Preserve and maintain the pristine, natural character of the landscape, open space,
and unique lifestyle practices that make Kaʻū, Kaʻū.
• Goal 2: Protect cultural and natural resources, especially considering potential climate
change impacts to nearshore and coastal resources.
• Goal 3: Provide opportunities for the people of Kaʻū and residents from other regions of the
island to enjoy this area without compromising the integrity of its resources, its high
ecological value, and the special qualities unique to this place.
• Goal 4: Enable proper management by increasing public understanding of the cultural and
natural significance of this place and the threats that endanger it and by increasing support
for the community and their capacity to provide stewardship.
Thirteen management strategies are proposed to act synergistically to improve the overall health of
the ecosystem, which in turn has direct and indirect benefits for all native species and resources.
These strategies are grouped into the following topic areas: 1) Site Presence and Education; 2)
Public Activity and Use Management; 3) Resource Protection; 4) Threatened and Endangered
Species Management. For Kahuku Coastal, emphasis should be placed on partnering with lineal
descendants, cultural practitioners, and community organizations and individuals from Kaʻū to
steward resources. These community partners should include organizations with knowledge in
different aspects of the place, especially entities with expertise in managing and protecting habitat
for species highlighted in the RLA Grant Agreement (see Table 2). Community involvement is
essential to the long-term success of this plan. The County should establish a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) or Grant Agreement with each non-profit organization involved in a specific
component of stewardship for Kahuku Coastal. Community organizations should actively seek
funding through the County’s Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation
Maintenance Fund, which provides funding specifically for public safety maintenance and
preservation of lands and easements acquired through the Preservation Fund, to carry out actions
outlined in this plan.
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | v
Table 1. Summary of Regulatory and Land Use Information
Tax Map Key (3) 9-2-001: 075
Land Area 3,127.95 acres
Elevation Sea level to approximately 700 feet. Regulatory State Land Use
Designation
Agriculture (20%)
Conservation (80%)
County General Plan Land
Use Pattern Allocation
Guide (LUPAG) Map
Designation
Open; Conservation
Recreation; Conservation (proposed in the August 2019 draft of the 2040 General
Plan).
County Zoning Designation Open
Shoreline Management
Area
The coastline is within the Special Management Area and the West Hawaiʻi
Regional Fishery Management Area. Hazards Flood Zone None
Sea Level Rise The shoreline may be impacted with 3.2 feet of sea level rise, by or before the year
2100.
Lava Hazard Zone Zone 2 (with 1 being the highest and 9 the lowest)
Tsunami Evacuation Zone None Infrastructure County Water None
County Sewer None
Electric/Communication Electric and telephone service available from Māmalahoa Highway
Access The County’s legal access from Māmalahoa Highway is on the southern side of
Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos subdivision.
Consultations indicated that three roads from Māmalahoa Highway have been
utilized to access the roadway along the western boundary of the Kahuku Coastal
parcel. These roads include Road to the Sea, an unnamed road to the south of
Road to the Sea, and Kona Gardens Road. All three roads are privately-owned.
Road to the Sea and the unnamed road to the south of Road to the Sea are
unpaved and require the use of a four-wheel drive vehicle to maneuver the steep
ledges, cracks and potholes. Kona Gardens Road is a paved road located within
the Kona Gardens subdivision, which requires gate access. Use of these privately-
owned roads by the general public to access Kahuku Coastal is discouraged by
the County.
Resources Historic and Cultural Sites Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey (2020) identified 1,555 features, including
trails, caves, habitation complexes, temporary habitation, and petroglyphs.
Average Annual Rainfall 24 to 27 inches
Soil Classification (rLV) ʻAʻā Lava flows, 2 to 20 percent slopes
(rLW) Pāhoehoe Lava flows, 2 to 20 percent slopes
Flora and Fauna No Threatened and Endangered (T&E) plant species were found on the Property.
Native plant species consist of lama (Diospyros sandwicensis), aʻaliʻi (Dodonaea
viscosa), ʻiwaʻiwa (Doryopteris decora), mauʻu ʻakiʻaki (Fimbristylis cymosa), pili
(Heteropogon contortus), ʻōhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha), ʻakiʻaki (Sporobolus
virginicus), and ʻuhaloa (Waltheria indica).
The Property provides habitat for at least four T&E species: the endangered
hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the threatened green sea turtle
(Chelonia mydas), the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus
schauinslandi, and the
endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus).
vi | N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 – D R A F T F O R P U B L I C R E V I E W
Figure 1. Project Location
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | 1
1 Introduction
Also referred to as “Road to the Sea”, Kahuku Coastal, TMK (3) 9-2-001: 075, is a 3,127.95-
acre coastal parcel located in Kahuku Ahupuaʻa, Kaʻū District, on the island of Hawaiʻi. This
relatively pristine, unaltered landscape provides open space and impressive vistas of over a
mile of coastline and is special to both the people of Kaʻū and to residents from other parts of
the island. There is a sense of peace and tranquility that this place provides, protected by its
rugged and remote location. Families have remarked that it is one of the few locations where
they can still enjoy the natural beauty of an undeveloped shoreline without crowds. Local
families also rely upon Kahuku Coastal to gather coastal resources for subsistence and plants
for medicinal purposes.
Native animals, including the federally listed endangered hawksbill sea turtle, the threatened
green sea turtle, and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal also visit the property to bask, forage
offshore, and even nest. Challenging road conditions limit vehicular access to the site and
protect the habitat for these sensitive species.
Kahuku Coastal, along with many other parcels along this coastline, has been proposed for
major developments over the years, most recently for a resort. Recognizing the unique qualities
of these lands, the County of Hawaiʻi (County) purchased the Property in 2016 using the Public
Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund (Preservation Fund) and by
leveraging funds from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Legacy
Land Conservation Program (LLCP) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife (USFWS) Recovery Lands
Acquisition (RLA) program. The County’s acquisition of this property ensures that it will remain
as open space in perpetuity.
While Kahuku Coastal is now protected from the threat of development, it is important to
develop and implement management strategies to ensure that resources are properly cared for
before human impacts irreversibly compromise the ability of future generations to enjoy this
place. The objective of the Kahuku Coastal Resources Management Plan is to work with the
kūpuna, lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, naturalists, and neighbors who have fought
hard for decades to protect the Kaʻū coastline; to manage its natural and cultural resources; and
to perpetuate the local Kaʻū lifestyle and cultural practices that have been passed down for
generations. By doing so, this management plan fulfills the conditions of the federal Recovery
Land Acquisition Grant Agreement No. F12AP01107 with USFWS.
2 | N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 – D R A F T F O R P U B L I C R E V I E W
1.1 Background
As of December 2020, more than 6,760 acres on the island of Hawaiʻi have been acquired
through the Preservation Fund. Each year the public can nominate properties that are
considered worthy of preservation to the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources
Commission (Commission). The nine-member Commission1, established in 2005, reviews and
evaluates all suggestions from the community and is responsible for providing an island wide list
of prioritized properties for acquisition to the mayor each year. After the mayor provides
comments and recommendations, the list is then submitted to the County Council for
consideration. Once a property is ranked on the island wide prioritized list, a member of the
County Council may submit a resolution to authorize the Director of Finance to proceed with
negotiations for acquisition. Refer to the Commission’s Annual Reports to the Mayor, available
on the County’s website, for more information on the list of properties and funding.
The Commission also reviews applicants and recommends recipients of the Stewardship
Grants, which are awarded from the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources
Preservation Maintenance Fund (Maintenance Fund). The County’s Finance Department is
responsible for providing staff support to the Commission.
1.1.1 Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund
The Preservation Fund is funded by two percent of the County’s annual real property tax
revenues. It is administered and managed by the County’s Finance Department. Per County
Charter Section 10-15, the Preservation Fund provides monies to purchase or acquire lands
and easements in the County for public outdoor recreation and education, including:
• Access to beaches and mountains;
• Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites;
• Protection of natural resources, significant habitat or eco-systems, including buffer
zones;
• Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural lands;
and
• Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply.
1 The Commission serves an advisory role to the Mayor. The Commission members are appointed by the
Mayor and confirmed by the County Council. One member must reside in each County council district.
Members serve staggered terms of five years. (Hawaiʻi County Code Chapter 2, Article 42, Section 2-215)
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | 3
Any land acquired with the Preservation Fund shall contain the following restrictive covenant in
its recorded deed of conveyance:
“This land was acquired with moneys from the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund. It shall be held in perpetuity for the use and enjoyment of
the people of Hawai‘i County and may not be sold, mortgaged, traded or transferred in
any way.”
In 2020, Hawaiʻi County voters approved a charter amendment which allows the Preservation
Fund to pay salary, wages, and benefits for staff dedicated to supporting the purposes of the
Preservation Fund and Maintenance Fund.
1.1.2 Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation
Maintenance Fund
The Maintenance Fund provides funding for the maintenance of lands and easements acquired
through the Preservation Fund. It is made up of 0.25 percent of the County’s annual real
property tax revenues. The Maintenance Fund ensures that money is dedicated to preserve the
land, promote public safety, and maintain healthy stewardship. Monies from the Maintenance
Fund may be used solely for public safety maintenance and preservation of lands and
easements acquired through the Preservation Fund. County Charter Section 10-16 outlines
permitted uses of the Maintenance Fund. Another charter amendment in 2020 transferred the
responsibility and administration of the Maintenance Fund from the Department of Parks and
Recreation to the Department of Finance.
501(c)3 nonprofits or organizations under the umbrella of a 501(c)3 nonprofit may apply for
stewardship grants issued from the Maintenance Fund for uses as outlined in the County
Charter.
1.1.3 Kahuku Coastal Acquisition and Grant Agreements
The County acquired the Kahuku Coastal property with monies from the Preservation Fund
($771,979) and by leveraging funds from federal and state sources: $1.214 million from the
USFWS Recovery Lands Acquisition (RLA) program and $621,245 from the State DLNR
Legacy Land Conservation program. The “Agreement to Subgrant between County of Hawaiʻi
and the State of Hawaiʻi,” dated June 5, 2015 allowed the County to use funds provided to
DLNR by USFWS to facilitate the County’s acquisition of Kahuku Coastal. The conditions of the
subgrant state that the County shall:
• Create a long-term management plan for the property, consisting of an endangered
species and habitat protection program that addresses key threats—which include
predators, habitat alteration and fragmentation, development pressure, alien species,
trash, human waste, climate change, and sea level rise—while providing continued
access to the shoreline for fishing, hiking, and recreational opportunities;
• Secure funding for protecting and managing endangered species and their habitat;
• Implement the management plan; and
Manage, conduct, and oversee the maintenance efforts specified in the Management
Plan.
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To ensure the long-term protection of these lands, the warranty deed that conveyed the fee title
for Kahuku Coastal from Sand of South Kona, LLC to the County includes the following
restriction:
“The Property is acquired in part with funds received from the Endangered Species Act
Section 6 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CFDA #15.615)
through the Federal Award number F12AP01107 dated September 10, 2012, as
amended, between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Hawaii,
Department of Land and Natural Resources, and is subject to all the terms and
conditions of said federal award…The Property shall be managed pursuant to the terms
of the award in perpetuity for conservation of listed species including the Hawksbill
Turtle, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Green Turtle, and 22 other rare, endemic, and indigenous
animal species as per the grant proposals submitted by the Division of Forestry and
Wildlife [emphasis added]. This acquisition is for the protection of threatened and
endangered species’ habitat in perpetuity, and the restrictions herein shall run with the
land to all heirs and successors of the Property.”
Furthermore, the warranty deed also states that “the property shall be managed consistently
with the purposes for which the LLCP grant was awarded and Chapter 173A, Hawaiʻi Revised
Statues.” The LLCP grant agreement was awarded to protect the Property’s resource values.
These resource values are summarized below.
• Coastal areas, beaches, and ocean access: The Property has over a mile of coastline
and is recognized for its high ecological value. The acquisition of the Property provides a
permanent legal public access to the shoreline for this part of Kaʻū.
• Habitat protection: The Property provides habitat for Threatened & Endangered (T&E)2
species, including providing nesting habitat for hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys
imbricata) and foraging and resting areas for green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and
Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi). A number of native plant species,
including mauʻuʻakiʻaki (Fimbristylis cymosa), ʻuhaloa (Waltheria indica), and pili grass
(Heteropogon contortus), are also present on the Property.
• Cultural and historic sites: More than 1,555 archaeological features have been
identified on the Property. These cultural and historic sites include trails, caves,
habitation complexes, temporary habitations, and petroglyphs.
• Recreational areas: The Property provides the community with access to the shoreline
for fishing and swimming. It also provides access for hiking.
• Natural areas: The Property consists of coastal cinder cones and associated sand
beaches, anchialine ponds, a series of ground cracks, and lava tube systems. It is
located adjacent to the State’s Manukā Natural Area Reserve.
2 Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), species may be listed as either endangered or threatened.
An endangered species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, while
a threatened species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | 5
• Open space and scenic resources: Vistas of the Property are visible from the
surrounding lands as well as a scenic lookout located on Hawaiʻi Belt Road. The
Property also provides panoramic views of the coastline.
Table 2 provides a list of the animal species per the grant proposal submitted by DOFAW and
referenced in the RLA Grant Agreement. Species observed during a survey completed in 2017
and 2020 are also identified below.
Table 2. List of Species at Kahuku Coastal
Type Common Name Scientific Name
Biological
Status3
Federal
Status^
Recovery
Plan Sea Turtles Hawksbill turtle
(honuʻea)
Eretmochelys
imbricata
Indigenous E Yes
Green turtle (honu) Chelonia mydas Indigenous T Yes Mammal Hawaiian monk seal Neomonachus
schauinslandi
Endemic E Yes
Hawaiian hoary bat+
(ʻōpeʻapeʻa)
Lasiurus cinereus
semotus
Endemic E Yes Anchialine Pool Fauna Atyid shrimp** (ʻōpae
ʻula)
Halocaridina rubra Endemic
Hawaiian river
shrimp (ʻōpae
ʻoehaʻa)*
Macrobrachium
grandimanus
Indigenous
Anchialine pool
shrimp
Metabetaeus
lohena
Endemic C
Anchialine pool
shrimp
Palaemonella
burnsi
Endemic C
Anchialine pool
shrimp
Procaris hawaiana Endemic C
Blackspot sergeant
(kūpīpī)*
Abudefduf sordidus Indigenous
Fryer’s false moray* Xenoconger fryeri Indigenous
3 Endemic means it is found only in the Hawaiian Islands; whereas, Indigenous is found naturally in
Hawaiʻi and elsewhere.
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Type Common Name Scientific Name Biological
Status4
Federal
Status^
Recovery
Plan Migratory Shorebird Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva Indigenous
Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres Indigenous
Wandering tattler++ Tringa incanus Indigenous
Black-crowned night
heron
Nycticorax
nycticoras
Indigenous Cave Fauna Small-eyed big-eyed
wolf spider
Lycosa howarthi Endemic
-- Lyniphiidae Endemic
-- Oonopidae Endemic
Sow bugs Isopoda Endemic
Cave adapted
centipede
Lithobiidae Endemic
Cave millipede Cambalidae:
Nannolele sp.
Endemic
Springtails Collembola --
Silverfish Nicoletia --
Caconemobius
(related to varuis)
Endemic
Blind cave earwig Anisolabis howarthi Endemic
Cave emesine Reduviidae
The cave
planthopper
Oliarus polyphemus
(or related sp.)
Endemic
Cave and entrance
zone moths
Noctuidae
Schrankia sp.
Endemic
Blind fightless flies Phoridae Megaselia Endemic
^ T-Threatened; E-Endangered; C-Candidate
+ Observed by Terry & Hart (2020)
++ Observed by Terry & Hart (2020) and listed in the RLA Grant Agreement
* Observed by DAR staff (2017)
** Observed by DAR staff (2017) and listed in the RLA Grant Agreement
4 Endemic means it is found only in the Hawaiian Islands; whereas, Indigenous is found naturally in
Hawaiʻi and elsewhere.
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | 7
1.2 Location
Kahuku Coastal is located makai of Māmalahoa Highway (Highway 11) in Kahuku Ahupuaʻa,
Kaʻū District, Hawaiʻi Island. The Property’s western boundary borders the 25,550-acre Manukā
Natural Area Reserve managed by the State DLNR DOFAW (Figure 1). The northern boundary
abuts the Kula Kai, Kona Gardens, and Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos subdivisions. Bordering
the eastern boundary is a 1,115-acre undeveloped parcel that is at present time privately
owned.
Kahuku Coastal provides access to several coastal areas utilized by local residents, including a
beach with small waterworn cobbles and a deep tide pool on a 5-acre privately-owned parcel
near Humuhumu Point (abutting the County’s property on the southwestern corner). A popular
fishing spot known as “Smoking Rock” is located within the State’s Manukā Natural Area
Reserve, but is commonly accessed via the County’s property. The Natural Area Reserve is
also a designated public hunting area.
Situated roughly two miles to the southeast of Kahuku Coastal is Pōhue Bay, a favorite
swimming area for residents during calm ocean conditions. The remote, secluded beach also
provides important nesting habitat for hawksbill sea turtles. A large rectangular brackish water
pond, Kanonone Pond, encircled by coconut and hala trees, is located inland from Pōhue Bay.
View of Kahuku Coastal along the coastline looking towards South Point (from the western boundary)
8 | N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 – D R A F T F O R P U B L I C R E V I E W
1.3 Regulatory Requirements
1.3.1 Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, administered by the USFWS, regulates activities that
may impact federally-listed endangered or threatened plant and animal species, as well as their
habitat. An “endangered” species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion
of its range, while a “threatened” species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable
future. The law prohibits any action that causes a “taking” of any threatened or endangered
species. A “taking” is defined as “to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture,
or collect or attempt to engage in any such conduct.” In the Code of Federal Regulations that
implement the ESA, the term “harm” is defined as “an act which actually kills or injures wildlife.
Such an act may include significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or
injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding,
feeding, or sheltering.”
The Property provides habitat for at least four federally listed species:
• Endangered hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
• Threatened green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
• Endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi)
• Endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus)
1.3.2 State Land Use Districts
The State Land Use Law establishes an overall framework for land use management whereby
the lands in the State are classified into one of four land use districts: Urban, Rural, Agriculture,
or Conservation. The majority of the Property, from the shoreline to about the 500-foot
elevation, is located in the State’s Conservation District, while the remaining area abutting the
subdivision is designated State Land Use Agriculture (see Figure 2).
Conservation Districts are administered by the State Board of Land and Natural Resources and
uses are governed by rules promulgated by the State DLNR. Lands within the Conservation
District are further classified into one of the five conservation district “subzones,” which includes
(from most protective to least): Protective Subzone, Limited Subzone, Resource Subzone,
General Subzone, and Special Subzone. Two of the five Conservation Subzones apply to the
Conservation Lands at Kahuku Coastal, Resource and General. Permitted land uses and
activities within each conservation district subzone are restricted and generally require a
Conservation District Use Permit from DLNR.
The “General Subzone” makes up the majority of the Conservation District for Kahuku Coastal.
This designation is for the least environmentally sensitive areas in the Conservation District or
areas where the conservation uses may not be specifically defined. The land along the entire
coastline of the Property is in the “Resource Subzone.” The objective of the Resource Subzone
is to develop, with proper management, areas to ensure sustained use of the natural resources.
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Figure 2. Land Use Regulatory Designations Map
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1.3.3 County Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide
The Hawaiʻi County General Plan (2005) is the County’s comprehensive land use policy for
guiding long-range development on the Island of Hawaiʻi. It specifies goals, policies, and
standards of development for the most desirable land uses on the island and includes the Land
Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) map which indicates the general location of designated
land utilization areas. Kahuku Coastal is designated as “Open” and “Conservation.”
The 2005 General Plan is being updated by the County through the “2040 General Plan”
process. The August 2019 draft of the 2040 General Plan proposed LUPAG designations of
“Recreation” and “Conservation” for the Property. The “Recreation” designation is applied to
“parks and other recreational areas, such as golf courses, historic sites, and shoreline setback
areas” and replaces the current 2005 General Plan “Open” designation. The “Conservation”
designation is applied to “forest and water reserves, natural and scientific preserves, areas in
active management for conservation purposes, areas to be kept in a largely natural state with
minimal facilities consistent with open space uses, such as picnic pavilions and comfort stations,
and lands within the State Land Use Conservation District.”
1.3.4 County Zoning
The Hawaiʻi County Zoning Code specifies permitted uses of lands on the Island of Hawaiʻi. The
entire Property is classified by the County as “Open (O).” The Open District applies to areas that
contribute to the general welfare, the full enjoyment, or the economic well-being of open land
type uses, including preservation of valuable scenic vistas, areas of special historical
significance, or submerged lands and fishponds. Permitted uses within this district are generally
associated with passive recreation, forestry, and preservation of sites of historic, cultural, or
natural significance.
1.3.5 Special Management Area
The “Special Management Area” (SMA) is the most sensitive area of the coastal zone that is
placed under special development control to effectively manage, use, protect, and develop
areas along the coast. The coastal section of the Property is located within the SMA (see Figure
2). Any uses or activities classified as “development” within the SMA will require either an SMA
Minor Permit or an SMA Major Permit, depending on construction costs.
1.3.6 Fishery Management Area
The waters near Kahuku Coastal are within the West Hawaiʻi Regional Fishery Management
Area, which extends along the west coast of the Island from Ka Lae, Ka‘ū (South Point) to
‘Upolu Point, North Kohala, and from the highwater mark on shore seaward to the limit of the
State’s management authority. The State’s administrative rules outline prohibited activities
within the Fishery Management Area, including but not limited to the taking of specific aquatic
species, SCUBA spearfishing, possession of aquarium collecting gear, and limitations on the
taking of specimens for aquariums. Additional restrictions on fish feeding, aquarium fishing, and
lay net fishing apply to specific areas within the Fishery Management Area.
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1.4 Summary of Stakeholder Consultations
This management plan was developed based on huakaʻi, field visits, and consultations with
stakeholders knowledgeable about the place and with agencies involved in the management of
resources specific to Kahuku Coastal. Stakeholders include kūpuna, lineal descendants,
neighboring landowners, site users (e.g., cultural practitioners, recreational and subsistence
fishers, beachgoers, cavers, and hikers), community organizations, and government agencies.
Due to public health concerns relating to COVID-19, four small group Talk Story Sessions were
held on March 20, 2021 at the Ocean View Community Center in lieu of one general community
meeting. Each session was limited to the number of people as permitted by State and County
regulations during the pandemic. Sessions were conducted at 9:00 am, 10:15 am, 12:00 pm,
and 1:15 pm. A total of 32 residents participated in the talk story sessions. In addition to the in-
person talk story sessions, stakeholders were given the opportunity to provide input via an
online survey that was made available for five weeks (from February 20 to March 27, 2021). A
total of 126 online responses were received. Since the planning team could not accommodate
everyone who wanted to participate during the in-person talk story sessions, a virtual talk story
session was offered to stakeholders who had expressed interest in attending one of the in-
person sessions but were unable to attend due to capacity limits.
The purpose of the talk story sessions and online survey was to gather input on important
resources to protect and preserve, understand major management issues and concerns, and
identify ideas for stewardship. The information documented during the talk story sessions and
from the online survey were not intended to indicate priorities or commitments, but were to
better understand what people value about the property and assist in the development of the
management plan. The project team also worked with stakeholders during the planning process
to identify management strategies and actions.
1.4.1 Stakeholder Values
Three key themes relating to the importance of Kahuku
Coastal emerged from the stakeholder outreach. These
values are summarized below. Unedited responses from
stakeholders are inserted throughout the management plan.
• Some of the most important qualities of this place are
its pristine natural beauty and its rugged, remote
location.
• This site provides access to the shoreline and is one
of the few places where families can still spend time
together, and experience open space and the
undeveloped coastline of Kaʻū without the crowds.
• This beautiful, untouched area provides food for our
families and allows us to perpetuate cultural and
educational practices passed down for generations.
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ʻ
ʻ
ʻ
(Top) A narrow, black sandy beach sprinkled with olivine; (Bottom) View
of the coastline.
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Views of the coastline (top to bottom)
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1.4.2 Current Uses of Kahuku Coastal
Consultations indicated that the area is utilized primarily by
residents. It is one of the few places remaining on the island
where residents can maintain a sense of privacy and
isolation without the crowds. Many residents shared that
they use this area for fishing and shoreline gathering of
resources (e.g., ulua, limu kohu, ʻopihi and ʻaʻama crab),
which many families rely on for subsistence and to
supplement store-purchased food. These activities are
frequently carried out over the course of several days and
require overnight stays as fishing my occur during the day
and night hours. Thus, fishing and camping were frequently
carried out together. While many residents described
fishing in the area, the majority of references were made to
fishing at Smoking Rock, located on the adjacent State
Manukā Natural Area Reserve (although commonly
accessed via the County’s property). Another use that was often described by residents is
engaging in passive recreation activities, such as enjoying the natural beauty and scenic views
of the place, hiking, and picnicking. Other uses of Kahuku Coastal include recreational
swimming and sunbathing on the beach, snorkeling, and lava tube exploration. Many of the
current uses, particularly related to fishing and camping, were described as family-oriented
activities and an important part of the community’s lifestyle, especially in teaching the younger
generation how to fish and gather for subsistence.
Off-roading (with ATVs and dirt bikes) appears to occur as tire marks can be seen on the puʻu
near the coastline. Educational and research uses of the property, including monitoring
hawksbill sea turtles nesting and surveying and mapping of cave systems, are also conducted.
1.4.3 Access and Hazardous Conditions
Consultations indicated that three roads from
Māmalahoa Highway have been utilized to
access the Kahuku Coastal parcel. These
roads include Road to the Sea, an unnamed
road to the south of Road to the Sea, and
Kona Gardens Road. All three roads are
privately-owned. Use of these privately-owned
roads to access Kahuku Coastal by the
general public is discouraged. Road to the
Sea and the unnamed road to the south of
Road to the Sea are unpaved and require the
use of a four-wheel drive vehicle to maneuver
the steep ledges, cracks and potholes. They
can be dangerous to navigate especially
during and after heavy rain. Kona Gardens
Road is a paved road located within the Kona
Gardens subdivision, which requires gate
access.
ʻ
Strong ocean currents can pose a threat to children
and those who are not familiar with the area.
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Some residents in nearby subdivisions expressed wanting to
improve the roadways (leading to the County’s parcel as well as
within the property) so that they can access the beach close to
their community instead of having to drive at least 30 minutes to
an hour to the nearest ocean access. Some residents felt that it
was unfair that only people with four-wheel drive vehicles can
currently access the area. On the other hand, many residents felt
that the road should be kept in its current condition because it
acts as a natural barrier to protect the resources and the place.
They further explained that any improvements to the road would
attract more people to the area, thus negatively impacting the
sense of place that makes it unique. It was also viewed as a
threat to preserving their way of life. Adjacent landowners on
Road to the Sea shared strong concerns about increased traffic
on Road to the Sea as more people will likely utilize it to access
the County’s parcel.
Residents who frequent Kahuku Coastal explained that there are several “rough” spots that only
those who currently access the area would know how to maneuver on the challenging terrain.
One individual shared that vehicles are often stuck on the road and need assistance. Some
residents also raised safety concerns relating to ocean use at Kahuku Coastal. These concerns
include the strong current that poses a threat to children and those who are not familiar with the
area. Consultations indicated that other beach areas with calm waters may be more suitable for
recreational swimming, especially due to the isolation of this place and the distance from
emergency services.
There were also some concerns relating to the County’s acquisition of the Property, with some
residents worrying that the County would install gates and restrict public access. There were
also concerns that stewardship of the place would result in a non-profit organization controlling
access and use of the Property.
1.4.4 Other Areas of Concern
In addition to the access and safety concerns, consultations identified other areas of concern
relating to human activity at Kahuku Coastal, including:
• Trash found throughout the Property;
• Illegal dumping that occurs primarily along the privately-owned roads from the highway
to the northern boundary of Kahuku Coastal;
• Sanitary conditions from human waste found on the Property due to improper use of
areas as toilets;
• Impacts of ATVs and dirt bikes on resources;
• Depletion of coastal resources and overfishing;
• Inadvertent impacts to archaeological resources;
• Degradation of the coastline and loss of endangered species habitat.
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(Top) Gently sloping landscape at Kahuku Coastal; View of the ʻaʻā lava channel
(Bottom).
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2 Planning Area
2.1 Topography
The topography at Kahuku Coastal is gently sloping, ranging from sea level to approximately
700 feet above mean sea level at its inland boundary. While the slopes are generally gentle,
walking across much of the Property is difficult due to the rough terrain created by the ʻaʻā and
pāhoehoe lava flows.
2.2 Geological and Natural Features
Kahuku Coastal is located on the
southwestern slope of Mauna Loa, an
active volcano. Mauna Loa is a shield
volcano made of Kaʻū Basalt and is the
second youngest and the largest
volcano on the island, with a summit of
13,681 feet above sea level. From the
sea floor to the volcano’s summit, the
total height of Mauna Loa is about
56,000 feet, making it the largest
volcano in the world. While Mauna Loa
is active, it has not erupted since 1984,
making this the longest period of quiet in
recorded history. There are several
different lava flows within the Property:
Hapaimamo Flows, the Kīpuka Kanohina
Flow, Flow 654, and Flow 764 (Trusdell
and Lockwood, 2020). Historic lava flows
from the 1887 and 1907 eruptions of
Mauna Loa are present to the east and
north of Kahuku Coastal, but do not
enter the Property. The western lobe of
the 1907 eruption is the closest of the
historic lava flows, which stopped
flowing to the ocean approximately 500
meters inland of Kahuku Coastal’s
northern boundary (Clark & Brandt,
2020).
The lava flows generally increase in age
from the western side of the Property to
the northeastern corner. The youngest lava flows on the Property consist of the Hapaimamo
Flows, which cover 880 acres on the western side. These flows occurred between A.D. 1843
and 1,000 years before present (A.D. 950). A recent radiocarbon study shows that this lava flow
likely occurred sometime around the turn of the 18th century A.D., during the latter period of
Hawaiian prehistory. The next youngest flow is the Kīpuka Kanohina Flow, which also occurred
between A.D. 1843 and 1,000 years before present (A.D. 950). Recent radiocarbon testing
indicates that this lava flow likely covered this area around the 12th or 13th century A.D. The
A section of the Geologic Map of the Southern Flank of
Mauna Loa Volcano (Trusdell and Lockwood, 2020)
showing the location of the Kahuku Coastal property (in
yellow).
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Kīpuka Kanohina Flow covers the largest acreage within the parcel, approximately 1,805 acres
in the central section of the Property. Flow 654 and Flow 764 are assigned to the 3,000 to 4,000
years before the present (BP) and 4,000 years to 5,000 years BP age groups, respectively.
Flow 654 covers roughly 10 acres where the Kīpuka Kanohina Flow transitions from pāhoehoe
to ʻaʻā, while Flow 764 covers about 433 acres in the northeastern corner of the parcel.
Littoral cones, formed from the interaction of lava with ocean water, can be found along the
coast on both the eastern and western ends of the Property. The westernmost littoral cone on
the Property provides a cindery hill with a narrow, black sandy beach sprinkled with olivine at its
base. Other coastal features at Kahuku Coastal include low, wave-washed lava flats with small
waterworn cobbles, coral and sand; and steep lava cliffs which provide small cavities for
seabirds to rest or even nest in. The lower lava flats contain a series of transverse fissures
which intersect basal ground water, creating long, narrow, deep and shady anchialine ponds.
The resources within the anchialine ponds are discussed in further detail later in this report.
Lava tube skylights, cave openings, and several lava channels are also present at Kahuku
Coastal, including a lava channel that runs across the entire length of the property from mauka
to makai. According to the Cave Conservancy of Hawaiʻi (CCH), the Property contains the
second longest lava tube system in the world with over 15.5 miles of continuous cave passages.
According to Maly and Maly (2004), most of the potable water in this region was likely collected
from caves.
2.3 Soils
The soils at Kahuku Coastal are either very shallow or non-existent because most of the
Property is covered by lava flows. The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS) classified the soils into two types: ʻaʻā lava flows (rLV) and
pāhoehoe lava flows (rLW). The ʻaʻā lava flows cover approximately 70 percent of Kahuku
Coastal, while the pāhoehoe lava flows cover the remaining 30 percent.
The ʻaʻā lava flows are characterized by “rough, broken, sharp pieces of lava piled in tumbled
heaps.” This lava flow is mostly barren, with scattered plants and small vegetated areas. Unlike
the ʻaʻā lava flow, the pāhoehoe lava flow has a relatively smooth surface. Again, there is no soil
covering on this type of lava flow and it is mostly bare of vegetation. More vegetated areas,
although still sparse, are found in the upper elevations of the pāhoehoe lava flow (just below the
subdivisions). The pāhoehoe lava flows generally run through the center of the Property from
the upper elevations to the coast.
2.4 Environmental Hazards
2.4.1 Climate Change
Over time, changes in the climate are anticipated. According to the National Climate
Assessment Report (2018), climate change will consist of rising carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, rising air and sea temperatures, rising sea levels and upper-ocean heat content,
changing ocean chemistry and increasing ocean acidity, changing rainfall patterns, decreasing
base flow in streams, changing wind and wave patterns, changing extremes, and changing
habitats and species distribution.
In Hawaiʻi, the effects of global climate change have already been observed, with air
temperature increasing by 0.76 degrees Fahrenheit over the last century and a general
downward trend in rainfall. Sea surface temperatures and ocean pH (an indicator of acidity)
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have also increased. Annual rainfall in the vicinity of Kahuku Coastal has decreased from about
2 to 6 percent per decade between 1920 to 2012 (USGCRP, 2018).
Increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall will lead to an increased frequency of droughts.
The frequency of wildfires is also expected to increase as low rainfall creates dry vegetation that
increases fuel loads, further contributing to the degradation of native ecosystems. Fountain
grass, an invasive weed that is prone to fires, has been increasing its footprint on the Kahuku
Coastal property. The presence of fountain grass in combination with climate change-induced
dry conditions could contribute to increasing wildfire threats to the adjacent subdivision and
Natural Area Reserve.
Climate change is also expected to cause more severe rainfall events, which will increase runoff
to the nearshore waters. Higher sea-surface temperatures will have detrimental effects on
aquatic and marine ecosystems, including deterioration of coral reefs. Rising sea levels will
inundate areas near shorelines, thus having a direct impact on beach habitat for sea turtles and
monk seals and for public use. The coastal areas of Kahuku Coastal are within the 3.2-feet sea
level rise exposure area (SLR-XA).
2.4.2 Lava Flow Hazard
The U.S. Geological Survey developed a map in 1974, and slightly revised in 1992, categorizing
nine Lava Flow Hazard Zones based on characteristics of past eruptions, topographic features
that could affect the path of lava, and the assumption that future eruptions will be similar to
those in the past (Figure 3). The map was designed primarily to provide information for general
planning purposes to communicate long-term lava flow hazards.
Lava Flow Hazard Zones 1 and 2 are
where flows are most likely to occur, with
Zone 9 the least likely to occur. Kahuku
Coastal is in Lava Flow Hazard Zone 2.
Lava Flow Hazard Zone 2 is located in
areas adjacent to and downslope from
Lava Flow Hazard Zone 1. Since 1800,
lava flows have covered 15 to 25 percent
of Zone 2 on Mauna Loa; and within the
last 750 years, lava flows have covered 25
to 75 percent of Zone 2. The relative
hazard within Zone 2 decreases gradually
as one moves away from Zone 1.
2.4.3 Other Hazards
The Property is located outside of the
tsunami evacuation zone and high risk
flood area. Consultations highlighted the
strong current and dangerous ocean
conditions in this area. In July 2021, it was
reported that a fisherman fell into the water
along the shoreline at the end of Road to
the Sea. Another gentlemen attempted to
Figure 3. Lava Flow Hazard Zones
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rescue the fisherman, but the current swept them further out into the ocean, where they were
found unresponsive and later died.
2.5 Infrastructure
There is no existing infrastructure, nor improved roadways, within the Property. At the time of
acquisition, the County secured a legal access from Māmalahoa Highway on the southern side
of Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos subdivision.
2.6 Mo‘olelo/Wahi Pana
Kahuku Coastal is within the ahupuaʻa of Kahuku, which is the second largest land division in
the district of Kaʻū at approximately 184,298 acres. Kaʻū appears in several ʻōlelo noʻeau,
including Ka‘ū ‘āina kipi, which refers to the people of Kaʻū that are known to rebel against
oppression, even killing their own oppressive chiefs.
This section shares moʻolelo associated with this region. The origin of the people in the western
section of Kaʻū is believed to have occurred from a gourd vine that sprouted and grew across
the land before fruiting and giving birth to the ancestors of this region.
There was a local myth which accounted for the origin of the people of the western
districts of Ka‘u. It tells of a beloved chiefess of Ka‘u living in Kama‘oa who fell ill and
died just before she was to bear a child. Her body was put in a cave and a great stone
was placed across its entrance. On the day when the child was due to have been born, a
sprout emerged from the navel of the chiefess and grew out through a small opening in
the entrance to the cave. It crept along over the country westward until it came to the
house of a chief. There a gourd began to grow and to mature. The chief thumped and
pinched it every day to see whether it was ready to pick. The spirit of the chiefess
appeared to the kahuna of her ancestral house, who searched out the distant abode of
the malihini chief by following the gourd vine. He then led the chief back to the cave in
which the body lay, with the vine growing out of the navel. Thus he persuaded the chief
to respect the gourd which had ripened on his land. The gourd was carried back to
Kama‘oa and kept carefully in a fine tapa cloth. In time it cracked open and out fell two
seeds which developed into identical twin girls. These robust and prolific young women
became the ancestress of the Kama‘oa plain. The people of Kama‘oa and of the districts
westward to the border of Kona, over which the vine had spread, regarded themselves
as descended from the gourd. Throughout this area gourd vines were never burned
when they were dried or blighted, but were buried in a deep hole. Seven ahupua‘a were
crossed by the vine in its westward growth: Kama‘oa, Pakini-iki, Pakini-nui, Kahuku, Kiao
(a small ahupua‘a practically enclosed between Pakini and Kahuku), Manuka, and
Kapu‘a (which is in Kona where the gourd fruited). (Handy and Handy, 1991:582-583 as
cited in ASM Affiliates, 2020)
Another moʻolelo associated with this region is Nā Puʻu o Pele (The Hills of Pele), which
explains the origins of the two littoral cones known as Nā Puʻu o Pele located in the vicinity of
the Property. The flow events that resulted in the formation of the littoral cones occurred from
the Hapaimamo Flows around the turn of the 18th century. It is believed that the flow events
were the result of Pele’s anger at two aliʻi of Kahuku who were known for their hōlua (sled
riding) skills.
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That summer day, on the lava of long ago, so long ago that its date is not recorded, we
heard the story of the chiefs of Kahuku and the fiery and voluptuous goddess of the
volcanic forces of the Hawaiian Islands.
Kahuku, the land now under past and present lava flows, was at one time luxuriant and
beautiful. The sugarcane and taro beds were bordered by flowers and shaded by long-
branching trees. Villages here and there marked the population which supported the
chiefs of Kahuku.
Two of the young chiefs were splendid specimens of savage manhood. They both
excelled in the sports and athlete feats which were the chief occupation of those days.
Wherever a hillside was covered with grass and the ground properly sloping, holua races
were carried on. Very narrow sleds (holua) with long runners were used in these races.
Maidens and young men vied with each other in mad rushes over the holua courses.
Usually the body was thrown headlong on the sled as it was pushed over the brink of
the little hill at the beginning of the slide. Sometimes the more courageous riders would
rest on hands and knees while only the very skilful [sic] dared stand upright during the
swift descent.
Pele, the goddess of fire, loved this sport and often appeared as a beautiful and athletic
princess. She carried her sled with her to Kahuku to the holua hillside, and easily
surpassed all the women in grace and daring.
Soon the two handsome young chiefs saw her and challenged her to race with them. For
hours they sported together, the chiefs led captive by the charms of the goddess.
Jealous of each other, they strove to win Pele each to his own home. Thus the days
passed by, filled with sports and pleasures.
At last the young men became suspicious of their companion, her love was so fitful and
capricious, sometimes burning with a raging fire toward her friends and sometimes
filled with hot anger on very slight provocation.
At last a warning came that this beautiful stranger might be the goddess Pele from the
other side of the island; that her home was in Halemaumau (The continuing house) of
the volcano Kilauea; her attendants the always leaping flames; the caves filled with
rolling waves of fire her dwelling-rooms; that she carried the control of the fires of the
underworld with her wherever she went.
The young chiefs talked together concerning their experiences and then began to draw
away from their dangerous visitor.
But Pele made it difficult for them to escape from her presence. She continually called
them to race with her. At last the grass began to die. The soil became warm, and the
heat intense. Slight earthquakes made themselves felt. The tides were more snappy as
they cast their surf waves along the beach.
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The chiefs became afraid. Pele saw it and was overcome with anger. Her appearance
changed. Her hair floated out in tangled masses, touched by the breath of hot winds.
Her arms and limbs shone as if enwrapped with fire. Her eyes blazed like lightning, and
her breath poured forth in volumes of smoke. In great terror the chiefs rushed toward
the sea.
Pele struck the ground heavily with her feet. Again and again she stamped in wrath.
Earthquakes swept the lands of Kahuku. Then the awful fiery flood broke from the
underworld, and swept down over Kahuku. On the crest of the falling torrent of fire
rode Pele, flashing the fires of her anger in great explosions above the flood.
The chiefs tried to flee toward the north, but Pele hurled the fiercest torrents beyond
them to turn them back. Then they fled toward the south, but Pele again forced them
back upon their own lands.
Then they hurried down to the beach, hoping to catch one of their canoes and escape
on the ocean. Quickly these young men leaped on. Swiftly came the fiery flood behind
them. Pele was urging the underworld forces to their utmost speed. Shrieking like fierce,
whistling winds, tearing her hair and throwing it away in bunches, Pele sped after the
chiefs. The floods of lava, obeying the commands of the goddess, spread out over all the
land of the chiefs so that from the mountain to the sea the luxuriant lands became
desolate.
Nearer and nearer to the sea came the swift runners. It seemed as if they had found the
way of escape, for the surf waves waited eagerly to welcome them, and a canoe lay near
the beach.
But Pele leaped from the flowing lava and threw her burning arms around the nearest
one of her former lovers. In a moment the lifeless body was thrown to one side. The
lava piled itself up around it, while at the command of Pele a new gush of lava rose up
like a fresh crater and swallowed up all that was left.
The other chief was petrified by fear and horror. In a moment Pele seized him and called
for another outburst of lava, which rose up rapidly around them. In a few minutes the
Hills of Pele were built.
Thus the lovers of Pele died and thus their tombs were made. For many years, even
from ancient times, they have marked the destruction of the beautiful lands of Kahuku.
Later lava flows have turned aside to spare the monuments of the chiefs with whom
Pele played for a time, and the two hills of Pele are still seen near the shore of the
ocean. (Westervelt, 1916:21-26 as cited in ASM Affiliates, 2020)
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2.7 Land Tenure History
This section provides a general overview of the land tenure for Kahuku Coastal. Most of the
information is summarized from the Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey prepared by Clark
and Brandt (2020). Eruptions of Mauna Loa significant to this area are also noted below.
1848 During the Māhele, William Pitt Leleiohōku, grandson of Kamehameha, claims
Kahuku Ahupuaʻa.
1850 Following Leleiohōku’s death in 1848, Kahuku Ahupuaʻa, in addition to other lands,
is ceded to the Government to cover the cost of commutation fees. The
Government sets aside Kahuku Ahupuaʻa as “School Lands for the use and income
of the Department of Public Instruction” and is held by the Board of Public
Institution.
More than 30 kuleana claims in Kahuku Ahupuaʻa are filed with the Land
Commission. Only seven claims, totaling 69 acres, are awarded.
1861 King Kamehameha IV sells Kahuku Ahupuaʻa (184,298 acres) by Royal Patent
Grant No. 2791 to Charles Coffin Harris for $3,000.
1866 Harris sells Kahuku Ahupuaʻa to Theophilus Brown of Connecticut for $5,250.91.
Brown starts Kahuku Ranch.
1868 Eruption of Mauna Loa, and associated earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter
scale and tsunami, impacts the entire Kaʻū coastline. It destroys the ranch houses
and covers a large portion of the land with fresh lava.
1871 Brown sells Kahuku Ahupuaʻa to a group of businessmen that includes William H.
Reed, Charles E. Richardson, George W.C. Jones, and L. Kaina.
1877 Jones buys out his partners’ interests to become the sole owner of Kahuku
Ahupuaʻa.
1887 Eruption of Mauna Loa flows to the coast of Kahuku Ahupuaʻa and enters the
ocean near Pōhue Bay.
1888 Jones sells Kahuku Ahupuaʻa to Samuel Norris for $27,000.
1903 Eruption of Mauna Loa covers sections of Kahuku Ahupuaʻa.
1907 Eruption of Mauna Loa covers sections of Kahuku Ahupuaʻa, nearly reaching the
coast near Kahuku Coastal.
1910 Norris sells Kahuku Ahupuaʻa to Charles Macomber, his long-time friend and
employee on the ranch, for a dollar.
1912 Macomber sells Kahuku Ahupuaʻa to Alfred W. Carter of Parker Ranch for $90,000.
Parker Ranch operates Kahuku Ranch until 1947.
1916 Eruption of Mauna Loa covers inland portions of Kahuku Ranch.
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1926 Eruption of Mauna Loa covers inland portions of Kahuku Ranch.
1947 Parker Ranch sells Kahuku Ahupuaʻa to James W. Glover, founder of the Glover
general construction firm for $365,000.
1958 Following Glover’s death, Kahuku Ranch is sold under court order by the Hawaiian
Trust Company, the executor of his estate, to pay for other debts. The trustees of
the Samuel Damon Estate offer a winning bid of $1.36 million for the ranch.
Soon after the purchase, Damon Estate sells off much of the western section of
Kahuku Ahupuaʻa including the study area, Kahuku Coastal, because it is too dry
for economical cattle ranching.
Late
1950s
Crawford Oil Company begins developing the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates,
mauka of Māmalahoa Highway.
Late
1960s
and
early
1970s
Smaller subdivisions are developed makai of Māmalahoa Highway: Kona Gardens,
Kona South Estates, Keoni’s Hawaiian Ranchos, Kula Kai View Estates, and
Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos.
1987 Palace Development Corporation and the Hawaiʻi Kaʻū ʻĀina Partnership propose
the Hawaiian Riviera Resort5 development, which consists of the Hawaiian Palace
Resort and the Hawaiʻi Kaʻū ʻĀina Resort, on 3,245 acres.
2009 The public nominates Kahuku Coastal as lands worthy of preservation. The PONC
identifies Kahuku Coastal in the Annual Prioritized List submitted to the Mayor.
2011 Nani Kahuku ʻĀina, LLC proposed a scaled back resort development known as
Kahuku Village, on lands (16,000+ acres) to the east of Kahuku Coastal.
2016 The County acquires Kahuku Coastal using the County’s Preservation Fund and
leveraging funds from the State DLNR Legacy Land Conservation Program and
USFWS Recovery Lands Acquisition program.
5 The Hawaiian Palace Resort, which was proposed for the Kahuku Coastal lands, included a resort and
residential community, an extensive commercial area around a proposed 400-slip marina, a cruise ship
terminal, and a golf course. At build-out, the total units would have consisted of 1,500 visitor units
including 900 hotel rooms distributed between two hotels, 375 Luxury Villa apartments, 225 garden
apartments, and 727 residential units. A regional airport was also proposed as part of the resort
development.
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2.8 Archaeology
Kahuku Coastal is rich in historic and archaeological resources. The coastal sections of the
study area have been previously surveyed by PHRI (Haun and Walker) in 1987 for the Hawaiian
Riviera Resort development project. The survey prepared by Haun and Walker (1987)
documented 40 sites containing 146 features. These sites were interpreted as having been
used for habitation, temporary habitation, lava tube habitation, transportation, rock art, quarry,
and marker purposes during the prehistoric and historic periods. Three of these sites (HRHP 50-
10-72-3697, 3698, and 3699) were also previously documented by the Bishop Museum.
In September 2020, an archaeological reconnaissance survey was conducted for the entire
Kahuku Coastal property by ASM Affiliates (Clark & Brandt). This section provides a general
overview of the features identified in the study prepared by Clark & Brandt (2020). It should be
noted that details concerning exact archaeological site locations are not provided in this report
in an effort to reduce vandalism and intentional looting of the sites.
Ahu, cairns, and cobble collections were found throughout the Property on both pāhoehoe
and ʻaʻā lava surfaces. As described by Clark & Brandt (2020), these features represent “a pile
of cobbles that was created by human agency at a certain time and place (within a particular
cultural setting) for a specific purpose.” More formal rock piles were classified as ahu; the
smaller, less labor-intensive constructions were classified as cairns; and the most ambiguous
piles as cobble collections. A total of 148 features, or 10 percent of features documented, were
classified as either ahu, cairns, or cobble collections. These features were likely used to mark
primary trail routes, or possibly for ceremonial purposes. Some ahu or cobble collections were
found aligned with C-shaped enclosures or associated with C-shape enclosures. It is
hypothesized that the ahu or cobble collections were used as foundational elements for poles to
support roof structures or as auxiliary habitation structures (i.e., fire hearths or drying racks) to
the C-shape enclosures.
A total of 197 features, or 13 percent of features documented, were classified as either lava
tube entrances, lava blisters, or overhangs. Caves likely provided shade and shelter from the
wind, as well as a means to collect and store potable water. For example, gourd fragments
found in one of the caves was probably from a gourd container used to gather water drips from
the lava tube ceiling. Another cave contained several bamboo poles and carved sticks that were
likely used for storage. Some of the lava tube entrances, lava blisters, and overhangs were also
likely utilized for transient habitation. No human burials were encountered within the lava tubes
that were explored by the archaeologists on the Property; however, burials have been
documented in nearby caves in the surrounding area.
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Enclosures primarily used
for short-term/temporary
habitation were found
throughout the Property. An
enclosure as defined by
Clark & Brandt (2020) is “a
collection of basalt material
formed into walls or
alignments that surround an
interior space on at least
25% of the perimeter.” The
enclosures within the project
area consisted of C-shape,
L-shape, U-shape, circular or
oval, square or rectangular,
linear, and irregular forms. A
high concentration of
enclosures is located near
the coast on the pāhoehoe
lava surface below the 100-
foot elevation contour. Near
the coast are also several small clusters of 5
to 10 temporary habitation enclosures. These
enclosures were likely used seasonally for
longer durations than those found further
inland. Enclosures in more inland areas were
likely constructed along mauka/makai trail
routes. A total of 86 features (or 5.5 percent of
features documented) were identified as
enclosures.
Excavations, also referred to as “extraction
pits,” were the most common feature type
found within the project area. It accounted for
almost 60 percent of all the features
documented. The extraction pits occurred
primarily on the pāhoehoe lava surfaces where
small blisters or cracks from the surface layer
have been excavated. Pāhoehoe excavations
typically occurred in areas with gas pockets.
Removal of the surface layer exposes the
space between the surface layer and the
underlying flow thus resulting in an artificial pit.
ʻAʻā excavations were done simply by
removing the cobble material to create an
artificial pit. While there are many differing
interpretations for the possible functions of
Example of an excavation
C-shaped shelter at Kahuku Coastal
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excavations, these excavations were likely done to extract resources for use as construction
materials. Small vesicular basalt slabs could have also been used as raw material for making
abraders. While further study is needed, Clark & Brandt (2020) speculates that pāhoehoe
excavations within Kahuku Coastal could also have been used to create or enhance nesting
habitats for indigenous/endemic Hawaiian bird species (so eggs could be more easily collected
as a food source) or even as a way to gather potable water from the arid landscape.
Petroglyph features consisting of Hawaiian rock
art images (kiʻi pōhaku), papamū (kōnane game
boards), basins and ground surfaces, and
abraded surfaces were primarily located below
the 200 foot elevation contour. A total of 62
petroglyphs/kiʻi pōhaku containing
anthropomorphic, geometric design, text and a
footprint were identified. Two faint papamū were
located on the pāhoehoe lava near cave features
and enclosures used for habitation purposes.
Basins and ground surfaces were found near the
coastline. Basins are bowl-like depressions
created by pecking into pāhoehoe lava, while
ground surfaces are created by repetitive
grinding into pāhoehoe lava. Three petroglyph
complexes, consisting of a total of 72 basins and
ground bedrock surfaces, were documented on
the Property. These basins and ground surfaces
were likely used as salt pans, or for activities
such as processing bait or preparing food items
gathered from the nearshore waters. Abraded
surfaces were found in three areas, two located
near a small cave entrance at the 180 foot
elevation contour and one near the 650 foot
elevation contour.
A platform can be found on the Kīpuka Kanohina Lava Flow at the 90 foot elevation close to an
overhang entrance. Two faint petroglyph images (both anthropomorphs) are pecked into the
bedrock surface to the east of the entrance. Given the platform’s formal attributes and
contextual associations, Clark & Brandt (2020) identified it as a possible burial or utilized for
ceremonial purposes.
Seven trail segments were identified and recorded by Clark & Brandt (2020). Early inhabitants
were able to traverse the rough terrain of Kaʻū using lateral (coastal) and mauka-makai trails.
These trails were important for pedestrian access and movement in the region. For example,
these trails enabled people living in the mountain ranges to access the coast for subsistence
activities. Trails also provided access for cultural and religious practices and allowed for
communication between extended families and neighboring communities. Clark & Brandt (2020)
identified trail segments located on the ʻaʻā and mixed ʻaʻā terrain within the Property. Typically,
trail construction methods included the placement of cobble stepping-stones and/or curbstone
and coral-cobble line trails. Trails constructed on ʻaʻā lava surfaces are generally easier to
Petroglyph near the coastline
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identify than those constructed on pāhoehoe lava surfaces. Therefore, trail routes across the
pāhoehoe lava surfaces were not recorded by Clark & Brandt (2020) in the field. However, trails
and other likely routes of travel within the Property was interpolated based upon several factors,
including the findings of previous archaeological studies, historical documentary research,
projections between mapped trail sections, and presence of naturally occurring landscape
markers and features.
Clark & Brandt (2020) was not able to verify the actual path of the Ala Loa Trail except near the
western boundary of the Property. Consultations indicated that some lineal descendants may
know the alignment of the Ala Loa Trail in this area. The Ala Loa Trail is an ancient lateral trail
that traversed the entire island of Hawaiʻi and enabled people to travel along the coast and
around the island. The projected route of the Ala Loa across the Property is located slightly
more inland than the current alignment of one of the roads referred to as the coastal Jeep road.
Kahuku Coastal is located outside of the “priority area” for implementing the National Park
System’s (NPS) Ahupuaʻa Trail System Plan for maintaining the Ala Kahakai National Historic
Trail over the next 15 years (NPS, 2009).
In addition to the trail segments, seven modern road sections were mapped by Clark & Brandt
(2020). These roads, made up of worn paths across pāhoehoe surfaces or bulldozed paths
across ʻaʻā surfaces, are only accessible to 4WD vehicles. The majority of the road segments
are located near the coastline except for one located inland on the northeastern corner of the
Property. These roads also provide current vehicular access within the Property, and
consequently, the highest impacts to cultural sites are found near these road sections.
2.9 Traditional Cultural Practices
Based on consultations to date, some of the cultural
practices/uses of the Property include fishing, surfing,
hunting of mouflon and goat, and gathering of
nearshore resources, medicinal plants (e.g., ʻuhaloa)
and salt. ʻUhaloa (Waltheria indica) was used for
medicinal purposes to treat sore throats.
Of these practices, it appears that fishing is the most
common practice that still occurs today on the Property
and is frequently carried out in conjunction with overnight
camping. Consultations indicated that a popular fishing
area frequently accessed by fisherfolks, commonly
referred to as Smoking Rock, is located on the adjacent
State Manukā Natural Area Reserve. A community
member shared that the winds are favorable in this area
(especially in December and January) for ulua fishing.
A more modern practice that occurs in this region is the
collection of seeds to replenish an area with native plants
after a wildfire. It was also reported that there is a nearby
surf break off of the Property that is accessible to surfers
although the name associated with it is unknown.
ʻUhaloa, used for medicinal purposes to
treat sore throats, is found on the Property.
ʻ
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2.10 Nearshore Resources
Kahuku Coastal is accessed by local residents for subsistence
gathering and fishing (e.g., wana, limu, ʻopihi, and lobster).
Consultations indicated that the main nearshore resource of this
area is ulua.
2.11 Vegetation
Most of Kahuku Coastal consists of lava rock with very sparse vegetation. The biological survey
conducted in August 2020 by Terry & Hart did not find any currently listed threatened or
endangered plants. It found a low diversity of native plant species on the Property. Of the 36
plant species observed, only eight were native plant species.
Two observed plant species are endemic, or found only in the Hawaiian Islands: the lama tree
(Diospyros sandwicensis) and ʻiwaʻiwa (Doryopteris decora). The indigenous plant species, or
those found naturally in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere, include: ʻaʻaliʻi (Dodonaea viscosa), mauʻu
ʻakiʻaki (Fimbristylis cymosa), pili (Heteropogon contortus), ʻ ōhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha),
ʻakiʻaki (Sporobolus virginicus), and ʻuhaloa (Waltheria indica). All of the native plant species
observed at Kahuku Coastal are relatively common in the region and on the island. Mauʻu
ʻakiʻaki, ʻuhaloa, and pili grass were dispersed throughout the Property, whereas ʻ ōhiʻa was
confined inland near the northern boundary of the property. In addition to the native plant
species identified by Terry & Hart, the indigenous naupaka (Scaevola taccada) was observed
along the shoreline. A few introduced coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) were also found near the
coastline.
Table 3. Native Plants at Kahuku Coastal
Common Name Hawaiian Name Scientific Name
Endemic
Lance fern ʻIwaʻiwa Doryopteris decora
Hawaiian Ebony/Persimmon Lama Diospyros sandwicensis
Indigenous
Button sedge Mauʻu ʻakiʻaki Fimbristylis cymosa
Naupaka Scaevola taccada
Pili grass Pili Heteropogon contortus
ʻŌhiʻa Metrosideros polymorpha
Seashore dropseed ʻAkiʻaki grass Sporobolus virginicus
Sleepy morning ʻUhaloa Waltheria indica
Hawaiian hopseed bush ʻAʻaliʻi Dodonaea viscosa
The non-native sourbush (Pluchea carolinensis), along with the native ʻuhaloa, are the most
common plants found near the coast and most common throughout the Property. A few
scattered Christmas berry (Schinus terebinthifolius) and koa haole (Leucaena leucocephala) are
also located on the Property. Of concern for fire risk is fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceus),
which is found in pockets throughout the site, including clusters near the northeastern corner of
the Property. Fountain grass is an invasive and highly flammable grass that serves as fuel for
wildfires. While fountain grass does not appear to be spread widely throughout the Property,
pockets of fountain grass clusters were observed during the site visit.
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2.12 Anchialine Pools
A complex of anchialine pools may be found at
Kahuku Coastal. These anchialine pools are within a
series of deep littoral tension fissures that run
parallel to the shoreline and provide important
habitat for certain fauna. In 2017, DLNR Division of
Aquatic Resources (DAR) staff surveyed and
documented four fissures, approximately a half mile
east of Humuhumu Point, two of which appeared to
be interconnected. The longest fissure was
approximately 560 feet long and branched into a
shorter section that was 220 feet long. The two other
fissures with anchialine habitats were approximately
170 and 92 feet long. The depth from the fissure
openings to the surface of the water ranged from 2.3
to 12.6 feet.
In 2017, DLNR DAR staff described the anchialine
habitats as being relatively undisturbed and more
pristine than most anchialine pools in West Hawaiʻi.
They indicated that at that time the overall water
quality and physical habitat characteristics did not
show any measurable impacts resulting from direct
human disturbance, such as elevated nutrient input
or pollution. DLNR DAR staff attributed the good
condition of the habitat found in the anchialine pools
during their survey to the remoteness of the
anchialine pools, lack of development, difficult
access to the area, and the relatively inconspicuous
nature of the anchialine fissures. However, during a
site visit in November 2020, it appeared that one of
the anchialine pools was being utilized as a toilet.
The following native species were observed in the
anchialine pools: endemic ʻōpae ʻula (Halocaridina
rubra), indigenous ʻōpae ʻoehaʻa (Macrobrachium
grandimanus), indigenous kūpīpī (Abudefduf
sordidus), and indigenous Fryer’s false moray
(Xenoconger fryeri). Introduced Tahitian prawns
(Macrobrachium lar) were also observed.
The Fryer’s false moray is a relatively rare native
chlopsid eel found in anchialine pools in Hawaiʻi and
similar habitats in other parts of the Indo-Pacific. At
least four Fryer’s false moray were identified in one
location. There are very few recorded sightings of
this eel in Hawaiian anchialine habitats because of
its cryptic nature. Other sightings of this eel have
Anchialine pools provide important habitat
for certain fauna, including the endemic
ʻōpae ʻula
Series of deep littoral tension fissures in the
lava running parallel to the shoreline
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been reported in anchialine pools in Manukā and South Kohala. DLNR DAR staff notes that the
confirmed presence of the relative rare native chlopsid eel found in the anchialine pools at
Kahuku Coastal is important for understanding the biology and distribution of the species.
Within the surveyed areas (Sakihara, 2017), the ʻōpae ʻula was the most abundant of all
species, ranging between an estimated 20 to 80 individuals per 1 square meter. In comparison,
the invasive Tahitian prawn was recorded in lower densities typically less than five individuals
per 1 square meter and were most prevalent and active during the nighttime.
2.13 Hawksbill Sea Turtles
The beaches in Kaʻū are well-documented nesting beaches for the endangered hawksbill sea
turtles or honuʻea (Eretmochelys imbricata). The majority of documented hawksbill nests in the
Hawaiian Islands are actually found in the Kaʻū District. Hawksbills are the rarest of all sea turtle
species in the entire Pacific and were the first marine turtle species to be listed under the
Endangered Species Act.
Hawksbill sea turtles spend almost their entire lives in the ocean foraging primarily for sponges.
Gravid females only come ashore to dig nests on beaches to lay their eggs, primarily at night.
After hatching, hawksbill hatchlings find their way to the ocean, reaching sexual maturity
between 20-35 years of age. Female hawksbill sea turtles are known to return to the beaches
where they were born every two to five years to nest.
The Hawaiʻi Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project (HIHTRP) has monitored and managed
hawksbill nesting on Hawaiʻi Island since the early 1990s, primarily between South Kona to
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. HIHTRP defines suitable nesting habitat in Hawaiʻi as “an
area above the high tide line with substrate in which a nesting turtle is capable of digging an egg
chamber.” Nesting sites are typically found in small, isolated pockets of sand with scattered
cobblestones and/or coral. Naupaka is an ideal beach plant because its weak bristly roots are
easy for nesting females to break when digging an egg chamber and for their hatchlings to
emerge. Non-desirable plant species such as coconut trees have fibrous roots that make it
difficult for nesting females and their hatchlings.
Most of the information in this section is derived from data collected by HIHTRP (Seitz et al.,
2012). Data collected for nesting sites in the vicinity of the County’s Kahuku Coastal property
include nearby ʻĀwili Point and Pōhue Bay. In 2010, HIHTRP reported that one newly tagged
hawksbill turtle laid three confirmed nests and possibly two more at ʻĀwili Point. At least 248
hawksbill hatchlings reached the sea from two highly successful nests. At Pōhue Bay, nine
nests from two returning hawksbill turtles were protected and over 1,300 hatchlings reached the
ocean. While both of these nesting sites are located outside of the boundaries of the County’s
parcel, ʻĀwili Point and Pōhue Bay have well-documented nesting activity and suggest the
potential for hawksbill turtles to be present in the vicinity of the Property and possibly explore it
for nesting. Between the early 1990s and 2009, HIHTRP tagged 100 adult female hawksbill
turtles on Hawaiʻi Island. Twenty of the 100 female turtles were tagged at Pōhue Bay, thus
making it the site of the second most tagged female turtles.
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Humuhumu Point, also outside of the County’s Property, has been identified as a possible
nesting site by HIHTRP. The 5-acre privately-owned parcel is situated at the end of Road to the
Sea, the road just within the western border of the County’s parcel. The beach is composed of
sand, cobble stones, and coral rubble. Access to the beach from the ocean for nesting hawksbill
turtles may be difficult due to a lava shelf. HIHTRP personnel occasionally walk by Humuhumu
Point on their way between Pōhue Bay and ʻĀwili Point. A dead turtle was discovered in a
nearby anchialine pool lava crack in 2008. This discovery suggested that nesting hawksbill
turtles may be using Humuhumu Point as a nesting site. The turtle found in the lava crack in
2008 was a gravid adult female turtle with approximately 123 eggs. The turtle was previously
tagged at Pōhue Bay in 2005, which also reconfirmed that some individual hawksbill turtles use
multiple nesting sites along the coastline. Data collected by HIHTRP indicate that 13% of the
turtles documented use multiple beaches during the same nesting season or in subsequent
seasons.
HIHTRP staff noted two other incidents where hawksbill turtles have been trapped in the lava
crack near Humuhumu Point but were successfully rescued. In 2009, adult female tracks and
digs were found at Humuhumu Point, but HIHTRP staff were not able to confirm any nests.
Humuhumu Point is frequented by campers, fisherfolks, and beachgoers.
Humuhumu Point , located outside of the County’s Property, may be a possible nesting site for
hawksbill sea turtles.
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2.14 Green Sea Turtles
The federally threatened
green sea turtles or honu
(Chelonia mydas) are
commonly seen in the
nearshore waters around the
Property. Green sea turtles
are not known to nest in the
main Hawaiian Islands, but
can be found foraging for
limu (seaweed) and algae in
shallow waters and hauling
out onto beaches, including
the shoreline rocks of the ʻaʻā
storm beaches found on the
Property to rest or bask in
the sun.
2.15 Hawaiian Monk Seals
The Hawaiian monk seals or ʻīlio holo i ka uaua (Neomonachus schauinslandi), also federally
endangered, spend most of their time at sea, but come ashore to rest on beaches, sometimes
for days at a time. Seals often return to the same beaches to rest. While the Property lacks a
protected, sandy beach ideal for seals to haul out, seals may still utilize the shoreline within the
Property to rest. The Hawaiian monk seals are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. They were the
first species to be listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and were listed
as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1976.
The 2007 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal
identifies significant threats to Hawaiian monk seals, including disturbance of their habitats
when monk seals haul out on to beaches to rest, or for pupping and nursing. Monk seals spend
about two-thirds of their time in the water, and the remainder on shoreline habitats. They
generally prefer sandy beaches but can be found hauling out on all substrates. Since 1990,
there have been an increasing number of seal sightings in the main Hawaiian Islands. It is
estimated that there are 200 monk seals currently living in the main Hawaiian Islands and since
the late 2000s, approximately 20 monk seal pups have been born each year (NMFS, 2015). The
growing number of seals, particularly in heavily populated areas, is a management challenge,
as it increases potential human interactions that may disturb the seals’ ability to utilize their
habitats. Other challenges include increased risk of infectious diseases to interactions with
fisheries. The 2007 Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal included a recommendation to
develop a plan that addressed the full scope of monk seal management needs in the main
Hawaiian Islands. In 2015, NOAA Fisheries developed the Main Hawaiian Islands Monk Seal
Management Plan, which lists as a conservation goal to provide “sufficient shoreline and marine
Rocky beach area suitable for green sea turtles and monk seals to
bask.
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habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands to support resting, pupping, molting, foraging, and other
natural behaviors of at least 500 monk seals.”
2.16 Other Mammals
The federally endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (ʻōpeʻapeʻa; Lasiurus cinereus semotus), the only
native land mammal in Hawai‘i, is present in the project area. Some of the larger shrubs and
trees within the Property may be suitable nesting habitat for the bats. Bats may also forage for
flying insects over the Property on a seasonal basis. Radar surveys detected numerous targets
that flew in a bat-like manner, which were further confirmed with acoustic detections. Findings
suggest that the bats are relatively abundant across the Property (Terry & Hart, 2020).
Spinner dolphins or naiʻa (Stenella longirostris) are frequently seen offshore and are well known
for their habit of leaping from the water and spinning in the air before falling back into the water.
Spinner dolphins prefer nearshore habitats, such as bays and lagoons, during the day and
deeper, offshore waters for feeding at night.
2.17 Birds
Terry & Hart (2020) found seven species of birds on the Property during a site reconnaissance.
All of the bird species except for one (wandering tattler or ʻulili; Tringa incana) were non-natives.
The other bird species observed were the yellow-fronted canary (Serinus mozambicus), the
zebra dove (Geopelia striata), the spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis), the common myna
(Acridotheres thristis), the grey francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus), and the house finch
(Haemorhous mexicanus). The yellow-fronted canary was the most abundant bird species found
within the widely spaced ‘ōhi‘a trees. While only a few bird species were observed during the
site reconnaissance, it is likely that more bird species may utilize the Property at different times
of the year.
Birds of Prey
Native birds of prey that are in the area and are presumably present at times in this area include
the federally endangered Hawaiian hawk or ʻio (Buteo solitarius). The Hawaiian hawk was not
seen during the site reconnaissance by Terry & Hart (2020). While hawks are highly unlikely to
nest at Kahuku Coastal as they prefer large trees for nesting, it is possible that hawks
sometimes forage on the Property.
Shorebirds
The rocky shoreline, cliffs, and tidepools at Kahuku Coastal provide habitat for several migratory
shorebirds, including the wandering tattler. Other indigenous shorebirds that likely make use of
the Property but were not observed by Terry & Hart (2020) include the ruddy turnstone
(‘akekeke; Arenaria interpres), the bristle-thighed curlew (kioea; Numenius tahiteiensis), and the
Pacific golden-plover (kōlea; Pluvialis fulva). The Pacific golden-plover is a relatively common
migratory shorebird that is present in Hawai‘i during the winter months.
Seabirds
The black noddy (noio; Anous minutus melanogenys), which nests in crevices and caves in lava
(especially in pāhoehoe) sea cliffs, has been observed at Kahuku Coastal although not during
the site reconnaissance by Terry & Hart (2020). The high cliff on the eastern edge of the
Property is suitable habitat for the noio. Another bird reported to have been seen flying above
the Property is the great frigatebird (‘iwa; Fregata minor palmerstoni), a large seabird better
known from O‘ahu and Kaua‘i. The island of Hawai‘i has historically been an important nesting
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site for the federally endangered Hawaiian petrels (‘ua‘u; Pterodroma sandwichensis) and band-
rumped storm-petrels (‘akē ‘akē; Oceanodroma castro), and the federally threatened Hawaiian
subspecies of Newell’s shearwaters (‘a‘o; Puffinus auricularis newelli). Both the Hawaiian
petrels and the band-rumped storm-petrels may likely utilize the airspace above the Property at
night as they fly to the ocean from their high mountain burrows.
2.18 Invertebrates
Several invertebrate species have some potential to be present at Kahuku Coastal. These
species include the endangered Hawaiian yellow-faced bee (Hylaeus anthracinus) and the
endangered Blackburn’s sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni). However, neither of these
invertebrate species were observed by Terry & Hart (2020). According to Terry & Hart (2020),
the likelihood of the bee being present is very low. The coastal strand vegetation within the
Property is minimal and only a single patch of tree heliotrope is present that may provide
suitable habitat for the yellow-faced bee. Similarly, suitable habitat for the Blackburn’s sphinx
moth was not found on the Property. The adult moth feeds on nectar from native plants
including beach morning glory, ilieʻe, and maiapilo, neither of which are present on the Property.
Two endangered anchialine pool shrimp (Procaris hawaiana and Vetericaris chaceorum) also
have some potential to be present although neither have been confirmed on the Property.
These shrimp species are known from nearby areas at Lua o Palahemo at South Point and at
several pools at Manukā Natural Area Reserve. As mentioned earlier, the survey conducted by
the State DAR (Sakihara, 2017) providing a “snapshot” of the species composition of the
anchialine pools observed the following invertebrate species: the endemic ʻōpae ʻula,
indigenous ʻōpae ʻoehaʻa, and the non-native Tahitian prawns. The ʻōpae ʻula was the most
abundant of all species found in the anchialine pools.
2.19 Summary of Key Threats to Resources
Human Activity and Use
Unmanaged human trash and waste at Kahuku Coastal pose threats to the overall ecosystem
and resources, including disturbing habitats for threatened and endangered species. Cultural
sites and natural features located in frequently used areas have been repurposed, or reused for
camping, bathroom and trash disposal (e.g., human waste found in anchialine pools and
enclosures) areas. Human waste with food scraps left on the property can increase the
populations of mammalian predators, which pose a threat to threatened and endangered
species. For example, cats, rats, and mongooses can prey on hawksbill hatchlings and eggs by
digging up nests. Illegal dumping and the presence of abandoned vehicles also negatively
impact the overall ecosystem.
Inadvertent disturbance to cultural sites is caused by modern recreational use of Kahuku
Coastal for camping, swimming, and fishing purposes. For example, there are signs of pirating
cobble materials to build cairns, fire hearths, walls, and other modern stone constructions. The
intentional looting of Hawaiian artifacts from Kahuku Coastal also poses a serious threat to
the cultural heritage.
Presence of artificial light from vehicles, campfires, lanterns, flashlights, dive lights, etc. may
have an impact on hawksbill turtles and may discourage them from using the area. Sea turtles
live in the ocean, but hatch at night on the beach. Hatchlings find the sea by detecting the bright
horizon over the ocean, however, artificial lights disorient nesting females and hatchlings,
36 | N O V E M B E R 2021 – D R A F T F O R P U B L I C R E V I E W
increasing the risk of stranding, injury, and death. For example, the presence of artificial lights
may disorient hawksbill sea turtles, and as a result, misdirect turtles away from the ocean and
increase the risk of falling into the lava cracks and being trapped.
Unmanaged vehicular traffic is a threat to the fragile resources, including cultural sites that
are present at Kahuku Coastal. Several pāhoehoe surfaces and petroglyphs were observed to
have been damaged by vehicles that have repeatedly run over them. Vehicular traffic can lead
to compaction, rutting and displacement of sand. Sand compaction can particularly damage
hawksbill nests and hatchlings since it makes nesting more difficult for females and emergence
more difficult for hatchlings. Recreational off-roading can negatively impact resources and
contribute to increased erosion of the puʻu.
Marine debris, including discarded fishing gear can entangle hawksbill and green turtles at sea
causing them eventually to drown. Marine debris also negatively impacts the overall ecosystem.
Unsustainable harvesting and fishing practices pose a serious threat to the long-term supply
of subsistence resources for families.
General Habitat Degradation or Loss
Climate change negatively affecting the health of coral reef ecosystems threatens hawksbill
and green turtles because they depend on coral reefs for foraging habitat. Sea level rise could
also diminish beach habitat used for nesting by hawksbill sea turtles and basking by green sea
turtles. With climate change impacts to nearshore and coastal resources, it is critical to protect
these resources as much as possible from other threats including invasive species and/or
human use. Drier climate as a result of climate change could increase fire risk, thus making
control of fountain grass very important.
Invasive Species
Invasive mammals such as cats, mongooses, rats, and feral pigs prey on hawksbill hatchlings
and eggs by digging up nests. The threat of predation by pigs is assumed to be low at Kahuku
Coastal, but the abundance of human food and trash can increase the populations of these and
other predators.
Invasive plants alter the structure and vegetative composition of habitats for threatened and
endangered species, and specifically, can reduce available nesting habitat for hawksbill sea
turtles. The roots of invasive plants can form dense matrices in the sand, making it difficult for
female hawksbills to dig nests and trapping hatchlings that become entangled as they try to
emerge from their nests.
Fountain grass is an invasive and highly flammable grass that serves as fuel for wildfires.
While it does not appear to be widely spread throughout Kahuku Coastal, pockets of fountain
grass clusters can be found on the property and should be controlled early on.
Invasive aquatic species pose a threat to native crustaceans because they compete for food
resources in the anchialine pools and may prey on them.
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3 Management Plan
3.1 Goals and Objectives
In recognition of the conservation values that the Kahuku Coastal acquisition was trying to
preserve, the requirements in the grant utilized to purchase the property, and consultation with
stakeholders, the following goals and objectives for this resources management plan are:
• Goal 1: Preserve and maintain the pristine, natural character of the landscape, open
space, and unique lifestyle practices that makes Kaʻū, Kaʻū.
o Objective 1.1: Emphasize low-impact activities and minimal improvements that
are consistent with the remote, wilderness nature of Kahuku Coastal.
o Objective 1.2: Minimize the human footprint on the land.
• Goal 2: Protect cultural and natural resources, especially considering potential climate
change impacts to nearshore and coastal resources.
o Objective 2.1: Protect and perpetuate cultural knowledge and practices passed
down for generations and protect unique cultural resources in cooperation with
the kūpuna and descendants of the place.
o Objective 2.2: Minimize alteration and disturbance of habitat for the
endangered hawksbill turtle, threatened green turtle, and endangered
Hawaiian monk seal.
o Objective 2.3: Protect, restore, monitor, and maintain nesting sites for the
endangered hawksbill sea turtle.
o Objective 2.4: Prevent establishment of new invasive species, control
established invasive species, and maintain habitat for native flora and fauna
species, with emphasis on the kīpuka of native lowland dry forests and
complex of anchialine pools.
• Goal 3: Provide opportunities for the people of Kaʻū and residents from other regions
of the island to enjoy this area without compromising the integrity of its resources, its
high ecological value, and the special qualities unique to this place.
o Objective 3.1: Balance use of the Property with the need to maintain its
important qualities and to protect its resources for future generations.
• Goal 4: Enable proper management by increasing public understanding of the cultural
and natural significance of this place and the threats that endanger it and by
increasing support for the community and their capacity to provide stewardship.
o Objective 4.1: Encourage community stewardship of this place through
awareness, education, and participation.
o Objective 4.2: Coordinate and partner with lineal descendants, cultural
practitioners, organizations and individuals from Kaʻū, and other government
agencies to steward this place.
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3.2 Management Strategies
This section presents management strategies for the protection of the natural resources, cultural
heritage, and overall ecosystem at Kahuku Coastal. The management strategies for the
resources management plan are grouped into the following topic areas:
➢ Site Presence and Education
➢ Public Activity and Use Management
➢ Resource Protection
➢ Threatened and Endangered Species Management
In general, the management strategies presented below are intended to act synergistically to
improve the overall health of the ecosystem, which in turn has direct and indirect benefits for all
native species and resources.
Figure 4. Management Topics and Strategies
Site Presence and Education
Site Presence
Education
Public Activity and Use Management
Waste Management
Human Waste Management
Site Access
Trail Management
Overnight Stay
Management
Resource Protection
Anchialine Pool
Management
Archaeological Resources Management
Cave Management
Nearshore
Resources
Management
Threatened and
Endangered
Species
Management
Hawksbill Sea
Turtle Nesting Habitat Preservation
Invasive Plant Species Control
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The following recommendations are overarching with regard to management:
• Co-management structure – Successful stewardship of Kahuku Coastal requires
cooperation and coordination amongst many stakeholders—acting in the best interest for
the long-term health of resources. A co-management structure, consisting of County
staff, along with the community (e.g., lineal descendants, cultural practitioners,
community organizations, conservation groups, adjacent landowners) is encouraged to
steward this place. With such a large acreage and diversity of resources, a coalition of
organizations will be needed to help steward different aspects of the landscape.
• Community engagement – Direct community
involvement in stewardship increases awareness
of important resources present at Kahuku Coastal
and discourages inappropriate use of resources. It
promotes a greater sense of respect for the place
by connecting people to it. Facilitated discussions
amongst kūpuna, lineal descendants, and other
groups involved in the stewardship of Kahuku
Coastal are recommended to promote
collaboration, communication, and effective co-
management of the place. These discussions
could be conducted as part of on-going community
talk story sessions where updates on Kahuku
Coastal and stewardship activities are shared.
Consider forming a Stewardship/Advisory Group and a Volunteer Group specifically for
Kahuku Coastal.
• Reporting mechanism – A reporting mechanism (i.e., phone hotline, email, online
system) to allow the community to serve as the “eyes and ears” for the County to report
issues will also help in the management of the place. County staff will need to enforce
rules and properly respond to activities reported.
• Consultation – Management decisions should consider the knowledge passed down
from kūpuna, desires of the descendant community of Kahuku, and input from the local
Kaʻū community that regularly use the area. Kūpuna and descendants of the place
should be consulted regularly in the stewardship process to ensure proper protocols are
followed and to minimize inadvertently damaging resources.
• Required staff/volunteer education – All County staff, community groups and
individuals involved in the stewardship of Kahuku Coastal should have some familiarity
with the history and culture of Kaʻū, cultural protocols, and the local community. They
should also be knowledgeable about the cultural, historical, and natural resources of the
place and be respectful of the local culture. If possible, organizations from the Kaʻū
community should have a priority in stewardship.
Hold an annual virtual or (when
possible) in-person community
meeting to discuss the status of the
Management Plan/Programs.
These meetings could be
conducted at the same time with
an annual clean-up, Mālama
Kahuku Coastal Day. Also, consider
quarterly virtual meetings to
discuss recent issues and events
relating to Kahuku Coastal.
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• Prohibition of on-site commercial
activities – Commercial activities such as
private tours should not be permitted on
the Property.
• Design criteria and use guidelines –
Conduct additional consultation with
stakeholders to further define design
criteria and use guidelines. Some of the
design criteria should be to include the use
of natural materials, where possible;
minimize the number and size of
structures (if any); and design and site
features like signage or waste receptacles
in locations that minimize visual impacts
and do not compromise the natural and
wilderness qualities of the place.
• Increasing accountability – Modify the
management approach if those visiting the
Property do not voluntarily comply with
rules and guidelines.
• Collaborative management –
Collaborate with adjacent landowners to
ensure effective management of
interconnected landscapes. Adjacent
landowners and nearby residential
community associations should be kept
informed of ongoing management
activities. Collaboration with the State DOFAW
managers of the neighboring Manukā Natural Area
Reserve is recommended so that, at minimum,
there is visual consistency for management
strategies (e.g., pathways, access routes, signage)
and for weed control (e.g. fountain grass). Also,
consultations indicated that many fisherfolks
access a popular fishing spot in the State Manukā
Natural Area Reserve via the County’s property.
Thus, any management strategies implemented for
the County parcel will impact site users for the
State property as well.
Example of Possible Management Approach
A trail register could be utilized to record people
entering and leaving Kahuku Coastal. This
management tool would help to keep track of
people entering and leaving the property for safety
purposes and aid in the enforcement of rules.
However, if rules continue to not be followed and
resources are negatively impacted, then use of a
permit system should be considered. The permit
system could be similar to the system implemented
for Kaʻena Point on Oʻahu, where the public can
request an annual permit at no cost. Permit
conditions require drivers to remain on a designated
roadway and stress that it is not a four-wheel drive
recreation area. The permit system ensures all users
receive accurate information about the area. If
permit holders conduct illegal activities while in the
area, their permit may be revoked and users will not
have access to the gate combination. Those entering
without a permit may be subject to penalties and
may not be eligible for a permit in the future. The
permit process provides opportunities to offer
educational information about the property and
resources. Lock combinations may be retrieved 24
hours a day online and changed weekly.
(Right) Modern fishing pole holder placed
along the shoreline
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Figure 5. Overview of Management Strategies
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3.2.1 Site Presence and Education
Strategy 1A
Management Actions:
1. County staff to work with community groups and partners to care for the resources.
2. Utilize local stewards to assist in interpreting cultural, natural, and historic resources of
the area as well as mitigate undesired behaviors to ensure the safety and health of
resources and people.
3. Establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each non-profit organization that
wishes to steward specified aspects of Kahuku Coastal.
Greater site presence through the use of County staff and/or local stewards at Kahuku Coastal
is important to ensure that public activity and use are compatible with the protection of
resources. The County should establish a MOU with each non-profit organization involved in a
specific component of stewardship for Kahuku Coastal. The MOU needs to clearly define the
expectations, roles, and responsibilities for each party. The County’s role would include
overseeing stewardship groups and conducting periodic check-ins with them to make sure
resources are properly cared for. Periodic check-ins would allow the County to ensure that
organizations are following through on their stewardship proposals. Regularly scheduled
meetings to facilitate discussions amongst kūpuna, lineal descendants, and other groups
involved in the stewardship of the place are encouraged. These meetings would promote
collaboration, communication, and effective co-management of the place, and provide
opportunities to address any issues that may arise, including ensuring that proper protocols are
being followed.
Some of the responsibilities of the County staff and/or local stewards could include the
following:
• Educate the public on the historical and cultural significance of the place and inform
them that sensitive cultural sites and natural resources are present.
• Encourage respectful behavior. For example, cobble materials should not be pirated to
build fire hearths, walls, etc. Enclosures, caves, and other natural features should not be
repurposed, or reused, for camping, bathroom, or trash disposal purposes. Recreational
off-roading activities are not permitted.
• Notify users of essential information including, but not limited to, waste management
policies, the lack of facilities, and hazardous conditions.
• Provide emergency road assistance, as appropriate.
• Document daily site use.
Establish a regular presence by partnering with local stewards to
care for the resources.
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• Inform users that four-wheel drive vehicles are required to access the area.
Strategy 1B
Management Actions:
1. Establish and implement an educational outreach
strategy, including identifying partners to provide outreach
and education.
2. Develop educational outreach material, including signage,
in coordination with lineal descendants, kūpuna, and
other stakeholders.
Educational outreach could be provided through multiple platforms, from on-site signage and
engagement to off-site materials and programs. It is important that all educational information
provided share consistent information and be developed in coordination with lineal descendants,
kūpuna, and other key resource stakeholders. Educational material should highlight the
important resources of Kahuku Coastal and teach responsible stewardship of the fragile
coastline and land.
The intent of providing educational outreach is to help
increase site users’ respect, understanding, and
appreciation for the place and ultimately, to avoid
inadvertent and intentional disturbance of the resources.
Consultations with kūpuna and cultural practitioners
revealed that families have practiced the kapu system
for generations and gathered by the moon calendar to
help protect resources and to assure a sustainable food
supply, especially in this rural area where families still
rely on subsistence practices. A kupuna explained that
sometimes “western rules” are not applicable in specific
regions. For example, there is one lobster season
established Statewide but in Kaʻū, lobsters spawn during that time. This is why it is important to
consult those who have deep knowledge of this particular place when developing specific
protocols and policies.
On-site educational outreach could consist of interpretive signs to raise public awareness about
the sensitive resources at Kahuku Coastal. Signage needs to be implemented in a manner that
does not compromise the natural character and vistas of the place because preservation of the
natural and unaltered landscape is important to the community. Interpretive signs, coupled with
Increase awareness about the significance and sustainable use of
resources, including proper protocols to follow, through educational
outreach.
Educational outreach regarding
waste management and fishing
practices, along with site presence
and citizen reporting, are
important for nearshore
management to protect habitat
and basking/rest areas for
hawksbill sea turtles, green sea
turtles, and monk seals.
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on-site community outreach, can educate visitors about sensitive resources and protect this
special place. For example, local stewards or community groups could provide the historical and
cultural context of the area, educate visitors about sensitive resources, and encourage
respectful behavior at Kahuku Coastal.
Off-site educational programs and materials can be of equal importance as on-site educational
outreach. A long-term education program in schools, through civic associations, and at
community events, could be established. Educational videos developed in cooperation with
kūpuna, lineal descendants, educators, and other key resource stakeholders could be utilized
as off-site outreach material. Other off-site educational outreach opportunities may consist of
holding community talk story sessions for various stakeholders to share information or featuring
educational displays at community events. Materials on Kahuku Coastal could also be included
in broader efforts to teach people about Kaʻū.
3.2.2 Public Activity and Use Management
Strategy 2A
Management Actions:
1. Implement a “Pack In, Pack Out” policy for trash.
2. Install signage to inform users of the waste policy
and utilize County staff and/or stewardship groups
to help educate and monitor.
3. Monitor and assess the waste policy, if needed.
4. Consider providing secured waste receptacles if
staff is available to maintain them.
5. Remove the abandoned vehicle.
6. Organize, at minimum, an annual site clean-up with the general public. Regularly
organized site clean-ups provide opportunities for the general public to participate in
stewardship and can increase awareness and enhance public understanding of the
Property’s unique resources.
7. Work with other County agencies, elected officials, and residents to address illegal
dumping that occurs along the roads leading to Kahuku Coastal.
Public activity and use of Kahuku Coastal will result in disturbed habitats, littered beaches and
anchialine pools, and contamination of the environment if early action is not taken to ensure
resources are protected. While minimal compared to other places, impacts from public use can
already be observed at Kahuku Coastal. These impacts include litter, human waste, modern
stacking of rocks for firepits, and erosion of cinder cones and archaeological features from
What is “Pack In, Pack Out”?
A practice that requires site users
to pack out everything they pack
in. In other words, pack out all
trash, leftover food, and litter. It is
a policy implemented in many
wilderness areas, at the county,
state, and national level. This
practice allows staff and volunteers
to redirect their focus and
resources away from trash
maintenance, and to invest
resources towards other
conservation efforts.
Reduce waste to improve the overall
health of the Property.
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vehicles. Trash and marine debris removal will improve the overall health of the Property,
enhance the suitability of hawksbill sea turtle nesting and lessen the risk of entanglement for
sea turtles.
A “Pack In, Pack Out” policy would require site users to take their trash with them when they
leave. Signs clearly outlining the rule should be installed at access point(s) to Kahuku Coastal
so that site users are informed of the policy. Additionally, the “Pack In, Pack Out” policy for trash
needs to be incorporated into the educational outreach message as described earlier under
Strategy 1B. Over time, the County will need to re-evaluate this policy to determine whether any
changes or modifications are needed. It will be crucial to engage the Kaʻū community, with
support from community stewardship groups, to build awareness and encourage the public to
take responsibility for keeping Kahuku Coastal clean.
While installing waste receptacles can help to reduce
litter, they require staff resources to maintain and may
detract from the beauty of the natural environment, which
is an important quality of Kahuku Coastal. If the County
decides at a later time that waste receptacles are needed,
it is important that County staff and/or stewardship groups
have the capacity to maintain them regularly. If not
properly maintained, waste receptacles can attract non-
native predators to the area, such as mongooses, rats,
and feral cats, that may pose harm to native species
(e.g., prey on hawksbill hatchlings and eggs by digging up
nests). The waste receptacles need to be secured,
covered, and strategically placed near frequently used
areas so that they will be utilized effectively but not
compromise the natural landscape of the place. Input
from site users may help to inform the County on useful
locations to install the waste receptacles.
In addition to implementing the “Pack In, Pack Out” policy
for trash, regularly organized site cleanups by community
stewardship groups with support from the County will help
to engage the community, build awareness, and promote
responsible stewardship. The cleanup should focus on
areas most frequently used and coastal areas to remove
debris washed up from the ocean.
An abandoned vehicle is located along the primary route used to access the coast on the
western boundary and should be removed from the Property. Ideally, the presence of County
staff personnel and community stewardship groups at Kahuku Coastal will help to regularly
monitor activities and uses and will deter future vehicles from being left on the Property.
Illegal dumping of trash and bulky waste occurs along the roads utilized to access Kahuku
Coastal, which is likely spurred by cost and convenience factors. While this illegal dumping
occurs primarily outside of the County’s parcel near Māmalahoa Highway, cleaning up the trash
leading up to the County’s parcel will help to establish a greater sense of respect for this area.
Although removal of the tons of waste accumulated throughout the years is needed, the long-
term solution to preventing illegal dumping requires the collective efforts of residents, elected
officials, and government agencies and ultimately, involves behavioral modifications from
Example of waste receptacles with
secured lid utilized at Hawaiʻi
Volcanoes National Park
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individuals. Community policing programs may be effective in helping to regulate some of the
illegal dumping activities.
Strategy 2B
Management Actions:
1. In the near-term, inform users that there are no toilet facilities at Kahuku Coastal.
2. Encourage the use of Waste Alleviation and Gelling (“WAG”) bags, or waste disposal
kits.
3. In the long-term, install and maintain composting toilets, but only if there’s personnel to
regularly maintain and monitor their proper use and prevent vandalism.
In the near-term, County staff personnel and local stewards will need to make sure that users
understand that there are no toilet facilities at Kahuku Coastal. Site users will have to bring their
own “WAG” bags, or waste disposal kits, to pack out their human waste. This human waste
policy needs to be incorporated into the educational outreach message as described under
Strategy 1B.
In the long-term, the County will plan to adopt emerging technologies for managing human
waste, providing that the County has the capacity and/or resources to properly maintain them.
Any human waste facility may impact scenic vistas, therefore, its long-term benefits will to be
balanced with its impacts to the environment and resources.
Strategy 2C
Management Actions:
1. Coordinate and partner with willing adjacent landowners on site access. As a priority,
work with stewardship groups to obtain vehicular site access.
2. In the interim, mark the County’s legal access so the public can hike down from
Māmalahoa Highway (until physical vehicular access may be established in the future).
3. Designate an area for parking if/when the County is able to partner with willing adjacent
landowners on vehicular site access.
Manage the disposal of human waste.
Partner with willing adjacent landowners on pedestrian and vehicular
access.
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The lack of an improved road at Kahuku Coastal helps to protect the area and as a result, the
resources are generally in a very good state. With road access limited to four-wheel drive
vehicles along the western boundary and other access strictly pedestrian, the natural, rough
state of the landscape protects the area’s vulnerable resources.
Many consultations raised concerns relating to the
condition of the roads used to access the property,
including the roadway along the western boundary of the
parcel. Some community members expressed wanting to
see the roadway improved (from the Highway to the coast)
to allow for easier access to the coastal areas. Others
suggested improving the road for safety reasons and to
allow for easier access for emergency vehicles. On the
other hand, many community members supported keeping
the roadways in this area unimproved to protect the
resources. They were concerned that paving the road (or
implementing any on-site improvements) would “open the area” to more people, which is a
threat to the sense of place and environmental integrity of Kahuku Coastal.
Some residents suggested designating areas for vehicular travel and for parking within a
reasonable walking distance of the shoreline. The goal would be to guide site users to areas
that are safe, thus protecting sensitive resources within the Property and preserving the area’s
natural beauty and overall ecosystem.
Present-day access
The roadway currently used within the Property to get to the coast is located on the western
boundary. Consultations indicated that three roads from Māmalahoa Highway have been
utilized to access that roadway within the Kahuku Coastal parcel. These roads include Road to
the Sea, an unnamed road to the south of Road to the Sea, and Kona Gardens Road. All three
roads are privately-owned. Use of these privately-owned roads to access Kahuku Coastal by
the general public is discouraged. Road to the Sea and the unnamed road to the south of Road
to the Sea are unpaved and require the use of a four-wheel drive vehicle to maneuver the steep
ledges, cracks and potholes. They can be dangerous to navigate especially during and after
heavy rain. Kona Gardens Road is a paved road located within the Kona Gardens subdivision,
which requires gate access.
Several mauka to makai roads within the Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos subdivision also
terminate at the boundary between the subdivision and the County parcel, allowing residents to
access the mauka portion of Kahuku Coastal from these locations. There is an old ranch trail,
referred to as “Old Ranch Road” that continues from the Ranchos subdivision into the Property,
but it runs into the adjoining private parcel well before reaching the sea.
Legal Access
The County has an easement from Māmalahoa Highway (shown in yellow in Figure 6), on the
south side of the Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos subdivision, that could be used as a
pedestrian access although trails would have to be created from Māmalahoa Highway and
through the Property to the coast.
Restricting vehicular traffic along
the shoreline, especially near sand
and cobble beaches, will help to
minimize land-derived pollution,
protecting habitat and basking/rest
areas for hawksbill sea turtles,
green sea turtles, and monk seals.
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Possible Future Access
For future vehicular access to Kahuku Coastal, the County should coordinate and partner with
willing adjacent landowners to use private roads. A section of the “Old Ranch Road” could be
utilized as a potential future mauka-makai pedestrian trail. Fencing along the eastern boundary
of Kahuku Coastal would need to be considered to prohibit trespassing onto the adjacent private
property.
The roadway along the western boundary of Kahuku Coastal used to access the sea is limited to
four-wheel drive vehicles.
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | 49
Figure 6. Access
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Strategy 2D
Management Actions:
1. Identify coastal and mauka-makai trail routes to designate for public use and to provide
site access for management and research activities.
2. Utilize the existing MOU between the National Park Service, State of Hawaiʻi, and the
County of Hawaiʻi to delineate and establish the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on
Kahuku Coastal and to protect and manage it for public use, pending further
consultations with kūpuna, lineal descendants, and Kaʻū residents.
Pedestrian access within the Property should include both coastal and mauka-makai trails. As
described earlier, a section of the “Old Ranch Road” could be utilized as a potential future
mauka-makai pedestrian trail. Trail routes can be utilized as a means to direct users to desired
areas that are away from sensitive archaeological and natural resources to minimize inadvertent
damage. The use of subtle “markers” and signage to guide users to stay on designated
pedestrian trails are recommended. More active management of cultural features and resources
along trails will also be needed.
Signage should be focused on “positive” language to educate the public about the presence of
resources on-site (e.g., “Stay on trails to protect resources.”). Signs should be made of natural
materials, where possible, and sited in locations that visitors can easily find while minimizing
visual impacts that compromise the natural and wilderness qualities of the place.
Create designated hiking trails.
View of the “Old Ranch Road” located on the northeastern side of the Property
(facing makai)
K A H U K U C O A S T A L R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E M E N T P L A N | 51
Strategy 2E
Management Actions:
1. Establish site rules and guidelines that must be
followed for cultural practitioners, subsistence
fishers and gatherers, and organizations
involved with stewardship efforts requiring
overnight stays at Kahuku Coastal.
2. Establish a system to allow cultural
practitioners, subsistence fishers and gatherers,
and organizations involved with stewardship
efforts to inform the County of overnight stays
on the Property.
The following guidelines are recommended in the near-
term to control use in order to preserve resources and
the important qualities of this place, including the area’s
isolation and privacy:
• Overnight stay is permitted only to 1) support
traditional and customary practices, 2) allow for
subsistence fishing and/or gathering, and/or 3)
carry out stewardship activities by community organizations with a formalized agreement
with the County. All individuals must follow site rules and guidelines, including careful
considerations during hawksbill sea turtle nesting season.
• To minimize the overlap of site users, notifications of overnight stays should be made to
the County in advance, with a maximum number of nights per overnight stay established
prior to initiation of such a program. A record of overnight users would also be helpful in
emergency situations where the County would know to alert anyone on-site of a hazard
such as a potential tsunami.
• Best management practices to reduce impacts to the habitat from overnight stays must
be followed. The use of nighttime artificial lights during turtle and seabird nesting and
hatching seasons should be avoided. If needed, red cellophane should be applied over
lights to reduce the changes of disorienting hawksbill sea turtles and migratory seabirds
at night.
In the future, designation of specific areas for camping should be considered provided that
associated infrastructure (e.g., physical vehicular access and facilities for human waste
management) are in place and dedicated personnel are available to oversee, monitor, and
Modern stacking of rocks for firepit
found near the shoreline
Manage overnight stays to facilitate traditional and customary
practices, fishing and gathering for subsistence purposes, or
stewardship efforts at Kahuku Coastal.
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maintain site conditions to ensure uses do not compromise the integrity of resources and habitat
for threatened and endangered species.
Nightly turtle patrols and nest watches will be needed during the nesting season since hawksbill
sea turtles nest at night. Volunteers would be tasked with counting the eggs, collecting data on
the nest, controlling predators, and releasing any hatchlings that may be trapped by impacted
sand or vegetation. Thus, overnight stays for volunteers involved with these stewardship efforts
will need to occur during the nesting season.
3.2.3 Resource Protection
Strategy 3A
Management Actions:
Education
1. Increase public awareness about resources within the anchialine pools and their
sensitive habitats through on-site and off-site educational outreach (e.g., signage,
stewardship group, etc.).
2. Develop educational material in cooperation with lineal descendants, kūpuna, DLNR
DAR, and conservation groups.
Educational material should focus on informing the public about the value of and threats to
anchialine pools (including human use for bathing, swimming, and/or toilets), the habitat they
provide, and on conservation actions to protect them. Consultations revealed that, for example,
fishermen have used the anchialine pools in other places as an “ice box,” putting live fish that
they either catch or use as bait into the pools, some of which prey upon the ʻōpaeʻula that live
there. Educational material should share information on how such a practice impacts the
ecology of the pool as a result of the introduction of alien fish.
Prevention/Protection
1. Educate and enforce the Pack In, Pack Out policy for trash.
2. Partner with community organizations to remove any trash in and around the anchialine
pools.
3. Establish rules prohibiting the release of introduced fishes, bathing, and the dumping of
trash in the anchialine pools at Kahuku Coastal. Restrict the use of these pools to
traditional, research, and educational purposes only.
Monitor anchialine pool habitats and reduce human impacts.
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As of 2021, DLNR DAR is in the public scoping phase for developing statewide management
rules for anchialine habitats. When completed and if approved, these policies will apply to the
anchialine habitats at Kahuku Coastal. The County should participate in the planning process
for the statewide management rules, when appropriate, to ensure that rules are aligned with the
management actions outlined in this section.
While roping or fencing the pools off to keep people out and prevent nesting turtles from getting
trapped may work at other locations, such management actions may actually bring more
attention to the anchialine pools at Kahuku Coastal. The anchialine fissures here are relatively
inconspicuous, therefore affording natural protection. Instead, a natural barrier, such as native
plantings, could steer turtles away from falling in the pools while trying to find a nesting area and
protect the anchialine habitats.
Monitoring and Surveying
1. Work with DLNR DAR to establish a monitoring protocol.
2. Regularly monitor and survey anchialine habitats to assess the health of the pools and to
document habitats. For example, the following data on the biology, physical habitat, and
water quality should be recorded quarterly, or whenever possible:
• Biology:
▪ List of aquatic life observed to its lowest taxonomic unit (species if
possible)
▪ Density estimates of aquatic invertebrates using a 0.25 square meter
quadrat to replicate 1-minute surveys across an anchialine pool
▪ If a species is unknown, collection and/or high-resolution photographs are
taken
▪ Notes on any unusual/unexpected observations
• Physical Habitat:
▪ Pool surface dimensions
▪ Deepest depth in the pool
▪ Type of anchialine habitat (e.g., single pool, cave, fissure, lava tube, etc.)
▪ Substrate (e.g., ʻaʻā, pāhoehoe)
▪ Estimate percent canopy cover from riparian vegetation
▪ Time, Global Positioning System (GPS) location
▪ Record any unusual/unexpected observations
• Water Quality:
▪ Water temperature, salinity, pH, conductivity, turbidity (usually measured
simultaneously with a YSI multi-parameter sonde/hand-held unit)
▪ Background inorganic nutrient water sample collections (~40 to 45 ml of
filtered water samples collected in sterilized bottles and chilled on ice).
(Note – This task could be done annually or semi-annually).
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Restoration
1. While it may not be feasible to conduct alien species eradication efforts in the anchialine
fissures at Kahuku Coastal, any opportunities to remove non-native fish is encouraged.
Strategy 3B
Management Actions:
Education
1. Increase public awareness about archaeological resources through on-site and off-site
educational outreach.
2. Develop educational material in cooperation with lineal descendants, kūpuna, and
archaeologists.
Educational material should focus on informing the public about the archaeological and cultural
significance of the area, interpretation of some of the resources, and provide conservation
actions to protect them. For example, cobbles should not be moved for road marking and
improvements and/or for modern reuse for fishing and related activities. Stewardship groups
should also regularly engage the public in conversations, sharing manaʻo about the cultural
landscape of Kahuku. Signage should be strategically placed in areas frequented by the public.
Monitoring
1. Develop a monitoring protocol for archaeological resources particularly in “frequent use”
areas, or areas most susceptible to human impact.
2. Regularly monitor and assess the condition of archaeological resources in partnership
with lineal descendants, kūpuna, Native Hawaiian organizations, and archaeologists.
3. Continually update baseline data collected by ASM Affiliates (2020) in Geographic
Information System (GIS) maps as new information is collected.
4. Modify management strategies, as needed, based on findings from monitoring and
surveying. Stricter management strategies may be needed if features are not protected
from inadvertent or intentional disturbance.
Protection
1. Direct site users away from sensitive areas without calling attention to the resources
themselves through the use of signage, vegetation, markers, etc.
Work with County staff, stewardship groups, and archaeologist(s)
to monitor and assess the condition of cultural sites, particularly
near frequently used areas most susceptible to impacts from public
use and activity.
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2. Limit areas with sensitive archaeological resources to only pedestrian access to
minimize inadvertent damage to resources.
3. If/when trail routes are opened for public use, more active management of cultural
features along the trail will be required, along with installation of additional
informational/educational signage.
Strategy 3C
Management Actions:
Education
1. Support the exploration of caves for scientific and educational purposes to expand
biological and ecological knowledge of cave resources and fauna, provided that proper
safety and cultural guidelines are followed.
Protection
1. Utilize trail routes as a means to direct site users away from cave entrances without
calling attention to the resources themselves.
2. Regulate publication in the media promoting recreational use of caves and/or describing
locations of caves that may attract undesired use of the place.
3. Restrict removal or modification of any archaeological resources within the caves.
4. Utilize County staff and/or stewardship groups to discourage the general public from
entering caves for safety reasons.
Work with the caving community, and research/educational
entities to inventory, map, monitor and protect caves and
associated resources; and to facilitate on-going dialogue between
the caving community and lineal descendants/cultural
practitioners to ensure proper and best management of resources.
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Strategy 3D
Management Actions:
1. Work with kūpuna, cultural practitioners, fisherfolks, and the State to implement place-
based pono fishing and gathering practices through education, monitoring and
community-based outreach.
2. Assist the public with reporting resource violations to the State DLNR Division of
Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) to allow for proper response and
follow-up.
3.2.4 Threatened and Endangered Species Management
Strategy 4A
➢ Target: Protect threatened and endangered species and their appropriate habitat within
Kahuku Coastal.
Management Actions:
Education
1. Increase public awareness about threatened and endangered species found at Kahuku
Coastal and their sensitive habitats through on-site and off-site educational outreach
(e.g., signage, stewardship group, etc.).
2. Develop educational material in cooperation with lineal descendants, kūpuna, and
conservation groups.
Educational material should focus on informing the public about the hawksbill sea turtle nesting
sites and on conservation actions to protect them.
Support and participate in community-based outreach and education
efforts to ensure pono fishing and gathering practices are observed.
Partner with Hawaii Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project and
conservation organizations to monitor hawksbill sea turtle nesting
activity, protect nests, manage vegetation, implement predator
control measures, and reduce human impacts.
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Protection
1. Predator Control
• Place temporary enclosures over nests
when signs of nesting activity are observed.
Enclosures will need to be removed several
days before hatchlings are projected to
emerge. Note that this activity must be
covered under a USFWS permit due to the
risk of entrapping and exposing hatchlings
to predators if not monitored carefully.
• Install traps for small mammals in the
vicinity of nesting areas when signs of
nesting activity are observed, creating at
least a 25-foot buffer around the nest.
• Set regulations where domestic dogs must
be kept on a leash when signs of nesting
activity are observed.
2. Encourage best management practices especially during nesting and hatching seasons.
3. Maintain vegetation near hawksbill sea turtle nesting sites, including outplanting
vegetation (e.g., naupaka) to prevent sea turtles from going inland beyond the beach
area and falling into the lava cracks.
Best management practices for reducing impacts from human activities include avoiding use of
nighttime artificial lights during nesting and hatching seasons; or, if needed, applying red
cellophane over lights to reduce the changes of disorienting hawksbill sea turtles at night; and
prohibiting driving on beaches.
There have been several incidents where hawksbill sea
turtles have been trapped in the lava cracks; one was
found dead while two were successfully rescued.
Naupaka could be strategically planted to prevent
turtles from going beyond the beach area and falling
into the lava cracks. Naupaka also has weak bristly
roots which tend to be both easier for nesting hawksbill
females to break when digging an egg chamber and for
their hatchlings to emerge. Consultations have indicated that plants with fibrous roots (e.g.,
coconut trees and hale koa) make it difficult for nesting females and their hatchlings, both when
digging an egg chamber and for hatchlings to emerge.
Monitoring
1. Monitor beaches once daily in the morning, or as frequently as possible. If possible,
overnight monitoring should be conducted during the nesting season.
Note that any management
activities that directly impact
federally listed threatened
and endangered species will
require a permit from
USFWS.
If signs of hawksbill sea
turtle nesting are observed,
the Hawaii Island Hawksbill
Turtle Recovery Project
should be contacted
immediately at (808) 985-
6090.
Best management practices such as
applying red cellophane over lights
will also help to reduce the chances
of disorienting migratory
shorebirds at night.
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Strategy 4B
➢ Target: Minimize new introductions of fountain grass and other invasive plant species.
Management Actions:
1. Survey the Property to identify species
distribution and size of large populations.
2. Map areas with high priority non-native, invasive
plants such as fountain grass which is an
extremely flammable plant species.
3. Prioritize areas for intensive weed control based
on factors such as possible contribution to the
spread of fountain grass and other invasive plant
species.
4. Target the pockets of fountain grass and other
invasive plant species by manually removing the
individual plants and/or using chemical means
(treating with an herbicide).
5. Monitor areas to detect changes in long-term
distribution and abundance. Eradicate any new
population of fountain grass as early as possible.
6. Work with DLNR NAR staff to do fountain grass
eradication on both the State Manukā Natural Area Reserve and County’s Kahuku
Coastal parcel to share mobilization costs.
7. Partner with State DOFAW to control goats should the goat population grow
exponentially in a manner that negatively impacts resources.
8. Collaborate with Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council.
For Kahuku Coastal, seeds are likely dispersed by wind and goats. Winds are generally
northeast trade winds, suggesting that the northeast section of the parcel should be prioritized
to prevent the spread of seeds by the wind. During the site visit, an area on the northeast
section of the Property contained clusters of fountain grass. This area should be cleared of
fountain grass immediately to prevent further spread.
Hand removal of invasive plants is effective but labor intensive, as the entire root system of the
invasive plant needs to be removed in order to be successful. Chemical control may be more
effective in eliminating invasive plant species covering large areas. Note that hand pulling to
remove small clusters of fountain grass works well, including digging out large clusters, but the
Manage and, if possible, eradicate high priority non-native,
invasive plant species such as fountain grass.
Pockets of fountain grass clusters
found on the Property
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plants should be bagged and removed from the site to prevent spread. Alternatively, the plants
could be covered with a tarp to dry out and to keep them from blowing around and possibly re-
rooting elsewhere. Volunteer groups who are uncomfortable with using herbicide, or a group
that includes children, may consider this methodology. Another option, which is costly, is the
use of helicopter spray to get to fountain grass individuals or small populations (e.g., 2 meters x
2 meters) spread over a very large area (e.g., an area larger than 10 square kilometers).
Controlled areas should be monitored every three months for the first two years to exhaust the
existing seed bank of fountain grass and other invasive species. After that, monitoring may be
done bi-annually, unless there are months of long rain events. In these instances, monitoring
should occur every three months for at least three cycles.
3.3 Implementation
This section provides general guidance on the next steps that are needed to implement the
management strategies presented in this plan.
3.3.1 Collaborate with Community Partners
Community involvement is essential to the long-term success of this plan. Ideally for Kahuku
Coastal, County staff would work with community partners and local stewards to care for the
resources, with emphasis placed on partnering with lineal descendants, cultural practitioners,
and community organizations and individuals from Kaʻū to steward Kahuku Coastal—acting in
the best interest for the long-term health of resources. These community partners should
include organizations with knowledge in different aspects of the place, especially entities with
expertise in managing and protecting habitat for species highlighted in the RLA Grant
Agreement (see Table 2).
The County should establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Grant Agreement with
each non-profit organization involved in a specific component of stewardship for Kahuku
Coastal (see Strategy 1A). Community organizations should actively seek funding through the
County’s Maintenance Fund (see Section 1.1.2) to carry out actions outlined in the plan. The
Maintenance Fund provides funding specifically for public safety maintenance and preservation
of lands and easements acquired through the PONC Program.
Long-term stewardship of Kahuku Coastal will require a collaborative effort amongst
stakeholders, including kūpuna, lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, community
organizations, and State and County agencies, to carry out many of the actions outlined. The
County should conduct periodic reviews to ensure agreed upon tasks are being performed and
that goals are being accomplished. Any issues that impede progress should also be discussed
and resolved.
3.3.2 Priority Management Strategies
Table 4 outlines the top five Management Strategies that should be implemented, as a priority,
specifically for Kahuku Coastal. These five strategies are priorities because 1) they affect all or
several resources and goals; 2) they would have a significant impact on protecting resources
and goals; and/or 3) they are needed to design or implement other strategies.
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Table 4. Priority Management Strategies
3.3.3 Permits and Approvals
The following land use permits and approvals are anticipated to carry out this management
plan:
• Environmental Review
Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 environmental review is triggered because
implementation will involve the use of County lands and funds and/or use within lands
classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission. The
Environmental Assessment (EA) process involves early consultation and a 30-day
comment period initiated after publication of the Draft EA, during which the general
public has an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the plan and its potential
impacts on the environment. However, some actions may be declared exempt from the
preparation of an EA by the County. The County’s Department of Finance has not
developed an exemption list to be submitted to the Environmental Council for review and
concurrence, but the exemption list developed by the County Department of Parks and
Recreation may provide a suitable template for future HRS Chapter 343 compliance
efforts.
• Special Management Area Permit
Any “development” (e.g., composting toilet) proposed within the Special Management
Area will require a Special Management Area Permit, which is administered by the
County of Hawaiʻi in accordance with Rule 9 of the Planning Commission Rules. A major
permit will be required for any improvements with construction costs exceeding
$500,000 and/or anticipated to have a substantial adverse impact on the environment.
Major permits require a public hearing and a more involved review process.
• Conservation District Approval or Permit
Some land uses within the State Conservation District will require a Site Plan Approval
from the State Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL), a Conservation
Management Strategy County Community
Partners
Strategy 1B: Increase awareness about the
significance and sustainable use of resources,
including proper protocols to follow, through
educational outreach.
Lead Support
Strategy 2A: Reduce waste to improve the overall
health of the Property.
Support Lead
Strategy 2C: Partner with willing adjacent landowners
on pedestrian and vehicular access.
Lead Support
Strategy 2D: Create designated hiking trails. Lead Support
Strategy 4B: Manage and, if possible, eradicate high
priority non-native, invasive plant species, such as
fountain grass.
Support Lead
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District Use Permit approved by the Chair of DLNR, or a Conservation District Use
Permit approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
3.3.4 Adaptive Management
Lastly, the concept of adaptive management should be applied for Kahuku Coastal. This
concept enables the County to make more effective decisions based on improved
understanding and management of both the resources and the place over time. Kahuku
Coastal, like other properties acquired using the Preservation Fund, is unique and requires a
place-based approach versus a “one-size-fits-all” method. In recognizing the complexity of
managing Kahuku Coastal, there are also many external factors beyond the control of the
County. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, more residents were observed spending
time engaged in outdoor activities. There was an increased demand for activities including
camping, fishing, and gathering for subsistence to supplement store-bought food. As the islands
move towards recovery from the pandemic, more visitors are arriving with similar desires to
enjoy the outdoors. As noted earlier, the lack of road access for Kahuku Coastal has helped to
protect the area and resources. While this property should be treated as a wilderness area with
the focus on preserving its natural and cultural resources undisturbed, undoubtedly more
impacts will result from public use and activity. If management strategies are implemented
before irreversible consequences compromise the ability of future generations to enjoy this
special place, then the work of the many kūpuna, lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, and
residents who have fought hard for decades to preserve open space along the Kaʻū coastline
and to sustain the unique lifestyle that makes Kaʻū, Kaʻū will be achieved.
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National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2007). Recovery Plan for
the Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi). Second Revision. National Marine
Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD.
National Marine Fisheries Service. (2015). DRAFT Main Hawaiian Islands Monk Seal
Management Plan. National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Region, Honolulu, HI.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries. (2015). Green Turtle (Chelonia
mydas). Available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/hawksbill.html.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries. (2015). Hawksbill Turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata). Available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/green.html.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries. (2015). Hawaiian Monk Seal
(Monachus schauinslandi). Available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-
seal.
National Park Service. (2009). Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management
Plan, Hawai‘i County, Hawai‘i.
Pukui, Mary K., S. Elbert, and E. Mookini. (1974). Place Names of Hawaiʻi. Honolulu: University
of Hawaiʻi Press.
Pukui, Mark K. (1983). ʻŌlelo Noʻeau. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.
Scott, S. (1991). Plants and Animals of Hawaiʻi. Honolulu: Bess Press.
Seitz, W., K. Kagimoto, B. Luehrs, and L. Katahira. (2012). Twenty Years of Conservation and
Research Findings of the Hawaiʻi Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, 1989 – 2009.
Technical Report 178. The Hawai`i-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit &
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Seitz, W., L. Kurpita, and L. Ransom. (2011). Hawaiʻi Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project
2010 Season Highlights.
State of Hawai‘i Bureau of Conveyances Recorded. Warranty Deed, Sands of South Kona, LLC
& County of Hawaii, November 4, 2016, Doc No(s) A-61520211.
State of Hawaii Legacy Land Conservation Grant Agreement between Board of Land and
Natural Resources & County of Hawaii, February 4, 2013.
Terry, Ron and P. Hart. (2020). Flora-Fauna Study of Kahuku Road to the Sea PONC Property.
USGCRP. (2018). Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate
Assessment, Volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M.
Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program,
Washington, DC, USA.
64 | N O V E M B E R 2021 – D R A F T F O R P U B L I C R E V I E W
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). (2021). USFWS Endangered Species Home Page.
https://www.fws.gov/endangered/.
U.S. Geological Surveys. (1998). How High is Mauna Loa?. Retrieved from:
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/archive/1998/98_08_20.html.
U.S. Soil Conservation Service. (1973). Soil Survey of Island of Hawai‘i, State of Hawai‘i.
Washington: US.A. Soil Conservation Service.
Kahuku Coastal Resources Management Plan
Appendix A
Hawaiʻi County Charter
COUNTY
CHARTER
COUNTYOFHAWAI‘I
2020
5) Negotiatedsalesofcountypropertyfoundunusableforpublicpurposesand
valuedbelow $250.00withoutpublicauction.
f)Allcountystorerooms (otherthandepartmental) shallbesupervisedandoperatedbythe
directoroffinance.
g) Thedirectoroffinanceshallrequiresuchguaranteesofperformancebyvendorsasinthe
directoroffinance’sopinionmaybenecessaryormaybeprescribedbyordinance.
1979, Prop. 8; 1990, Prop. 14, sec. 1andProp. 16, sec. 3; 1994, Ord. No. 94-50, sec. 2; 2010, Prop. 7,
sec. 43.)
Section10-15.PublicAccess, OpenSpace, andNaturalResourcesPreservationFund.
a) Inadoptingeachfiscalyear’soperatingbudget, thecouncilshallappropriateaminimum
oftwopercentofthecertifiedrealpropertytaxrevenues, includingpenaltyandinterest,
toafundknownasthepublicaccess, openspace, andnaturalresourcespreservation
fund. Depositstothefundshalloccurataminimum, onaquarterlybasis.
b) Fundingshallconsistof aminimumoftwopercentofactualrevenuereceivedinthe
fiscalyear. Additionalrevenuemayconsistofgrantsandprivatecontributionsintended
forthepurposeofthissection, voluntarycontributionsofanyamountasspecifiedonthe
realpropertytaxbill, proceedsfromthesaleofgeneralobligationbondsauthorizedand
issuedforthepurposeofthissection, councilappropriationsforthepurposeofthis
section, andanyothersourceofrevenue.
c) Moniesinthisfundshallbeusedsolelyto:
1) PurchaseorotherwiseacquirelandsandeasementsintheCountyofHawai‘ifor
publicoutdoorrecreationandeducation, including:
A) Accesstobeachesandmountains;
B) Preservationofhistoricorculturallyimportantlandareasandsites;
C) Protectionofnaturalresources, significanthabitatoreco-systems,
includingbufferzones;
D) Preservationofforests, beaches, coastalareas, naturalbeautyand
agriculturallands; and
E)Protectionofwatershedlandstopreservewaterqualityandwatersupply.
2) Paytheprincipal, interestandpremium, ifany, duewithrespecttobondsissued
inwholeforthepurposeofthisfund.
3) Payforthesalary, wagesandbenefitsofstaffdedicatedtoadvancingthe
activitiescontainedwithinthissectionandSection10-16ofthischarter.
d) Anybalanceremaininginthefundattheendofanyfiscalyearshallnotlapse, butshall
remaininthefundaccumulatinginterestfromyeartoyear. Themoneysinthisfundshall
notbeusedforanypurposeexceptthoselistedinthissection.
e) Thecouncilshall byordinanceestablishproceduresfortheadministrationand
expenditureofmoneysinthisfund.
f)Thisfundshallbeusedforacquisitionoflandandeasementsandshallnotbeusedfor
development, maintenanceorforanypurposeotherthanasprovidedinthissection.
g) Thehighestandbestuseofthisfundistoleveragethemoneyinthefundbyattracting
matchingfunds, although, matchingfundsarenotrequiredineverypurchase.
h) Anylandacquiredwiththisfundshallcontainthefollowingrestrictivecovenantinits
recordeddeedofconveyance: “ThislandwasacquiredwithmoneysfromthePublic
Access, OpenSpace, andNaturalResourcesPreservationFund. Itshallbeheldin
39
perpetuityfortheuseandenjoymentofthepeopleofHawai‘iCountyandmaynotbe
sold, mortgaged, tradedortransferredinanyway.”
i) Anyeasementacquiredwiththisfundshallcontainthefollowingrestrictivecovenantin
itsrecordeddeedofconveyance: “Thiseasementwasacquiredwithmoneysfromthe
PublicAccess, OpenSpace, andNaturalResourcesPreservationFund. Itshallbeheldin
perpetuityfortheuseandenjoymentofthepeopleofHawai‘iCountyandmaynotbe
sold, mortgaged, tradedortransferredinanyway.”
2010, Prop. 1, sec. 1; 2012, Ord. No. 11-94, sec. 1; 2020, Prop. 6, sec. 1.)
Section10-16.PublicAccess, OpenSpace, andNaturalResourcesPreservation
MaintenanceFund.
a) Thepurposeofthepublicaccess, openspace, andnaturalresourcespreservation
maintenancefundistoaccrueandusemoneysformaintenanceoflandsandeasements
acquiredbythepublicaccess, openspace, andnaturalresourcespreservationfund. The
maintenancefundwillensurethatmoneyisdedicatedtopreservetheland, promote
publicsafety, andmaintainahealthystewardship.
b) Forthepurposeofthissection, “maintenance” meanstopreserveandconservelandsand
easementsacquiredbythepublicaccess, openspace, andnaturalresourcespreservation
fundandkeepthemingoodrepairforpublicsafety.
c) Thereisestablisheda public access, openspace, andnaturalresourcespreservation
maintenancefund (hereinafter “maintenancefund”). Themaintenancefundshallbe
administeredandmanagedbythedepartmentoffinance.
d) Depositsduetothemaintenancefund.
1) Inadoptingeachfiscalyear’soperatingbudget, thecouncilshallappropriateone-
quarterofonepercentofallrealpropertytaxrevenue (includinginterestand
penalties) tothemaintenancefund. Depositstothemaintenancefundshalloccur
onaquarterlybasisataminimum.
2) Additionalrevenuedepositedinthemaintenancefundmayconsistofgrantsand
privatecontributionsintendedforthepurposeofthissection, proceedsfromthe
saleofgeneralobligationbondsauthorized andissuedforthepurposeofthis
section, councilappropriationsforthepurposeofthissection, andanyother
sourceofrevenue.
e) Accountingforthemaintenancefund; interestbearingaccounts; reportingbythe
departmentoffinance.
1) Allmoneysin themaintenancefundshallbedeposited ininterestbearing
accountsuntilneeded. Anyinterestshallaccruetothemaintenancefund.
2) Moneysinthemaintenancefundshallbeidentifiedseparatelyfor:
A) Fundingreceivedfromtherealpropertytaxrevenueincludinginterestand
penalties; and
B) Fundingreceivedfromgrantsandprivatecontributions, andanyother
sourceofrevenue, anditsinterestearned, which:
i. Shallbeitemizedandearmarkedforspecificprojectsforthelands
oreasements.
ii. Shallnotbesubjectedtothemaximumaccrualoffundslimit
providedinsubsection (f).
3) Financialstatementsshallbepostedeachmonthonthepublicaccess, openspace,
andnaturalresourcespreservationfundwebsite.
40
f)Maximumaccruallimitinmaintenancefund; exemptiontofunding.
1)Onlymoneysderivedfromrealpropertytaxrevenue, itsinterest, anditspenalties
shallbeincludedinthecomputationofthemaximumaccruallimitforthe
maintenancefund. Allothermoneysspecificallydirectedtothemaintenance
fund shallbeheldseparatelyfromthosemoneysinthemaintenancefundthat
originatedfromrealpropertytaxrevenues (includinginterestandpenalties), and
shallnotbesubjectedtothemaximumaccruallimit
2)Themaximumaccruallimitshallnotexceed $3,000,000.
3) Attheendofanyfiscalyearinwhichthemaintenancefundholdsunencumbered
fundsderivedfromrealpropertytaxrevenue (includinginterestandpenalties) of
atleast $3,000,000, anyunencumberedamountinexcessofthat $3,000,000shall
bepermanentlytransferredtothegeneralfundbalance.
4) Exemptiontofunding. Ifthemaintenancefundholds $3,000,000in
unencumberedfundsderivedfromrealpropertytaxrevenue (includinginterest
andpenalties), thenthecouncilandtheexecutivebranchdonotneedtoaddmore
moneytothemaintenancefunduntilthenextbudgetcycle. Thisexemptionshall
notreleasetheadministrationfromitsmandatorydutytomaintainandpreserve
landsandeasementsacquiredbythepublicaccess, openspace, andnatural
resourcespreservationfundingoodrepairforpublicsafetyeachfiscalyear.
g) Themaintenancefundshallbeusedsolelyforpublicsafetymaintenanceandpreservation
ofthoselandsandeasementsacquiredbythepublicaccess, openspace, andnatural
resourcespreservationfund, andshallbeusedonlyforexpendituresdirectlyrelatedtoits
purpose. Expendituresbytheadministrationand/orstewardshipgrantspresumedtobe
directlyrelatedareasfollows:
1) Reparation (fixing, mending, repairwork, andservicing);
2) Preservation (damagecontrol, salvaging, safekeeping, andsafeguarding);
3) Conservationofsoil, forests, shorelines, nativewildlife, streams, wetlands,
watershed, andfloodways;
4) Restoration (replacement, reclamation, reconditioning, andremediation);
5) Wildfireandfireprevention;
6) Repairofexistingbuildingstomeetthecurrentcoderequirements, ifthebuilding
isdeemedreasonabletosave;
7) Replacingsignstomeetthecurrentcoderequirements;
8) Installation, repair, orreplacementfencingandgateoraccessmechanisms;
9) Installationorrepairofcattleguards;
10) Building, renting, leasing, installing, andmaintenanceoftoiletfacilities;
11) Buildingandinstallationofsmallshedsorstructuresforthestorageof
maintenanceequipment;
12) Building, installationandmaintenanceofstructurestoprovideprotectionfromthe
elements;
13) Creationoftrailsorpathstoaccesslandforpublicsafety, maintenance, and
preservation;
14) Mitigationoffloodingproblemsincludingrepairorrestorationofexisting
culverts, drainagefeatures, orothersimilarfloodcontrolmitigation;
41
15) ArcheologicalsurveyandbufferingofNativeHawaiianhistoricalorculturalsites
afterappropriateconsultationwithNativeHawaiiandescendantsandcultural
practitioners;
16) BiologicalstudiesfortheprotectionofNativeHawaiianspeciesofplantsand
animals; or
17) MitigationofAmericanswithDisabilitiesActcomplianceissuesthatmayarise
duringthecourseofpublicsafetymaintenanceandpreservation.
h) StewardshipGrants. Moneysmayalsobeusedtoprovidegrants-in-aidforprojects,
whichusesarereflectedinsubsection (g).
1) Anawardofastewardshipgrantshallbebycouncilresolution. Stewardship
grantsmaybeawarded onlyuntilmoneysinthemaintenancefundare
extinguished. Grantsshallbeawardedonthebasisofabilityofthestewardship
organizationtocompletetheprojectontimeandwithincostestimates.
2) Only501(c)3nonprofitsoranorganizationthatoperatesundertheumbrellaofa
501(c)3nonprofit, andthatcancompleteaprojectforthegoodofthecommunity,
shallbeconsideredforastewardshipgrant.
3) Publicnoticebythedepartmentoffinanceoftheavailabilityofthestewardship
grantsshallbeplacedintwonewspapersofgeneralcirculation, aswellas
electronicmediaaccessiblebyinternet, byAugust1ofeachfiscalyearprovided
moneyisavailable. Theseadvertisementsshallbepaidforfromthemaintenance
fund.
4) Toapplyforastewardshipgrant, astewardshiporganizationshallprovidetothe
departmentoffinanceandthepublicaccess, openspace, andnaturalresources
preservationcommissionthefollowing:
A) Anapplicationformobtainedfromthedepartmentoffinance, whichis
completedforeachspecificpurposeorproject;
B) AcopyofitsletterofdeterminationfromtheInternalRevenueService
confirmingits501(c)3statusorthe501(c)3statusoftheumbrella
organization;
C) Acopyofitsbylawsandmissionstatement;
D) Adetailedbusinessplanthatincludesthedescriptionofthespecific
project, timeframesforprojectgoals, costs, andactivitiestoaccomplish
thestatedpurpose, andanyotherinformationrequestedbythedepartment
offinance; and
E) Asignedagreementtofileawrittenreporttothedepartmentoffinance
oneyearorlessafterreceiptoffundsorthirtydaysfollowingproject
completion, whichshallincludedetailsastowhathasbeenaccomplished
ontheproject, actualcosts, expensereceipts, and anyotherinformation
requested bythedepartmentoffinance. Thecompletedreportshallbe
providedtothepublicaccess, openspace, andnaturalresources
preservationcommissionandthecouncil.
5) Unexpendedfundsshallbereturnedtothemaintenancefundwithinthirtydaysof
submittingafinalreport.
6) Noofficer, boardmember, oremployeeofthe501(c)3nonprofitorganizationor
theorganizationthatoperatesundertheumbrellaofa501(c)3nonprofit
organizationshallreceiveasalaryoranyportionofasalaryfromthisfundfor
42
performingtheirgeneraldutiesorfunctionsasanofficer, boardmemberor
employee; however, compensationforspecificdutiessuchaslabor, educational
workshopsandmaintenanceworkmaybepaidtoanofficer, boardmemberor
employeeifthosedutieshavebeenspecificallyidentifiedandofficiallyapproved
inthedetailedbusinessplansubmittedaspartofthestewardshipgrantproposal.
The501(c)3nonprofitshallsignanagreementsostatingtheseconditionsand
submititwiththeapplication.
7) Mismanagementofmoneysawardedforastewardshipgrantshallpermanently
barthe501(c)3nonprofitorganizationandtheorganizationthatoperatesunder
theumbrellaofa501(c)3nonprofitorganizationfromreceivingfuturegrants
fromthemaintenancefund.
8) Thedirectorofthedepartmentoffinanceshallprovideashortwrittenevaluation
oftheproposedprojecttothecouncilandincludearecommendationaboutthe
applicant’sabilitytocompletetheprojectaccordingtotheprojectplan.
2012, Ord. No. 12-16, sec. 1; 2020, Prop. 10, sec. 1.)
Section10-17.DisasterandEmergencyFund.
a) Inadoptingeachyear’sfiscaloperatingbudget, thecouncilshallappropriateaminimum
ofonepercentofthecertifiedrealpropertytaxrevenuestoafundknownasthedisaster
andemergencyfund. Additionalfundsmaybedepositedintothedisasterand
emergencyfundfromstateandfederalgrants, thefederalemergencymanagement
agency, privatesources, andanyothersource ofrevenue. Suchappropriationshall
continueuntilaminimumof $20,000,000isaccumulatedinthefund. Useofthefundsfor
anyofthepurposeslistedinthissectionmaybepermittedevenifthetargetgoalof
20,000,000isnotmet.
b) Moneysinthe disasterandemergencyfundshallbeutilizedonlyforthefollowing
purposes:
1) Repairofcountyfacilitiesandinfrastructuredamagedbyanaturalorhuman-
causeddisasteroremergency;
2) Cleaningofcountyproperty, includingroads, drainageandsewagesystems,
damagedbyanaturalorhuman-causeddisasterorotheremergencieswhensuch
actionservesapublicpurpose;
3) Providingimmediateresponseforservicestodealwithpublichealthandsafety
risksduetoanaturalorhuman-causeddisasteroremergencyintheformof
personnel, equipment, materials, suppliesandservicecontracts;
4) Matchingfederal, stateorprivategrants-in-aidindividuallyorinanycombination
todeveloporrestorepublicpropertytoasafeanduseablecondition;
5) Payingforoperationalexpensesofthecountyafteradisasteroremergencywhen
thecountyisunabletorealizerevenueatsufficientlevelsduetothedisasteror
emergency;
6) Payingforacquisitionofpropertytomitigatefuturepotentialdisastersor
emergencies; and
7) Payingforadministrativeexpenses, whichshallnotexceedfivepercentexceptas
indicatedin (5) above. Forthepurposesofthissection, administrativeexpenses
aredefinedasstafforcontractedsalariesandrelatedfringebenefits.
c) Ifthecountyshouldreceivereimbursementoffundsformoneyadvancedbythedisaster
andemergencyfund, thosefundsshallbedepositedintothedisasterandemergencyfund.
43
Kahuku Coastal Resources Management Plan
Appendix B
Warranty Deed