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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGMAC Feb 20 2024 Minutes Final Draft Game Management Advisory Commission County of Hawai’i Minutes – Final Draft Meeting Date: February 20, 2024 Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 pm Place: Zoom and In-Person 25 Aupuni Ctr., Ste. #1501, Hilo HI The meeting Game Management Advisory Commission was called to order by Vice Chair Cortney Okumura, Tuesday, February 20, at 9:01 a.m., held at the Puna Conference Room, County building in Hilo and, also on Zoom. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: District 1 - Robert Duerr, Currently Absent (running late) District 2 – Vacant District 3 – Rhon Leomana Turalde, Present, via Zoom District 4 – Brian Ley – Present, in person District 5 - Abraham Antonio, Present, in person District 6 – Vacant District 7 – Natalie Reynolds, Excused District 8 – Cortney Okumura – Present via Zoom District 9 – Justin Ackerman – Present via Zoom Quorum Established with 5 in attendance without R. Duerr who is running late. STAFF: Sylvia Wan, Deputy Attorney, Corporation Counsel – in person Pomai Bartolome, Executive Assistant to Mayor Roth Barbara Kossow, Administrative Specialist – Excused. SW: I just want to check in with Leomana. I noticed that you’re coming on and off the screen. I do need you to maintain your present sound screen for us to maintain quorum. OK. That’s all. Thank you. You may continue… CO: OK. And we have Counsel Sylvia Wan, attorney for the Commission and, Pomai Bartolome joining us from the Kona side – who are the staff members today and so housekeeping, please make sure that your cell phones are turned off or on silent mode. For those who are attending in person, please remember to speak into the microphone so that your statements can be recorded and transcribed and under HRS 92-3 of the Sunshine Law – GMAC may remove any person who willfully disrupts a meeting to prevent or compromise the conduct of the meeting. All persons appearing before the 1 GMAC are reminded to conduct themselves in a courteous manner and regarding testimony – to those in person – if you’d like to testify, please fill out the public statement registration form and for those on Zoom, if you’d like to testify on an agenda item, please provide your name and identify which item you would like to testify on. And questions from the public – for those on Zoom, you may pose the question on Zoom Chat – for those in person you may write your question on the Public Statement Registration Form – and please note that your question may or may not be asked at the discretion of the Chair – and note also that the Zoom Chat is not recorded and not part of the meeting minutes. It’s not for testimony or discussion – it’s just for announcing you’d like to say something, and you’ll be recognized when it’s your time to submit your testimony. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 17, November 21, and December 19, 2023. Action: Motion made by L. Turalde to approve the October, November and December 2023 minutes as circulated. Seconded by A. Antonio. Motion carried by poll voice vote with 5 ayes and 1 momentarily running late to the meeting. 3. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: None. 4. COMMISSIONER REPORT BY DISTRICT: CO: Next Item 4 is the Commissioner Reports by District, and we’ll start with District3. LT: Aloha every man and woman, Leomana, District – 3. My district update – District – 3, Panaewa all into Keaukaha all into Banyan Drive. This past weekend I was fishing in Bayfront, and I came across the marine biologist that runs, I guess, out of \[unclear\], but they said there’s a huge decline in active sharks, hammerhead sharks, and out of the fish that we on the inside of Bayfront. I don’t understand why – I actually caught – I got an 8’ shark this past week – and they were taking the shark apart and trying to figure out what the shark was eating ‘cause they think that the black tips are eating the baby hammerheads for some reason, I don’t know, that was just what had come across. Another one is the wastewater treatment plant – the plan to – the wastewater treatment plan, an updated, and it’s gonna cost – it’s gonna take 7 years and the Mayor said it’s gonna take up to 8 billion, 8-11 billion at max to fix Hilo alone – Hilo to HPP. And that’s all of the water that’s polluting fisher coastline on the East side. From Keaukaha all the way to Shipman’s beach. And other than that, that’s it. Mahalo. AA: Hey, Leomana? Did you go to the wastewater meeting – the public meeting that they had? Abraham, District – 5. 2 LT: Yeah, I was… Aloha, Leomana, District – 3. Yeah, I was there for a little while but, um, I had my baby’s \[unclear\] to keep. I \[unclear\]. AA: You watched it for 2 ½ hours after the meeting? You’re breaking in and out. I guess we can move on to Brian - Cortney. CO: Sorry, yeah, I was having trouble hearing him? OK, ah, Brian, District – 4. BL: Brian, District – 4. Hawaiian Shores on April 20 – is having a discussion on feral pigs. SW: I’m sorry, Brian, can you pause for a second. We’ve lost video on Leomana. AA: Oh, we not making any votes so we can continue. SW: You’re right. Go ahead. BL: OK. Discussion on feral pigs, I guess, and the area got a grant for a pig break so they’re gonna be discussing that and they’re also gonna be a video on the proper way to safely, backyard butchering feral pigs. I got a call. I didn’t get a return – there’s some issues with some access, I think it’s by the lighthouse – somebody put a request into the state to take over stewardship of the road and the fisherman are concerned that if the state gets stewardship to the \[unclear\] then they’re gonna put up a fence and it’s gonna block all the access out by the lighthouse area and I had somebody call and said there was an individual on the Puna trail out by Kaloli with a hatchet impersonating himself, or saying he was an off duty DOFAW officer and he was gonna come back and arrest everybody and they would not file a report cause they were more worried about DOFAW – in case he really was a DOFAW person – they were worried about retaliation so that lets you know where we stand on how we trust our government. So, if anybody sees a gentleman with a hatchet pretending, he’s a DOFAW out in the Puna area please notify the police or DOFAW if he actually is a DOFAW person on his off day. And my district Joy San Buenaventura – she needs to be called regarding SB 2945 and SB 3196 regarding the use of hunting guns – they’re trying to ban a lot of our common guns – not only a ban for buying we will no longer be able to use it public hunting areas and on private areas if these bills pass and the other one is not allowing people under the age of 21 to own ammunition or to sell it, so… She is the swing vote so if anybody can give Joy San Buenaventura a call at her office before Thursday, that would be very much appreciated. So, I know that the gun and hunting community needs to be talking about so… And that’s it for me, thank you. AA: As far as other things inside my district – still get lot of trash – getting more and more trash getting in the forest reserves and not just that, just on the sides of the roads and stuff like that – getting more and more trash so maybe we can get something – we can advise the County for more stiffer fines or something for illegal dumping, it’s just getting out of hand and yet we don’t even pay for our trash. You know the other states and 3 everything they pay for trash so with that being said, it’s like we the County’s gonna go and send the DPW to go pick up the trash but who’s gonna eventually start to pay for that. And then that’s when we gonna have to pay for our own trash dumping and then there’s gonna be more illegal dumping, right? So that’s on that – as far as the game animals in my area – pigs just still yet – doing good, you know, everybody has a different points of, you know, the pigs. Some people say that that’s a good resource, some is like, oh, they tearing up my yard. But you moved into their yard, right, as well, so, you know, two sided sword right there. I also got invited to that meeting with the Hawaiian Shores Community Association with Brian. It’s gonna be coming up I think next month some time. April 20, so me and Brian’s gonna attend that. Other than that – there was also – one of our old Commissioners \[unclear\] he gave me a call stating that there was somebody impersonating or is somebody maybe actually doing their job about – up at 16-Mile Marker, saying that he was a Range Officer. I didn’t hear anything else about that but maybe something Leomana and Justin maybe take a look into. You guys are the gun advocates so, just touching up on Brian’s SB 2841, if you guys could personally and out to the public call Joy San Buenaventura’s office and… SW: OK. So, you can’t specifically ask the public to lobby because that’s outside… AA: I not asking to lobby, I ask them what they can do what they like… SW: You can let them know about bills of interest, but you can’t tell them what to do. AA: OK. Bills of interest is SB 2845 – it’s permitting the ownership of anything under 21 – any person under 21 – to own or possess any ammunition – so that’s pretty much, in my opinion, it’s taking the – our hunting rights away from minors – anybody under – right now you can legally hunt 16 and above barrel but you can take a child 13 and above so in a public hunting area they wouldn’t be able to possess any ammunition. I wouldn’t be able to give my son any ammunition and he wouldn’t be able to go buy any so how can he go out hunting and shooting if he cannot possess any ammunition, right, so, that’s a bad one, right. SB 3196, they’re trying to ban carpings and semi-automatic rifles. You can only possess ‘em in your home on private property and if you have access to other people’s property, so, you going just transfer private property, private property. You cannot – you can no longer sell ‘em or buy ‘em if this bill passes. You can also no longer use it on public lands, so you can no longer hunt with a semi-automatic rifle. When you’re hunting with pigs – because that’s our most dangerous animal, ah, game animal here – sometimes a single shot rifles is not good enough, you gonna need that second, third shot. It just depends on how big the game is. On this Island and on other islands, especially in Kauai, we know that there’s predators – wild dogs, in fact, and it already has been brought up to this Commission about wild dogs – and if you only have a single shot weapon – or you only have your bow and arrow and you get that pack of dogs coming after you – what are you gonna do? You’re gonna get attacked and mauled by this pack of wild dogs. So that’s also why this bill needs to be canned – terminated as well. So, thank you. 4 CO: Thank you, Abraham. Next up is me, just letting everyone know there’s a community volunteer opportunity at the Puuwaawaa State Forest Reserve. They’re doing a planting day to help restore various native, dry \[unclear\] plants, and that can be done, or you can sign up if you go to Nicole Lowen’s website and they’ve got a link there if you’re interested in signing up there to do some planting of native plants. That’s all I’ve got. Moving on to District – 9, Justin… JA: Aloha all, just getting back after being off island for five weeks and getting my hands around everything, only thing I will add is I will be up at the Range next week and go check out and see what’s going on up there as I tune my rifle. That’s all I’ve got for now. Thanks. 5. PRESENTATION: a. Phil Fernandez, President Hawaii Fishermen’s Alliance for Conservation and Tradition Inc. (HFACT), presenting on Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resource’s Holomua Marine Initiative. CO: Thanks everyone. The next item was going to be our presentation by Mr. Phil Fernandez, but I guess he didn’t confirm so we’ll move on to New Business and it looks like we’re gonna be – do we need to approve the meeting dates or are we just letting everyone know what the meeting dates are? (Phil Fernandez did arrive in person at the Puna Conference Room in Hilo. Go to page 13). 6. NEW BUSINESS: a. Review of 2024 Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Dates. SW: It’s more about letting everyone know what the meeting dates are so you can accept and file. CO: OK. Did all the Commissioners see that in the packet – meeting dates for 2024? AA: Yes, Ma’am. CO: Anybody have any questions? SW: Ah, I think you’ll need a motion though… 5 Action: A Motion was made by A. Antonio to except and file the 2024 meeting schedule as circulated. Seconded by J. Ackerman. Motion passed by poll voice vote. 5 ayes and no nays, 1 absent at this time. CO: A motion to approve these… AA: Abraham, District – 5, approve the schedule and file. CO: May I have a second? JA: Justin, District – 9, second. CO: And we’ll do a roll call vote. SW: Discussion… CO: Oh, discussion, sorry, any discussion on the meeting dates? OK. Hearing none – move on to ah – sorry – District – 3. LT: Aye. CO: District – 4? BL: Aye. CO: District – 5? AA: Aye. CO: District – 8, aye. District – 9? JA: Aye. CO: OK. With all in favor and no opposed, the motion passes. And the next item is the review of outstanding GMAC letters and reports. So, if we could draw your attention to – is this the one, Abraham? SW: So, no, not yet. CO: Not yet… AA: We’re down on d. SW: Yeah. Abraham is on “d.” So, I’ll just… 6 CO: “d.” OK, what’s this? b. Review of Outstanding GMAC Letters and Reports. SW: I’m just gonna let everybody know again what’s outstanding – what needs be turned in. So, we still need a report for investigating the extent of the effects of mass feeding of feral animals and potential solutions from Chair Leomana’s group. Will you have a report ready next month? LT: Leomana, District – 3. I can handle one report ready next meeting is – I’m not getting the kind of information that I’d like, I guess, I just give up \[unclear\]. SW: OK. I mean, you can just report what you know at the next meeting then. AA: Abraham, District – 5. Do not report unless you have – because if you’re going report on something then Sylvia’s gonna close it – so do not report unless you’re done. LT: Yeah. AA: She just trying to catch you right there. LT: I know it’s taking a long time but I’m like everything… AA: Take your time and do it right, Abraham, District – 5. Take your time and do it right - Leomana. SW: Yeah, so I will just reedify all of the ones that I’m talking about are PIGS – so once the PIG provides a report then the PIG will cease and it and whatever information will be for GMAC to make a decision at the following meeting – but the point is we still have this open and active. LT: Yeah. SW: So, if you have a report that can be ready by next month please give it to Barbara for next month’s meeting. OK. Next one is regulations affecting Keauhou Bay and logistical issues of potential solutions – that one was Natalie as Chair and I know Robert had made a comment to Barbara offline about having information, but I don’t know if they’re at the point of having a report yet, so, I guess we’ll coordinate off-line. Next is the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program so I forget who’s the Chair of East side? The East side PIGS? AA: Leomana. SW: Leomana’s the Chair? 7 AA: They’ll schedule a meeting. We can’t hear you, you’re on mute Leomana. LT: OK, I’m sorry, I got excited, mahalo. We haven’t met in person yet but most of the team members do have a copy of the report and we do communicate and have communicated about some things inside there. SW: OK. So, do you anticipate that you’ll be ready with the report next month, or no? LT: I gotta get with the members and then double check but we’ll get back. SW: OK. And then Chair for West side. AA: That was also Natalie. SW: That was Natalie, OK. So, I guess we’ll move on. I’m sorry Cortney, I guess I’m taking over a little bit ‘cause I got the list in front of me. CO: So those were the three that are outstanding and then we do have a letter outstanding from Austin Griffey – the draft letter for the lobster regulations that was supposed to be from GMAC to DLNR Aquatics, because Austin Griffey resigned I think it would probably be appropriate to assign a new person to write that letter – since GMAC did approve the subject matter of that letter. Does anyone want to take that on? If no one wants to take it on would we… SW: You could assign a Chair… CO: OK. I would rather table it and see if – I don’t know if Natalie’s interested when she comes back or… AA: Abraham, District – 5. CO: Yeah. AA: I think you’d have to just contact him cause the letter is like already done. CO: OK. AA: It just needed some… CO: Oh, he’s done… AA: Yeah, it’s already done. It just needed some minor tweeks for the last meeting that he was here like Leomana had some input in it – so if you like touch bases with him then 8 you can just do your own little twerks on the letter and then it’s pretty simple cause it’s pretty done so if you like handle that, that would be great. CO: I’ll email him. Thanks, guys. AA: Yeah, thanks. SW: And we can table that to next month. CO: OK. rd SW: And next is the 3 quarter report for GMAC. AA: Hold on. Leomana – even though seems like Sylvia pushing you for next month it’s not a rush, so just like I said, take your time so we can do it right. Cause she pushing two of your stuff for next month. SW: (Laugher). I’m not, I’m just trying to… AA: Move things forward but… SW: I’m just trying to encourage… AA: Yeah, but he no like \[unclear\]… SW: But you’re right, I’m not, I have no authority when it comes to how fast or how… AA: Yeah…Now we can move on to section “b.” rd SW: No, we got two more things we still have 3 quarter report for GMAC that was also th Natalie. And then the last one that was never assigned was the 4 quarter report for GMAC. th CO: OK. I think it’s my turn again so I will go ahead and take on the report for 4quarter. SW: OK. And then that’s it – now you can move on. c. Nominations and Elections of GMAC Chair. CO: OK. So new business item c is Nominations and Elections of GMAC Chair. I would like to motion that we – or make a motion to nominate Robert Duerr from District 1. AA: Do we need to make motions to nominate, or we can just nominate first. 9 SW: OK. So technically it’s supposed to be - and this was my mistake at the last meeting – technically they’re supposed to be here so they can accept the nomination and I think that’s kind of partly what went wrong with Austin was because he wasn’t here to accept the nomination. If you are all feeling like you want to nominate Robert and you’re OK with going with another meeting with not having an official Chair – you can table this to the next meeting if that’s what you’re collectively feeling like unless, someone else can actually nominate themselves who’s here to be Chair. Obviously not Abraham because… AA: You gonna vote, me again? SW: No. So, everybody but Abraham – but that’s up to the Commission on how you want to… AA: Abraham, District – 5. Leomana, how’s your status? Would you be interested in being the Chair? LT: Um… Yes. AA: OK. That’s an option besides Robert Duerr. SW: So, somebody want to nominate Leomana? AA: Well, let’s have Cortney nominate Robert Duerr first. SW: Well… AA: Or she already did? SW: No, she, yes, however AA: \[Unclear\] voted in? SW: …. we can’t vote it… LT: I don’t mind; I don’t mind going to a vote off. AA: There you go… SW: No, no, no. You don’t understand. CO: We can’t vote yet because Bob isn’t here to accept so, we have now two nominations, but we have to table it because Bob isn’t here. SW: No, you don’t have to table it because it wasn’t a motion on the floor. I’m telling you… 10 CO: OK. SW: So, the only person who could be nominated today, if you want, is Leomana, but you need to have a motion. ACTION: A motion was made by J. Ackerman nominating Leomana Turalde as GMAC Chair. Seconded by B. Ley. Motion carried by voice poll vote with 5 ayes, no nayes, 1 absent at this time. JA: Justin, District – 9. I move that we nominate Leomana for our Chair. BL: Brian, District – 4, I second that motion. CO: Is there any discussion? LT: Mahalo, everyone, for your confidence, appreciate it. AA: Leomana? Are you going to have the time to be Chair and create agendas and work with Sylvia? LT: For the rest of my time on this Commission, yes. AA: Not really for the rest time – it’s only a year Chairmanship. So, after you do your year then you can be – maybe next year you guys will hold another vote and then maybe Justin would step up to the Chair just saying and then if not then they’ll probably vote you in again after that for maybe the rest of your term or Cortney, who knows. LT: I think I have a year and a half left… AA: OK. CO: OK. Could I get a sense from the Commissioners if you’d like to proceed now with voting for Leomana as Chair or if you want to wait and see… AA: Well again to my question. Abraham, District – 5. Leomana, do you have the time to be Chair. LT: Yes, sir. AA: OK. Abraham, District – 5, I move to make a motion to vote Leomana Turalde as Chair of GMAC. 11 SW: That motion’s already on the floor. So, you want to call the question – you already did – so, yes, up now there’s no further discussion – will be a vote. CO: OK. I’ll do the roll call vote. District – 1, not here. District – 2, vacant. District – 3? LT: Aye. CO: District – 4? BL: Yes. CO: District – 5? AA: Aye. CO: District–6, is vacant. District – 7, excused. District – 8, aye. District – 9? JA: Aye. LT: Yes. SW: And good luck. CO: Thank you, Leomana, we appreciate your… LT: \[Unclear\] sorry, look like I’m crying in my allergies right now. CO: Thank you for stepping up, sir, we really appreciate it. CO: OK. The motion passes with all in favor. SW: Congratulations Leomana. If you want, I’ll set up another training for you in the meantime? Ah, between this month and next month? AA: Abraham, District – 5. Corporation Counsel or Chair can we move out of order to our presentation Phil Fernandez – he’s in person. SW: He did just come in… CO: Oh, he’s here. Thank you. Yes. Hi Phil, thank you for joining us. PF: Hello. CO: Welcome. 12 PF: So, I do have a couple of presentations – an overview of my organization – Hawaii Fishermen’s Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, and then Robert Duerr also asked me to do an overview of the Department of Aquatic Resources, Holomua Initiative – so I have a presentation on that as well. So, let me know how you want me to proceed. CO: I guess if you – do any of the Commissioners have a preference before we begin? AA: No. CO: OK. You have the floor Phil, whatever you’d like to speak on, go ahead. PF: So, I’m gonna try to share my screen, let’s see what I can do here. OK. I’m trying to bring up my presentation. Hopefully, you can see it at this point. SW: Ah, yes, we can see it as a document so you… PF: OK. SW: …. want to start the slide show and I will probably go… PF: Yeah. OK. So hopefully you can see this. Our organization is a statewide organization that was founded in 2013 so we are now officially eleven years old. Our primary mission is to be the eyes and ears of fishermen and so what we try to do is work in the space between government and the fishermen – we try to collect input from fishermen and provide it to government and then try to understand what government is doing and provide that information to fishermen. What we found was that the language used in government is different than the language that is understood by fishermen. So we’re sort of a translator of all of that. All of the board members – and we have board members primarily on Oahu, Big Island and Kauai - we do not have a core member from Maui – are all lifelong fishers. We are funded by fishermen – donations from fishermen – and not funded by the state nor the federal government. We are advocates for non-commercial shoreline as well as boat fishers, but we also represent the small boat commercial fishers. In total, our base of membership is about 3, 500 across the entire state of which more than half turns out to be commercial fishers because they have more \[unclear\] than \[unclear\] line and non-commercial boat fishers. The board members are members of a variety of different organizations – both state and federal as well as regional – which would be the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, but we encourage our members to participate in all of various committees that may be around the state. Our basic principles – we consider fish as food, we don’t like, we don’t play with our fish – we fish to eat. And so that is the number one guiding principle. We also consider fish to be a major part of Island culture and tradition and we consider fish to be very important. We listen to fishers and as you probably know there are many, many fishers in Hawaii that are multi-generational fishers – that means that they learned how to fish from their grandfather, and father or 13 their mother and grandmother and they continue that tradition. We also believe as a number one principle that fishers provide solution-effective management. We are out in the field we are out on the ocean every day. We see what’s happening and we provide solutions to government, and we try to do so. Another thing is that we obviously want to manage fisheries for the next generation and beyond so sustainable fishing is an extremely high principle for us and we encourage fair and good management especially with the Division of Aquatic Resources and we feel that collaboration is the key to success in management. We are an organization of organizations – in other words we go through fishing clubs, boating clubs, casting clubs, things of that nature – so we do not have to organize on our own. We have island representatives on each island and in Hilo it’s Gary Beals, um, on the west side there it’s Nathan Abe and Ben Nakano are our island reps. They have, of course, their own network of people that they work with. We also work with Mike Tokunaga – Tokunaga Store on the East side. We actively participate at the state legislature probably anywhere from 10-20 testimony on paper that we provide to the legislature. We also go to the legislature and talk to key legislators such as Rep. Ichiyama and Senator Inouye – both chairs of Water and Land. We actively meet with DAR, DOCARE DOFAW and DLNR leadership. That would mean that we meet with Dawn Chang, we meet with Ed Underwood, we meet with Jackson Godulla, we meet with Brian Neilson on a regular and planned basis. We also meet with NOAA leadership here in Hawaii primarily protective resources, endangered species because that affects our ability to fish. We also work with sustainable fisheries and the Science Center. So that’s who we are as an organization and what we do. Any question from anybody about HFAC in itself? I’ll be happy to address that at this time. AA: Not seeing any Phil, you can continue… CO: Sorry, I was muted, sorry, go ahead. PF: Hearing none I will proceed to the Holomua Initiative that the Division of Aquatic Resources have been pursuing for the last couple of years. I’ve got a slow computer so bear with me. So, I’ll address Holomua – it’s a major initiative on the part of the Division of Aquatic Resources, in effect is a strategic plan for the near shore waters of Hawaii – so if you think of all of the waters up to the 3-mile limit – off shore – this is a method of trying to create a strategic plan. It was initiated in 2016 by Governor Ige, ah, Governor Ige actually sprung that as a surprise. Ah, Department of Land and Natural Resources did not know that it was coming but David Ige gave a speech and said that it’s what he wanted to do. It was very, very ill defined – he did not define what it is he wanted to do – he simply handed it to DLNR to execute. So since then – 2016 – it took many years for Aquatic Resources to put together a plan and that plan was originally published in the year 2000 as Holomua 30 x 30. The goals were pretty reasonable, that was the healthy, near shore ecosystem, they have near shore waters to be enjoyed by the people and also to feed our family, so all of the wording was really good. We adopt that, in fact, HFAC was part of the steering committee that wrote this vision statement, 14 so we wanted to make sure that fishing was a major component and feeding our families was a major component of the vision. But, then, as things moved forward we were trying to interpret what it was that DAR was trying to do and as it turned out that the 30 x 30, which meant 30% of near shore waters to be managed within a marine managed area, we were starting to get concerns about what they were doing and as we dug in to it – it was more and more of these marine managed areas, we didn’t like it, ah, we started to oppose the initiative. So, they wanted to regulate pretty much everything from shoreline to 150-foot depth, all species would be on the table, all methods of regulation would be on the table, and we thought that it was rather intrusive. This is a map of Oahu, the purple area on the north and on the east is the National Marine Sanctuary, the grey area are areas managed by the federal government and the Department of Defense, and they have some jurisdiction over those areas. If you look at this map today, those green areas and red areas are marine managed areas, and, if you look at what they were proposing was addition of all of those orange lines across all of Oahu including those areas in the green circle that are already a “no-fishing” zone because the military restricts access to those areas. When we showed this to the general public, the public went nuts. They said, oh, my God, this is crazy, because what happens is – just as an example on Oahu – currently there’s 2 ½ miles of marine managed areas – they were proposing to go to about 50 miles – that was 47 miles of new areas that they were going to propose. We obviously said that, that was crazy – there’s no process – you’re not going to make it in 10 years and thus we opposed it. So, we wanted the whole process to be stopped. We went to the legislature – got the legislature to convene a hearing on the subject matter on December 8, 2022. And we made presentations – a number of fishers made presentations, Division of Aquatic Resource made presentations and as a result of that Dawn Chang, the chairperson rescinded Holomua 30 x 30 on January 20, 2023. She wrote a letter rescinding the initiative and ordering the Division of Aquatic Resources to completely revise the program. So, the current status pretty much taking all of 2023 – we’ve been working – not only us – but other fishers been working with the Division of Aquatic Resources and pushing for 4 items – island-wide community themes – focus away from regulatory management and take as long as it takes and move to more regional and island-wide management. That was adopted by the Division, and we are working toward implementing the four items that we had put on the table with them. So as of right now – a new Holomua road map is in draft to be published in the next couple of months. We are – we meaning HFAC – is working with the Division to create this new road map. On Maui DAR has convened what is called that “navigation theme” that’s an island-wide group of fishers representing as many of the communities across Maui and also representing different gear types: net fishing, rod and reel, boat fishing, limu gathering, traditional and customary methods and so forth and they’ve convened a team on the island that is starting to discuss how they’re going to look at a strategic plan for Maui. On Kauai HFAC convened a team of fishers, again, modeling after the Maui team, which is across all of the communities of Hawaii and all of the gear types that people use and they have been meeting and staring to put together a plan for Maui and inviting the divisions that attend their meetings. On the Big Island HFAC is 15 gonna be holding a meeting in Hilo in March and then in Kona in April and we will be forming a Big Island Fishers’ Team, which would reflect the same principles that’s going on in Maui and Kauai, so we will be soliciting fishers from across the state or across the islands from all the communities – all of the districts – so Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, Kau, Puna, South Hilo, North Hilo, Hamakua as well as different gear types and different fishing forms and convening a team that will help identify what are the desires of the fishers and relaying that to DAR. That’s basically where Holomua is right now, and I’m gonna stop now and open it up for discussions. I have a few more slides but nothing important. CO: Thank you, Phil. PF: Yeah, go ahead. CO: Any questions? AA: Abraham, District – 5. So basically, your presentation on Holomua was – we had Troy Sakahara come in and I think somebody else, so basically what you’re saying is that the Holomua project just basically re-started again? PF: Yes. Restarted – no more plan to finish something by 2030. No more plan of putting in marine managed areas the fishery managed areas and all of that kind of stuff – those are still going to be possibilities because there are a number of communities especially on the Big Island that are considering that – you may have heard that recently Milolii created a CBSFA – a community based subsistence area – that regulates their own area and put in rules in their area. We are aware that the community of Hookena is preparing a proposal. We have seen the proposal – we don’t like their proposal – we are making inputs to the community to let them know what are the portions of the plan that we do not like. Honaunau is also starting to talk about putting together a CBSFA in their area. Kiholo is also in preparation of a proposal that they want to put together and as you’re probably already aware – Kaupulehu has a ten-year ban on fishing right now, they are preparing their ten-year report, and we understand the ten- year report will be proposing some regulations. So, on the west side there are a large number of proposals that will be coming to the table within the next year – next twelve months – we’re concerned about that – and this is why we want to form the Big Island Fisher’s Team so we can make sure that we are heard – by the Division of Aquatic Resources. On the east side we are not hearing of any proposals that are coming or any community groups that are forming to create a proposal. So, it’s mostly on the west side that we have our concerns. AA: Abraham, District – 5. That’s good to hear that Holomua that DLNR is doing it again – because there was a lot of flack from it. We know that already. Um, yeah, down in Milolii I know I had some comments come in that the community down there is pretty aggressive to fishers when you’re just simply fishing – they come in pretty aggressively, 16 in the future if you need any help – just reach out to the county – Barbara Kossow’s office – and then you can come back and give us an update or just any way that the Commission can assist you and your team. Is there any contact information that we can share too in case we know anybody that would be interested in being part of your team? PF: Yeah, so like I said we work through our island representatives – I will give you Gary Beale’s contact information. On the Hilo side in addition to Gary Beale’s who is our official island representative – Gil Kualii is somebody that we work with – Bob Nishimoto is somebody that we work with, of course, Mike Tokunaga is somebody that we work with – all in Hilo – so those are people that you can go to. I will send you or Bob Duerr the email address contacts of those people. They are more than happy to talk with anybody about fisheries stuff on the east side we’ll give you information on who our main team is on the west side, Stephen Kaiser, Kim Couch, Nathan Abe, Glen Nakano, they are the people on the west side and any of those people are more than happy to work with anything and then, of course, any board member on HFAC is more than happy as well. And thank you for the opportunity to update this group, once in a while and I’ll be happy to do that. SW: Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan, ah, Mr. Fernandez can you actually provide that information to Barbara Kossow… PF: Yes… SW: …. she’s the Board’s secretary. Her email address is located on the agenda. PF: Right, and I do have – I’ve been in contact with Barbara. I can certainly give all that information to her. SW: That would be the official way to get the Board that information. CO: Thank you, Phil. I really appreciate your time speaking with us today, thank you so much. BL: Brian, District -4. Hey, I got a question, these community meetings you’re saying they’re coming up with this – how they have the authority to come up with what they want to do without their community, or do they just come up with the idea and give it to DAR and DAR stamps it, I mean, how do they have our community\[unclear\] shoreline fishermen it ruins their view. PF: Right, exactly, right, so this is the problem that we have, and we’ve been pounding on the state through the legislature as well as to DLNR as what does the word “community” mean. You know, is it one person, is it ten people, is it 100 people, is it a geographic area – what is the meaning of a “community” because they keep on saying, 17 oh, you know, the community wants to do this, the community wants to do that and then we find out it’s like it’s 2 people and we say that’s not a community. And so, we’ve been objecting to a lack of a definition of “community.” Now of course all they can do is make a proposal, right, they cannot make a rule, so, however, what we have found out is many of these “communities” behind them are organizations that are quietly working with them, and, we always tell the truth about what we know, the Nature Conservancy is very active in working with “the community” and we also find that Conservation International is also behind quietly working. Now most recently we are on the west side, Arizona State University through Dr. Asner has been – he has been going around communities encouraging communities to put together plans, and helping them, right, so, often times you see these proposals and you go wait a minute – this is not something not written by the community, it’s so professional, it’s got so many academic articles being cited – it has to be done by somebody professional and then when your start digging in – sure enough there are bigger national organizations helping them out and we find that to be problematic, and we have expressed our concern to DLNR, to the legislature and to DAR that the definition of community seem to be somewhat bogus when you see these 100-page proposals with all this academic stuff behind it and you say you know, you know, no disrespect to the people in the community but you know this was not written by the community, so, yeah, there are problems still within the Holomua system and that’s why we want to create these teams to counteract that problem. CO: Any other questions or comments for Phil? AA: Just like to thank you – Abraham, District – 5. Just like to thank you for your time, Phil. PF: Okay, yeah. So, these kind of proposals – like I mentioned – probably the one that’s getting developed pretty well is Hookena. From where we are right now – where they had a couple of community meetings and so forth – to point where they would have enough proof designated community-based subsistence fishing area – is 5-6 years – that’s how long it takes. And the Division of Aquatic Resources does not simply accept the proposal. They’re gonna take the proposal – they’re gonna ask some hard questions like, why do you want a CBSFA – what is the justification. And likewise, the fishers – especially when they’re organized with a fishers’ team – will have the right to be at the table and ask the hard questions as well. So, the process takes a long time – five to six years before it’s negotiated into something that’s reasonable. The Milolii CBSFA took almost 20 years, so these are not quick things and when, if somebody thinks, oh, you know, I’m gonna go write up a proposal - turn it in to DAR and it all of a sudden becomes a rule – no – it doesn’t happen that way – it takes a long time. Well, all right, thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate it – I really appreciate your interest. This is important that you understand what we’re trying to do. Thank you. 18 CO: Thank you, Phil. OK, everyone, stay tuned for the contact information coming from Barbara. OK, next item, can we move on to new business item d. That would be Abraham’s draft letter in opposition to DLNR fencing and then Piha public hunting area, Olaa Forest Reserve. Has everyone – have all the Commissioners had a chance to review the letter? All right. Could we get a motion to approve these? (Note that R. Duerr joined the meeting). d. Review drafted Letter in Opposition to DLNR fencing in the PIHA area, Commissioner Abraham Antonio. BL: I’d like to make a motion to approve. AA: Abraham, District – 5. I second. CO: Is there any discussion? AA: One thing on the agenda, it’s stated review draft letter in opposition of DLNR fencing in the Piha area and the buffer zone area – so me and Robert was, supposed to work on both letters – it’s technically supposed to be 2 letters. I completed the buffer zone one, I guess it’s still on the table for the Piha opposition with Robert Duerr so maybe we need to make another motion to continue the Piha letter or so how is that going to work Sylvia? SW: I’m – I was under the impression that it was gonna be one letter but… AA: No, it’s two separates… SW: …. that’s fine then the second letter can be put on another day ‘cause this is the one you had available. AA: Yeah. OK. Just wanted confirmation on that. SW: That’s fine. AA: Any other discussion or comments on the letter that was drafted for the buffer zone area. OK, I’d just like to mention again that in the back of the packet, the first map is the potential fence line – is the blue line in the middle of the green – that’s going right alongside the Stainbeck Hwy, the second map, the blue “U” shaped looking thing in the middle of the yellow, that’s the hunting trail, right? So like I said, if you walk through there that’s like roughly about 2 hours – it’s a very simple walk – as you can see, you can cut up any time in-between the two blue lines on the outsides and the back yellow line that’s pretty much the boundary so if you wanted to spend a longer time in there you can just cut off the trails at any time and spend your time, more time in there, but 19 just for the, you know, kupuna and the minors, you know, just going right around that simple trail is simple enough so you guys get one better view of it. You can also walk right around the boundary, it’s all fenced off around the boundary, the two upper and lower blue lines and then the back yellow line – that’s the boundaries for that area. So, yeah, if there’s no other discussion or comments on the letter I’d like to make a motion to approve this letter going to DLNR and all the people that we named on the thing. SW: Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan – just a point of clarification – for the letter are you intending on including these two maps of exhibits to your letter? AA: Yeah. SW: Oh. That’s all. BL: Brian, District – 4, I second the motion. SW: OK. So, you made the motion and then… AA: Seconded, yeah, to approve it, yeah? CO: OK. And we’re gonna approve with the two exhibits to be submitted with the letter and just to clarify this letter – even though it’s named in the agenda item that went out to everyone, it’s actually not the Piha area – this one is for the Olaa Forest Reserve, correct? I just want to be clear cause the name said Piha on the actual document that would be mailed out. OK. All right so I’ll go ahead and do the actual roll call vote. I see Bob is here… AA: One last thing – Bob – if you need help with the letter, you can still reach out to me or Stanley Mendez kind of knows that area or some other hunters that kinda like know that area or even reach out to Ian Cole. You’re muted right now. Unmute. Hold on, you’re muted. RD: Abraham, thank you. I’ll get with you – let’s get some hunters who hunt the area and we’ll put it together. AA: OK. Sounds good, Rob. RD: OK. Thank you. Aloha. Action: A motion was made by B. Ley to approve the letter in opposition to the fencing project of the South Boundary buffer zone as circulated along with the two exhibits. Seconded by A. Antonio. Motion carried by poll voice vote with 6 ayes and no nays. 20 CO: OK. Thanks everyone. So, to be clear we’re voting to approve the letter within the agenda and the two exhibits we’re sending along. Ah, District – 1, Robert? SW: Sorry – just for clarification on procedure. We had the motion and had a second – was there a call for discussion? AA: Yeah. SW: And no discussion? AA: Yeah. SW: OK. Now you can move on to vote, sorry… CO: OK. Um, sorry, I think I heard a yes from Bob. Go ahead Bob… RD: Aye. CO: OK, ah, District – 2, vacant. District – 3, Leomana? LT: Aye. CO: District – 4, Brian? BL: Aye. CO: District – 5, Abraham? AA: Aye. CO: District – 6, vacant. District–7, is excused. District – 8, me, aye. And District – 9, Justin? JA: Aye. CO: OK. Everyone – with all saying aye the motion passes and we’ll look forward to seeing the other letter on another agenda. Thanks, you guys, I really appreciate you getting this pushed through. Thank you. OK. It looks like we’ve reached the end of our agenda items – is there anything else that anyone had? 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS: AA: Abraham, District – 5. Just for announcements – you have Ralph Dedman that potential District – 2 Commissioner. Pomai did you get any other applicants come in like for District – 6? 21 PB: No, not yet. AA: All right. SW: And, Mr. Dedman is up before the Council Commission on March 5. PB: Yes, that’s correct. CO: Great. AA: And then potential District – 5, Brian Caldwell. BC: Thanks, thanks. I’m gonna put in an application. I actually had it pulled up right now. AA: Thanks, Brian. CO: Thanks, Brian. OK, so… SW: So, it’s just… CO: Go ahead… Sorry, Sylvia… SW: I’m just saying the only thing that’s left is 7a Announcements. th CO: Next meeting is on March 19, 2024, at 9:00 am at the Puna conference room in Hilo and is there a motion to adjourn. 8. ADJOURNMENT (11:00 AM): ACTION: A. Antonio motion to adjourn meeting at 10:08 am. Seconded by B. Ley. Motion carried by voice vote. Respectfully submitted by, Barbara Kossow Secretary 22