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Home My WebLink About2024-01-17 Cultural Resources Commission Meeting CULTURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII MINUTES January 17,2024 MEETING LOCATION: Hybrid in-person and interactive video conference through Zoom with live observation through YouTube. The in-person location was held at the Hilo Planning Department Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3, Hilo, HI 96720. The full YouTube video of this hearing can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TCulzKfc00 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Aaron Spielman (Chair), Matthew Clark, Desmon Haumea(arrived at 10:45 a.m.),Roberta"Ku'ulei"Keakealani,Kealohanuiopuna Kinney, and Scott Mahoney COMMISSIONERS ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Natalie Kurashima (Vice Chair), Kilohana Hirano, and Nicole Lui ALSO PRESENT: Jean Campbell, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Kevin Sullivan, Planner; and Ashley DeVera, Board Secretary Commissioner Keakealani provided a pule to open. Chair Spielman called the Cultural Resources Commission (CRC) meeting to order at 10:06 a.m. A quorum was established with six members in attendance.It was announced that pursuant to Act 220, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, which amended the Sunshine Law to allow meetings to be remotely conducted online, effective January 1, 2022, the Cultural Resources Commission meetings will be held online, with an in-person location for the public to provide testimony. The meeting can be viewed live online, and a link to YouTube can be located on the County website, as well as links to reports and surveys reviewed at this hearing. Commissioners were reminded that only one person may speak at a time and were asked to raise their hands to be recognized before speaking. Commissioners were asked to introduce themselves and in accordance with the Sunshine Law, identify any member(s) present within the household. All members reported being alone in their location except for Chair Spielman who identified one individual. Staff introductions were made. There were no addendums or supplemental agenda items. Page 1 of 4 Cultural Resources Commission January 17,2024 STATEMENT(S) FROM THE PUBLIC At 10:08 a.m., Chair Spielman opened the floor to receive public testimony. Procedures for testimony were provided. There is a three-minute time limit on each agenda item; statements must relate to items on the agenda. There were two public testifiers on Zoom. Cindy Freitas [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 6:01] Clare Loprinzi [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 8:03] Public testimony closed at 10:20 a.m. BUSINESS OF THE COMMISSION 1. North Kona Sewer Pump Station (PL-CRC-2023-000011) National Historic Preservation Act(NHPA) Section 106 Consultation Request Location: Honokohau and Kealakehe Ahupua`a,North Kona, Hawaii TMK(s): (3) 7-4-008:072, 077, 078, and 090 (formerly 077 por. 1); and(3) 7-3-009:999 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 16:22] This agenda item was called to order at 10:21 a.m. Staff presentation was provided by Kevin Sullivan. There were no members of the public in attendance and two public testimonies were previously provided on Zoom. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 16:22] The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was not completed, but the Section 106 consultation letter was received and requested CRC as a consulting party.As a consulting party,you could comment on the area of potential effect(APE), recommend additional lists of consulting parties, and provide any knowledge on the historic and cultural sites in the area. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 18:45] Within the APE, there are nineteen historic sites, eight historic properties within the APE,proposed crossing of the Mamalahoa Trail, one preservation easement, and ten more sites outside of the APE boundary. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 27:10] Commissioner Kinney questioned the sewer infrastructure and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) was unavailable to provide a presentation to the CRC. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 31:20] Commissioner Clark recommended within the APE to lessen the impacts on any cultural features during construction or design phase. Commissioner Mahoney requested a list of sites and their descriptions. The list of sites was provided in the Section 106 consultation letter briefly discussed by Mr. Sullivan. Page 2 of 4 Cultural Resources Commission January 17,2024 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 33:54] Commissioner Keakealani requested how much site exploration has been done and if any alternate sites have been considered. If they are unable to relocate the site, could they provide justification or additional information to minimize the site impact. Also, recommended to consult with lineal descendants if they have not done so already. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 37:29] Commissioner Clark recommended to provide additional names on the consultant list; Paka Harp, since he is very active with the Mamalahoa Trail and to request a list of consultants from Honokohau National Park. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 38:37] Commissioner Kinney mentioned the pump station will double the amount of sewage treatment and is concerned about the effects it will have on the people, their interaction with the ocean, and traditional historic practices. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 50:08] Chair Spielman requested a motion. Commissioner Haumea motioned to stay involved with the project and have staff draft a letter retaining CRC as a consulting party; seconded by Commissioner Kinney. Chair Spielman opened the floor for discussion and a brief discussion was held. Chair Spielman requested a roll call vote for the motion on the floor. A roll call vote was taken and passed unanimously with six aye votes (Haumea, Mahoney, Clark, Keakealani, Kinney, Spielman). [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:12:00] Commissioner Keakealani motioned to include the following to the consultant party list;Paka Harp,Honokohau National Park consultant list,Mike Nakachi and Kaikea Nakachi as Moana Ohana; seconded by Commissioner Clark. No discussion was held. A roll call vote was taken and passed unanimously with six aye votes (Keakealani, Clark, Mahoney, Kinney, Haumea, Spielman). [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:13:48] Commissioner Clark motioned that the impacts to cultural resources be considered in the design and construction phases and to lessen those impacts along with considering site selection; seconded by Commissioner Keakealani. A brief discussion was held. A roll vote was taken and passed unanimously with six aye votes (Clark, Keakealani, Kinney, Mahoney, Spielman, Haumea). [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:20:05] Commissioner Kinney motioned to include in the letter, expanding the APE to consider coastal areas of traditional practice and request more information about the ultimate outcome of the pumping station due to the doubling of sewage outflow into the coastal areas; seconded by Commissioner Haumea. A brief discussion was held. A roll call vote was taken and passed unanimously with six aye votes (Clark, Mahoney, Keakealani, Kinney, Haumea, Spielman). [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:31:23] Chair Spielman requested an overview of the letter to Department of Health (DOH), Wastewater Branch. The letter would consist of CRC staying as a consulting party, add the additional names provided to the consultant party list, minimize impacts overall to any historic sites and trail segments, and as mentioned the area of potential effect. This matter concluded at 11:37 a.m. Page 3 of 4 Cultural Resources Commission January 17,2024 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1. Approval of minutes of the meeting held on November 8,2023. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:33:04] Commissioner Haumea motioned to approve the minutes as circulated; Commissioner Clark seconded. The minutes were approved without opposition with a unanimous aye voice vote. 2. Election of Chair and Vice Chair of the Cultural Resources Commission for the year 2024. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:34:00] Chair Spielman requested nominations for Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Hirano's term expired on December 31, 2023, and agreed to hold over for ninety days. Chair Spielman opened the floor for nominations. Commissioner Keakealani received two nominations for Chair(Mahoney,Haumea),but did not accept. Commissioner Clark received two nominations for Chair (Keakealani, Mahoney), but nominated Commissioner Kurashima to be Chair, then Commissioner Clark would accept as Vice Chair(Clark,Mahoney). A roll call vote was taken. Commissioner Kurashima received six votes as Chair and Commissioner Clark received six votes as Vice Chair (Clark, Mahoney, Keakealani,Kinney,Haumea, Spielman). Staff will contact Commissioner Kurashima and if she does not accept, then nominations will be held at the next meeting. 3. Next meeting tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, February 14,2024. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Haumea and seconded by Commissioner Mahoney. The meeting was adjourned at 11:48 a.m. with a unanimous aye vote. Respectfully Submitted, Ashley DeVera, Board Secretary ATTEST : Aaron Spielman, Chairman Cultural Resources Commission Page 4 of 4 Cultural Resources Commission January 17,2024