HomeMy WebLinkAboutFencing, Letter of Opposition draft
HAWAII COUNTY GAME MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION
January 8, 2024
Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and
Wild Life, and Natural Area Reserve System: DLNR Chairperson Dawn
Chang, DOFAW Administrator David Smith, DLNR Statewide Program
Manager Emma Yuen, DOFAW Forestry Manager Steve Bergfeld, and
NARS Manager Nicholas Agorastos.
Re: GMAC opposi?on to the proposed fencing project of the South
Boundry buffer zone Unit H Public Hun?ng Area (PHA), in the Ola'a
Forest Reserve (FR) adjacent to Stainback Highway near Kulani
Correc?onal facility.
Dear Dawn Chang, David Smith, Emma Yuen, Steve Bergfeld, and
Nicholas Agorastos,
Hawaii County GMAC is opposed to the proposed fencing project of the
South Boundary buffer zone Unit H PHA in the Ola'a FR.
This area is a Forest Reserve, surrounded on three sides by Pu'u
Maka'ala Natural Area Reserve (NAR). The surrounding NAR's have
ungulate-proof fences and protec?on. The front side of the parcel
facing Stainback Hwyway is unfenced and provides easy public access. It
allows for 2WD access for easy and frequent hun?ng opportuni?es.
This makes it especially easy to access public hun?ng and gathering for
families, keiki, novice hunters, the Kupuna, and the handicapped. The
access also provides two safe parking areas. From the parking area, two
roads leading in provide safe access to the Forest Reserve for hunters
and their dogs. This Forest Reserve has provided a sustainable resource
of wild game and a convenient launching point for cultural and
historical users.
We kindly request proposed plans to fence this area be reevaluated, in
considera?on of the users that will be nega?vely affected by the loss.
This would be in keeping of promises made at the Pu'u Maka'ala
Management Plan mee?ngs, to not fence this area.
Mahalo nui,
GMAC Chair