HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2024-03 Letter to Zendo KernProposed communication to the Ka’ū Steering Committee. When the Mahana Bay Coastline
Access and Resource Investigatory Subcommittee (MBCARIS) was created, we initially thought
that one of our goals was to gather input from the community and to formulate a plan to advise
the Planning Department on possible actions to implement the Policies and Objectives of the
Ka’ū CDP. However, we found that there is already plenty of community input from the CDP
Steering Committee meetings as well as input gather during the creation of the 2012 and 2016
studies. Therefore, the MBCARIS is recommending that the Ka’ū Action Committee consider
sending this proposed letter to Mr. Kern.
Letter to Zendo Kern
Hawaii County Planning Director
Mr. Kern:
The Mahana Bay Coastline Access and Resource Investigatory Subcommittee (MBCARIS) of the
Ka’ū CDP Action Committee was formed to address the concerns of the Ka’ū community about
protecting cultural sites and natural resources in the area. Increases in tourism has led to
increased degradation of the Ka Lae area, resulting in damage to the land and to the sea life.
Additionally, important cultural sites are in danger of being destroyed.
The Ka’ū CDP addressed these issues in response to input from the community during the many
information-gathering meetings. The final CDP acknowledges the importance of preserving this
area in several different places.
1.Section 4.6, Protect and Enhance Ecosystems, encourage the collaborative development
and implementation of resource management plans and the enforcement necessary to protect
ecosystems.
Section 4.6.1, Community Objectives, lists the following Objectives:
•Protect, restore, and enhance ecosystems, including mauka forests and the shorelines,
while assuring responsible access for residents and for visitors.
•Encourage community-based management plans to assure that human activity doesn’t
degrade the quality of Ka’ū’s unique natural and cultural lands.
Section 4.6.4, Advocacy:
•4.6.4.4, Department of Health. Require implementation of management measures to
prevent nonpoint source pollution.
•4.6.4.5, Department of Land and Natural Resources. Following the recommendation of
the South Kona-Ka-ū Coastal Conservation Task Force, dedicate at least one State
DOCARE officer to the Ka’ū District to aid in enforcement.
•4.6.4.6, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Maintain the Ka Lae (South Point) coastal
areas and related infrastructure for recreational, cultural, education, and/or scientific
uses in a manner that is protective of resources and is consistent with the Hawaiian
Homes Commission Act and all applicable laws related to Native Hawaiian rights and
public shoreline access. (GP 8.3(c) & 12.5.9.2(d)).
Communication No. 2024-03
2. Section 4.2, Protect the Coast from Development. This section protects coastal areas
from development with the CDP Land Use Map, shoreline setbacks, the Special Management
Area, and encouragement to the State to strengthen protections and the community voice in
land use decisions.
• 4.2.4.1 Advocacy. Following the recommendation of the South Kona-Ka’ū Task Force,
amend HAR 13-5-40(b) to require that public hearings before the Board of Land and
Natural Resources be held In the judicial district in which the land is located.
The MBCARIS has found two recent studies regarding management of the Ka Lae area, one in
2012 and one in 2016. The DHHL Ka’ū Regional Plan was adopted in 2012 by Hawaiian Homes
Commission. This plan prioritized two projects to be implemented by 2015: (1) develop
vehicular roadway(s) and pedestrian pathways within the coastal area of Ka Lae (to manage
access to Kaulana Bay, the fishing grounds at Ka Lae, and protect sensitive resources), & (2)
protect and preserve sites in Kamā’oa. Phases consisted of: updating the Historic Landmark
designation; developing a circulation plan; pursuing partnerships; developing signage and
educational programs; obtaining funding; and constructing roads, fencing, and educational
signage. The South Point Resources Management Plan (RMP), prepared for the Hawaiian Home
Lands Trust, was finalized in October 2016. This plan stated: This resources management plan
identifies specific near- and long-term management actions for lands held under the Hawaiian
Home Lands Trust located within the ahupua'a of Kamā’oa-Pu'u'eo, Ka’ū District, island of
Hawaii. It is intended to guide future actions to steward the land and resources of this
area." Of particular interest is the concluding paragraph on page vii of the 2016 document.
"The main near-term priority for DHHL is to gain site control by managing vehicular access."
This issue is very important to the people of Ka’ū, as our environment, our culture, and our
history is being destroyed by lack of action by DHHL. We are asking that the Planning
Department forward our concerns to DHHL with a request for follow-up to these objectives.