HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-01 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Amy Jo Krommes Testimony From: Amy Krommes
To: WPCtestimony
Subject: Input for March 7 agenda item Black Sand Beach LLC(PL-SMA-2023-000046)
Date: Friday,March 1,2024 3:51:44 PM
Attachments: Amys Punalu"u Planning Department2-edited.docx
Attached is my input on my behalf for March 7 Meeting agenda item Black Sand Beach.
Amy Jo Krommes
PO Box 401
94-1447 Kia Lua Place
Naalehu, HI 96772
To: Windward Planning Commission of the County of Hawaii
Subject: Special Management Area permit for Punalu'u Village
BLACK SAND BEACH LLC (PL-SMA-2023-000046)
Aloha, I am Amy Jo Krommes a volunteer with the Hawaii Island Hawksbill Project. This
testimony is on behalf of myself.
The Hawaiian Hawksbill Turtle (Honu'ea) is listed as critically endangered species.
Since 2016, 1 have been monitoring Punalu'u Beach for Hawksbill (Honu'ea) nesting. I have been
blessed to witness adult female Hawksbill turtles creating nests at Punalu'u or find her tracks to
discover the nest. Then volunteer responsibility switches over to protection of the nest from
invasive predators such as rats, cats, and mongoose. The volunteers often stay overnight during
the hatchling period when the turtles emerge from the nest and go to the ocean. In 2018, there
were a total of five Hawksbill Turtle nests from two different females. In 2023, there were five
nests from one adult Hawksbill Turtle. These nests were in the vicinity of the lifeguard station.
Turtles usually return to the beach where they were born and imprinted as hatchlings. At night
the nesting mother turtle leaves the ocean and searches the beach along the vegetation edge in
search of a non-rocky area to dig her approximately 20-inch-deep nest. These turtles evolved
to recognize their ocean home by the light reflecting off the ocean. Both the mother turtles
and baby hatchlings are hardwired to go towards the light. After laying her eggs and covering
up the nest the mother makes a direct line to the light; similar to a moth being attracted to
light. Stranded mothers have been found beneath lit porches and along streets. Baby turtles
typically hatch as a team and leave the nest at night; they can sense when the sand is cooler.
These hatchlings are also attracted by light and have been found going towards the artificial
lights and away from the ocean. I and other volunteers have witnessed hatchling turtles that
were within 10 feet of the ocean a-F4 switch direction to walk towards the light, coming from
the Punalu'u parking lot (restroom pavilion, cars, street lights and people with flashlights,).
The mother turtle is also very sensitive to movement on the beach. They recognize motion and,
if she feels vulnerable, she will not come up to lay her eggs. The mother turtle is carrying a
heavy load of eggs and may watch for three days assessing the safety of the beach, she may
find another beach close by to nest or she may release her eggs in the ocean.
Concerns with Punalu'u Village on Hawksbill Turtles
Of major concern is the increase in light resulting from the increase of people usage, car traffic,
and stationary lights. Any lights after dark during Hawksbill Turtle nesting season (May through
December) will have a negative effect on the mother turtle approaching the beach to nest and
the hatchlings going to the ocean. Punalu'u Village plans (Proposed Village Restoration)
indicate an open market, public restroom, Fish Market and Seafood Restaurant, (restoration of
the old restaurant and museum site). All these new and restored activities are very close to the
predominant turtle nesting habitat around the lifeguard station. Will these buildings be dark at
night? Will there be any additional outdoor lighting? Will parking areas be blocked and closed
at night? In this area down cast or shaded lights will not be adequate due to their reflection on
the pond and ocean.
The proposed Colony 2 of 63 Condominiums may have light effects on another important turtle
nesting area known as Kaloa.
If the overall, additional buildings and streetlights do not use Wildlife Mitigated lighting
systems, they may cast light pollution with a negative effect on an extremely important nesting
beach three miles away.
The proposed village restoration will also have a negative effect on other coastal wildlife. In
2023, Monk Seals rested on Punalu'u beach twice.
On July 9, 2022, I, and a representative of Hawaii Island Hawksbill Project, met with Eva Liu,
property owner, to discuss the important nesting habitat of Hawksbill Turtles. We urged her not
to restore the Restaurant area that was destroyed by the 1975 Tsunami. Since 1975, that area
has been relatively quiet, with the lack of light allowing some return of Hawksbill turtles and
monk seals.
The last planning, permitting, and zoning for the Punalu'u Village area was more than 50 years
ago. Please consider this information of critically endangered species using this habitat. Please
also consider the tsunami zone and protecting the coastal area. Please do not grant a permit for
building in this important wildlife and coastal area.
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From: Amy Jo Krommes
Email: Amyio.krommes@gmail.com
PO Box 401
Naalehu, HI 96772
Phone: 808-333-6693