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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWaikapuna_Community Mtg_March 22, 2023 on the Draft PlanDraft Waikapuna Resources Management Plan ALOHA AND WELCOME! This meeting is being recorded. Meeting will begin at 6:30pm. 1 Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting 2 Kaʻū is my piko. Subsistence gathering, cultural practices, iwi kūpuna. Our ice box for generations. It’s Kaʻū, part of our home. It is wahi kūpuna, sacred and should be cared for and kept that way. The place resets my perspective. This area needs to be protected. Childhood memories of Waikapuna. Why is Waikapuna important or special to you? AGENDA •Presentation •Comments/Questions Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan Meeting Kuleana Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting 4 •Be respectful and show aloha ☺ •Keep an open mind •Agree to disagree •Give everyone an opportunity to speak before speaking again •Type comments into the “chat” box/wait for facilitator to call on you Audio Video Chat To Raise Hand Waikapuna parcel: 2,317 acres Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 5 Acquired by Ala Kahakai Trail Association (ATA) in Dec 2019 Received funding from the State LLCP, County Preservation Fund, Trust for Public Land, & Private Donors Conservation Easement (CE) placed over the property: County of Hawaiʻi holds the CE Purpose of the management plan Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 6 Guide stewardship actions and strategies Protect, preserve, and conserve the significant cultural, historical, and natural resources of Waikapuna Fulfill grant requirements with the State Legacy Land Conservation Program and County of Hawaiʻi Conservation Easement Contents of the management plan Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 7 Background Information Site Description & Summary of Resources Summary of Values, Issues & Concerns Proposed Action Items & Strategies Framework for Implementation Aligned with the values as outlined in the County’s Conservation Easement and the State LLCP grant agreements Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 8 Fisherfolks Cultural Practitioners Descendants Neighboring Landowners State and County agencies Ala Kahakai Trail Association Ranchers Hikers Kūpuna Community/ Partner Organizations Stakeholders Process for the Management Plan ▪Reviewed existing reports ▪Held virtual & in- person Talk Story sessions, community meetings ▪Conducted site visits Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting 9 A land that is respected and its cultural and natural resources managed by the community for the benefit of community and Hawaiian ancient and current history. I envision it looking the same (pristine and rugged) and still being enjoyed by the people of Kaʻū and providing food for them. Stewarded in a way that provides the ʻāina breaks to rejuvenate its resources in between visitors. Undeveloped. Priority given to Kaʻū residents, with caps on number of days/nights and vehicles. Volunteer hours put in prior to camping overnight. Including learning of historical significance to families of the area, beach clean up, road maintenance, and clearing of invasive vegetation.To look the same it is now. To remain as we see it today, undeveloped and thriving with abundance in fish population and native vegetation. What do you envision Waikapuna to be like in 50 years? Summary of Talk Story Sessions Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 10 What residents value about Waikapuna •Sense of place •Connection to wahi kūpuna & iwi kūpuna •Place to spend time with family, for education, & to perpetuate Hawaiian practices Issues & concerns relating to resources •Impacts due to unrestricted access •Fire risk from increased use & drought conditions; impacts from fire response •Damage to cultural & historic sites •Safety from ocean conditions, terrain, & natural disasters •Impacts to nearshore resources & cultural landscape •Need to mālama the land & hold kuleana to care for resources •Impacts of invasive plant & animal species on native ecosystem •Impacts of marine debris, trash, & climate change Management Plan focuses on: Cultivating Knowledge Community Stewardship Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 11 Guide stewardship actions and strategies Protect, preserve, and conserve the significant cultural, historical, and natural resources of Waikapuna Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting 12 Goals & Strategies for five Topic Areas Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 12 Waikapuna Resources Management Plan – Community Meeting on Draft Plan 13 1 Archaeological, Cultural, & Historic Resources •Build awareness through education •Monitor sites –highest use from the public •Maintain vegetation around sites; use hand clearing methods; on-going maintenance for fenced areas •For areas leased for ranching •Coordinate & communicate with lessees •Identify sensitive sites that require addt’l protection and attention •Repair cattle ranch wall/install gate Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 14 Sites identified by ASM Affiliates from Draft AIS Report (2018) 2 Native Plants •Remove invasive plants to allow existing native plants to thrive and regenerate before outplanting •Monitor for any pests and/or diseases •Prioritize opportunities that perpetuate cultural practices and restore both native plants & cultural sites Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 15 Vegetation Map by Zones (from Terry & Hart, 2017) Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 16 Promote responsible land uses Build awareness through educational outreach and stewardship; establish community makai watch program Establish long-term scientific monitoring program of resources to support traditional & local knowledge and traditional ways of monitoring 3 Marine & Avian Resources •Conduct educational outreach for site users •Maintain fuel breaks esp. during drought & dry seasons •Communicate & coordinate with Fire Department •Develop detailed fire management plan Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 17 Brushfire in 2017. Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Fire Department 4 Fire Prevention & Management Existing Structures, Roads, Trails & Utilities •Maintain existing roads & trails to ensure safe access for site users and to support fire suppression actions •Restore & reuse existing structures to facilitate and support stewardship activities •Do not compromise the sense of place or negatively impact cultural sites •Comply with the Grant of Conservation Easement Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 18 5 Create spaces for individuals & families to have a role in stewardship through: Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 19 Kūpuna days ʻOhana days Organized volunteer workdays Overnight Access (“Weekend access”) Guidelines for Kūpuna Days and ʻOhana Days Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 20 ➢Occur during weekdays to avoid conflict with weekend Overnight Access ➢One family at a time ➢An individual from the family must have visited before ➢Request at the beginning of the week; one day access. Kūpuna days ʻOhana days Organized volunteer workdays Overnight Access (“Weekend access”) Guidelines for Overnight Access •One group allowed at a time, typically on weekends •One designated weekend per month for volunteer workdays; no group overnight access during this weekend. •Reservations are required. Only hold one reservation at any given time. •Reservations made available on a quarterly basis (to avoid wait times of a year+) •Participation in community stewardship activities will be encouraged and will allow for priority access to the reservation system. Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 21 Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 22 Order of Priority for access to the Reservation System for Overnight Access Quarterly Reservations for Overnight Access 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Make reservations in: Dec Mar Jun Sept Volunteers 1st Monday of the Month Kaʻū residents 2nd Monday of the Month Non-Kaʻū residents 3rd Monday of the Month Implementation •Stewardship Committee to oversee implementation of the management plan & advise ATA •Administrative Coordinator to oversee admin of programs •Resource Specialists to provide hands-on oversight of resources •Admin Coordinator & Resource Specialists to report to the Stewardship Committee Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 23 Stewardship Committee •Oversee implementation •Guide ATA on stewardship programs & projects •Voluntary capacity •Fulfill duties of Administrative Coordinator & Resource Specialists until funding is secured Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting 24Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 24 Summary of Administrative Tasks for ATA •Establish the Stewardship Committee •Update existing lease agreements •Establish & organize the administration of kūpuna days, ʻohana days, & organized volunteer workday programs •Identify & implement an online system for reservations •Seek funding & hire staff Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 25 Phasing Plan •Major milestones to guide stewardship & to evaluate progress •Short-term/on-going; mid-range, & long range 26WaikapunaResources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan Key to successfully implement management plan for Waikapuna •Level of trust and relationship must be developed and maintained •Collaboration and partnerships with other landowners for greater landscape level protection and stewardship •Management Plan to be periodically updated; adaptive management 27WaikapunaResources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan Comments/Questions Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 28 How to submit comments on the Draft Management Plan? Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting on Draft Plan 29 ❖Management Plan available on County’s website: •https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/Browse.aspx?s tartid=13770&dbid=1 ❖Comments due April 22, 2023. ❖Email to: gabrielle@townscapeinc.com ❖Mail to:900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 1160 Honolulu, HI 96813 ❖Google Sheet –scan QR code •Upon request, black & white, hard-copies of the Waikapuna Draft Resources Management Plan are also available at the Department of Finance, Property Management Division, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1101, Hilo, HI 96720, or by mail before the meeting, upon request. •Cost of copies is $1.00 for the first page and $.10 for each additional page. Copies may be mailed to interested persons after payment of fees for copies and postage are received. Please call (808) 961-8069 to request copies. Waikapuna Resources Management Plan -Community Meeting 30