HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-17 GMAC Minutes Final Draft Game Management Advisory Commission
County of Hawai'i
Minutes
Meeting Date: June 17, 2025
Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 pm
Place: Zoom and In-Person 25 Aupuni Ctr., Ste. #1501, Hilo HI
Chair Leomana Turalde called the meeting to order at 9:08 am.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:
District 1 - Robert Duerr, Present, in person
District 2—Taysen Wong Chong, Present, in person
District 3— Rhon Leomana Turalde, Present, in person
District 4— Brian Ley— Present, in person
District 5 -Vacant
District 6—Vacant
District 7—Vacant
District 8—Cortney Okumura — Excused
District 9—Justin Ackerman— Present via Zoom
Quorum Established with 5 in attendance.
STAFF: Sylvia Wan, Attorney, Corporation Counsel —in person
Kayra Wong, Attorney, Corporation Counsel, Zoom
Barbara Kossow, Administrative Specialist—via Zoom
LT: Aloha, just some housekeeping rules please make sure your cell phone should be turned
off or on silent. For all of us attending here in person please remember to speak towards
the microphone. The microphone should be right here by our computer. So that all of
your statement can be recorded under HRS 92-3, of the Sunshine Laws, GMAC may
remove any person, who willfully disrupts a meeting or prevents — and compromise the
conduct of the meeting. All people that appear before the GMAC are reminded to
conduct themselves in a courtesy manner. For testimony to those in person if you would
like to testify, please fill out the public statement registration form, this one right here, to
the people on Zoom if you want to testify on any agenda item, please provide your name
and identify which agenda item you'd like to testify in the Chat, our Chat are not recorded.
Our Zoom protocol: If you have signed up to testify, please wait for the Chair to recognize
you. Before speaking, when you are called upon, please turn your camera on and unmute
yourself,you'll be allowed 3 minutes to give testimony prior to speaking please state your
name, so that all parties may know who is speaking. Please speak slowly, clearly and be
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close to the microphone, otherwise keep all camera's off and microphone muted, to
limited distraction during the meeting. All right thank you guys for that introduction.
Moving on to the agenda-Agenda number 2—Statement from the public on any agenda
items...
SW: So, chair I would just note for physical it doesn't appear that's anybody has signed up to
testify, Barbara has anybody signed up to testify online the Chat? It looks like she has
indicated No. So, chair, we can move on.
LT: Ok, thank you. If someone shows up, can we...come back around.
SW: Yes, on the next agenda item you can ask for testifiers again.
2. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS:
None
LT: Okay statement from the public, there are none, we don't have any on Zoom or here in
person. Moving on the next agenda item, item number 3 approval of the minutes. Did
all the commissioners have a chance to look over the minutes from the last meeting,
should be zero. We really didn't have a meeting.
SW: Well, no, the previous meeting, you might have to...
LT: Yeah, this one is from April 15, we good, need a motion to pass the minutes of April 15.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 15, 2025
Action:A motion was made by J. Ackerman and seconded by L. Turalde to accept the April
15, 2025, minutes.
LT: Any discussion.
RD: Yes, I'd like to add a correction to the minutes under discussion on the commissioners' reports,
under my district 1 report, Robert Duerr District 1 ask the question, were the reason why the
cancellation of an agenda item with a presentation was in place and I asked, that agenda item,
was on the general plan presentation was with Mr. Chuck Flaherty, and I asked a question what
was the reasons, Sunshine Law, Robert Rules, Hawaii County Code, or Hawaii Revise Statues?
What was the problem? In any of those, that led to the cancellation of an agenda item. I'd like
the minutes to reflect that.
BK: Okay.
SW: Clarification as to where you would like that to be reflected in the minutes?
RD: As mentioned, in my commissioner's report.
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SW: Your District Report?
RD: Correct.
SW: So, does the mover want to adopt that amendment to the minutes?
JA: J. Ackerman, District 9-Yes, so moved.
SW: The mover accepted, you can second, go ahead...
BL: B. Ley, District 4—Seconded.
SW: Any discussion on the proposed amendments to the minutes?
LT: I just have one thing to say; sorry I didn't catch that? Over here we have a general summary, and
I was reading the general summary and thank you for brining that up.
RD: The second point is that this is a question to the Chair, which is a departure of the normal
transcribing of the actual meeting. And I would like to understand why that happened and what
the future is going to hold, are we going to have a transcription or are we going to have summary
notes?
BK: I'll answer the questions. So, what happened was we had the meeting set up in mayor's
conference room and I had to vacate the room, and it was set to record. Reset up at my
workstation, it did not record the meeting, so it was on me,for that.
SW: So, basically...
BK: Usually, the minutes are verbatim. My handwritten notes were used to complete the April
minutes.
LT: So,just to clarify, sorry,that was just for this one agenda, right?
BK: Yes, it was for the April meeting.
LT: Yeah, but the rest of the transcript from now on will still be the same, from now on, yeah?
BK: Yes. In other meetings that, in these meetings will the commissioners submit their district report
in writing, then I'll have it in the event this happens again. It is on me, and I apologize for that.
Thank you Robert for brining this in, so I'll added it to the minutes and we'll get this out.
LT: Okay, roll call vote on the motion to amend the minutes, to add in.
Robert Duerr, District 1, Aye
Taysen Wong Chong, District 2, Aye
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Leomana Turalde, District 3, Aye
Brian Ley, District 4, Aye
District 5—vacant
District 6—vacant
District 7—awaiting final Council approve
Cortney Okumura, District 8—Excused
Justin Ackerman, District 9—Aye (Zoom)
SW: So, the motion has been amended, one more roll call vote if you do not have any further
discussion on the minutes.
Action: The motion passed unanimously by voice poll vote with 5 yes, and 1 excused.
SW: Chair, please vote that you have no further discussion on the minutes.
LT: We are going take the second roll call vote for that
Robert Duerr, District 1,Aye
Taysen Wong Chong, District 2,Aye
Leomana Turalde, District 3, Aye
Brian Ley, District 4, Aye
District 5—vacant
District 6—vacant
District 7—awaiting final Council approve
Cortney Okumura, District 8—Excused
Justin Ackerman, District 9—Aye (Zoom)
LT: Thank you very much, roll call was made and passed, no further discussion to the minutes.
Action: The motion passed unanimously by voice poll vote with 5 yes, and 1 excused.
SW:Just for the record, minutes are approved as amended.
LT: Yes. (inaudible) Okay, next agenda item.
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4. COMMISSIONER REPORT BY DISTRICT:
LT: Each commissioner provides an update and shares concerns about their prospective
district. Commissioners to decide on whether to add those topics to the next meeting.
Invite the public to provide testimony and presentation at the meeting. Permitted
interaction groups(PIG) may be created at this time.There will otherwise be no discussion
or voting, which is reserved to be itemized on a future agenda. I just want to make a note
on this; I did talk to Corp Counsel, like Barbara just said, some of the commissioners
provide an actual report in writing. The way we set up our commissioner's reports, we
are planning on having a report but having it as a presentation.
SW: So, your report is agendized
LT: Yep
SW: Because it really shouldn't be like free for all or whatever it is that you're thinking of at
that moment. It should be an actual report, so that the members of the public can see
what that report is and provide any testimony at that time. So,technically this isn't really
meeting the qualification for a notice because the public doesn't have notice of what the
commissioners will be reporting on ahead of time. So that's the point and reason for the
change. So that we can be a little more correct.
LT: I like that, because of the ideas that I have coming out to these meetings. I want us to
have more support at our meetings from people who are trending on the same topics as
us. So, if we talk about the boat harbor, to have boat people inside here, the actual
agenda item that they can testify on, which is just on our report. Let's do our district
report, starting with District 1. Mr. Robert Duerr...
RD: District 1-Robert Duerr,that's a very good helpful suggestion. In the past few months, I've
been submitting items for agenda that seemingly has not been recognized. This past
month I submitted two items to be considered for the agenda, and that agenda could also
be my district report. I bring these items for today as my district report. The First item
that I would like ummm...my concern District 1 is, I'd like to propose, I'd like make a
motion that we add to...
SW: No, not yet, you should give your report.
RD: Essentially the discussion in action, I sent to Barbara to include on the agenda on June 6
this past month for a discussion and action on the Ethics and Legality of the Hawaii County
GMAC assigned Corp Counsel's cancellation of the GMAC agenda presentation on the
General Plan. The supplemental information that I included on that, is from the Hawaii
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County Code Article 15, Code of Ethics and the purpose of this article Section 279 is to
describe the standards of conduct for the guidance of County officers and employees.
SW: I'm sorry Mr. Duerr, but how is this relevant to GMAC scope and authority? Your report
should be within your district within your scope of authority but under GMAC. Cause
what it sounds like...
RD: Actually, I'm getting..., excuse me, Point of Order, I'd like to finish. Chair. I'd like to finish.
Chair, County Council Code of Ethics says that, Section 283, "Fair Treatment" all persons
shall be treated in a courteous, fair and impartial manner. Seemingly, we had a
cancellation of a presentation, a presenter for arbitrary capricious manners...
SW: I'm sorry, I'm going to stop you right now. Mr. Duerr, because it appears that you're trying
to verbally attack me, and using this...
RD: Now, this has nothing to do with you Miss Wan...
SW: and you are also trying
RD: Point of Order, Point of Order Chair...
SW: No, you Point of Order...
RD: Point of Order Chair...I'd like to make a motion, that next month that we consider a
discussion, I'd like to make a motion on the floor from my district report, which was
submitted to the County Council, excuse me, to Barbara our secretary and seemingly
would have gone to Corporation Council,so this well within,this was refused. I'm bringing
forth a motion, a discussion for our future meeting...
SW: Mr. Duerr...
RD: On the discussion
SW: ..the only person...
RD: ...of the ethics and legality of Hawaii County GMAC assigned corporation council
cancellation of GMAC agenda presentation on the General Plan.
LT: Okay moving on the motion
SW: First off, I can tell you right now, he is implying things that are not correct, and number
two, you did review that agenda item and you decided not to put that on the agenda,
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LT: Ahumm
SW: So, at this point, all of this is completely inappropriate
LT: Okay...
SW: What he is discussing is administrative matter, at the very least and three, how is this
relating to hunting, fishing, gathering and cultural practices, within the County?
LT: How can we address to clear up the things he is talking about?
SW: I have already cleared up those things, with Mr. Duerr. He is just not satisfied with the
responses.
LT: Are we available to have this discussion, on what he is talking about?
SW: He can have a discussion on with what he is talking about, with administration staff
outside of this meeting. It is the outside scope of this meeting.
RD: Can we form an opinion, that we take this issue to the administration?
SW: No, because it is also not within the scope of GMAC role and authority. You can go and
take whatever you want to take up with administration personally as an administrative
matter as a GMAC commissioner.
LT: Is there way we can do umm some sort of training as a group, so we can understand,
cause he is saying a lot of stuff right now, I...
RD: Point of order chair, Point of order Chair...There's a motion on the floor...
SW: There is not a motion on the floor.
RD: I just put a motion on the floor...
SW: It is not a motion...
RD: And then there is a motion on the floor. Corporation council seems to have a problem
with. A motion is on the floor, if a second has passed, then Corporation council can take
this review, and review it with Corporation council and her higher ups or with whoever
she reviews things with.
LT: Can we make a motion right now...If there is a motion on the floor right now...what do I
do?
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SW: Well first off you do not have a motion on the floor, because you do not have a second...
LT: Okay, what if we have a second?
SW: You can have a second, but I can tell you right now, what you are asking for is outside of
the scope and authority of GMAC. So, it is not an item you can otherwise agendize under
Sunshine, under the Charter, and under your rules.
LT: Okay, so what you are saying we cannot get this under the agenda to be a presentation...
SW: Not unless you wanna...wantingly violate the charter and Sunshine law.
LT: Then how do we clear up this issue?
SW: I've already...
KW: If I may interject.
LT: Yes,
KW: My name is Keyra Wong Corporation Counsel, I'm Sylvia's supervisor, what I would
suggest that we have a meeting with Mr. Duerr, with your Chair and members of the
administration, so we can clear up the process.
LT: Okay
RD: That be great, thank you very much, that would be an actual resolve.
LT: Thank you. That is kine of what I was asking for, like training.
RD: Thank you, I appreciate that. Chair, I withdraw the motion.
LT: Thank you.
RD: Thank you, with the action item that was suggested. The second item, I'm sorry for taking
time. The second item was submitted agenda item, which dealt with Division of Aquatic
Resources, letter of support to representative Jill Tokuda, for the DAR Wailoa station
funding to reactivate aquacultural fish tanks, for fishponds and nearshore fisheries. And
essentially, I'd like to bring that forward for future agenda item.
LT: Yes Sir...
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RD: Yeah, with bringing in the head of local DAR, biologist and the head of the local station
Ryan
LT: Okano
RD: And, Ryan Okano, DAR asked for letters of support. And so there we have it. That's the
final thing that I have, is the general issue on Kapulehu. Which is the old Kona Village.
Ten years ago, that was closed, for a ten-year waiting period. So, it was closed with
scientific evidence, from Nature Conservancy, with biological surveyors. And at the end
of the tenth year there was supposed to be another survey to take a look at how the ten-
year plan worked. They are calling out for public scoping, however there is no call for
scientific evidence showing what has happened and how to go forward.
LT: Over the last ten years?
RD: Correct. This applies to GMAC. This is bad practice of not using science and not using a
management to close or reopen an area. Which is also applicable to hunting areas.
LT: Do we have a contact person for that?
RD: The contact. There is a working group, but there is also, I think I sent you the ummm. I'll
could send....
LT: I read that
RD: I'll send Barbara the information, there is a number of scoping meetings.
BK: Chair... This is Barbara, go ahead and send it to me. There is a meeting that's going to be
held here on the 25t" of June. The scoping meeting that Robert is talking about. So, send
me what you have, and I'll share what I have, the State of Hawaii, Division of Aquatic
Resources, public scoping meeting. Okay, thank you.
RD: Thank you. That's all I have Chair. Thanks for the time.
LT: Thank you very much District 1. Moving on to District 2. Mr. Taysen Wong Chong.
TWC: Good morning District 2, this is Taysen Wong Chong. Aloha mai, District Report, I did take
a day off about a few weeks ago, to go to Liliuokalani Park and actually get my own
counting. I still do get people reaching out to me about the goat pest situation. So, in
one day, I counted 11 nanny, and 43 cats. That's one problem. The other thing I took
notice on a different day, I see as more a division problem, the Division of Aquatics, I was
down in Keaukaha, one day with my family, I didn't record any post, because I didn't want
to get bashed by social media, I suppose..inaudible?..I wanted to do the right thing. There
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was fishing line tied around a turtle's neck. It was eating, but my mind was saying, I
wanted to reach out and do what was right, but there were so much people and I didn't
want to get bashed. Called the Division of Aquatics 3-times, failure of answer, never got
anyone to answer the phone. To me that was a concern to actually have an opportunity
to take care of the Honu, but, I was only there for an hour and half, within the hour and
half the turtle was there, wanted somebody to take care of it, like I said 3 times within
the hour and a half, reached out, and nobody had answer, so, I didn't know what to do
for that situation.
What I'm hearing from hunters still, they talk about the cattle being shot. Two more
found shot up there up Mana Road, that was just last week. That's another concern.
That's basically what I have for my District report.
LT: Mahalo District 2. Just to mention, in Hilo there is a marine mammal rescue response.
It's through the University of Hawaii. And for Honu, I know they usually do, like the people
who cord off the seals?
TWC: Yeah
LT: So, if we have anything to do with Honu, they will come and check out the Honu out too,
if you can't get in touch with someone else. I know it says mammals, they'll come out
for the turtles, if we call them.
TWC: I wanted to do the right thing, but you know, had too much eyes in the area. If nobody
was around, I would have done it myself. No problem, I just didn't want any complaints
to happen or whatever.
LT: I will try to get that contact info, and get it to us at our next meeting, so we will all have
that.
RD: Chair there is a DLNR hotline for this kind of issues, which we can get to Barbara, which
she could share the hotline, so they can response.
LT: Thank you very much. District 2 — moving on to District 3 — Leomana Turalde, which is
myself. Aloha. District 3, same thing,
Just an update, the sewage facility, the pump station, same thing $390,000,000.00
expectation. I reached out to the Mayor's office to get an update, and I didn't get one.
It seems in Keaukaha a lot of people are getting egg layer chickens, and so we're finding
a lot of roosters' you don't want the roosters, you only want hens. So, people just throw
their roosters all over, down in Keaukaha, start from Lilio, all into Kings Landing. Just last
week I had 13, just in Onekahakaha Beach, that showed up Road Island reds, so just be
aware there are a lot more roosters running around and just because there are egg layers,
people don't want to keep the roosters. That is a growing issue.And going back to District
3, if you guys are going to the dump, you guys, will see about probably 20 pigs right now.
Just real monsters, running around, are running around the dump, to the airport, and all
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the way into the housing area. My dad lives on Laukapu Street, the pigs, two weeks ago
we found them running past Big Island Candy, in the subdivision, like 200 pounders and
they go from Wailoa to the airport and back. So, this is their track, from Wailoa, they get
shot over there by the fisherman, or whoever is there, and they run back to the airport,
dump site and it's kind like their annual cycle. And every once in a while, my friends who
live in the housing area will catch some. But those are my two main concerns, just the
chickens and the pigs, because they are running in the neighborhoods now. That's the
basic update for District 3, thank you.
RD: Chair one question on the sewer plant. Is there any timeline on that? Are you aware of
any?
LT: I checked with Micah, and he's head of commission, and he is in the same office, and kind
of like the general plan, it's kind of just right here for now. I don't know even, they don't
know what's going on with it.
?? I don't know what's going on
LT: Oh... Just the update with the $380,000,000.00
??: I don't know any of it...
LT: Anyway, yeah, I called, I checked, and they kind of don't know, yeah just the General Plan
till end of the year. Thank you. Moving on to District 4.
BL: Brian Ley District 4. The pig's activity is kicking up. There is an uptick on that. I don't know
if it has anything to do with the massive D-9 activity going on through Puna right now, lots
of trees through property are being cleared. And the Strawberry guava biocontrol is
flourishing rapidly. There's a bunch of Strawberry guava on my property, they cut back
on the infestation a little bit and keeping the trees healthy and so we'll see what happens.
How many trees are being affected, we'll see what happens with the guava production,
that birds, pigs and everybody else deals with.
Mauna Kea, cat traps, 1-dead Eckles, 0-dead cats, and 0-dead rats, on my last trip up
Mauna Kea. This Thursday again, it's discouraging, when the only game animal, I see is a
dead in a feral cat trap and I know we have talked about before the amount of captive we
kill verses the birds that they kill, but you know this is breed season, so I would have love
to see if it was a female, it might have had chicks at this time, all the chicks would have
been dead along with that one bird.
And finally, some good news, Pohoiki Boat Harbor launch, has started after six years of
excuses, money laundering and wasteful things that they ran out of excuses, and finally
now started. They were to start back in February, bing, bing, bing, but you know,
hopefully they suppose be done by November, we'll see what happens, I'm just cheers,
somebody pointed out to me, if a hurricane comes and the trees all fall down, you don't
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have to get an EA, to remove the trees off the road, to put it back the way it was. So, you
know our government thing, getting back to our government, I've talking to Jill Tokuda,
personnel Eaton Withtaken (sp?) that's her environmental guy in Washington DC, he is
from Oregon. I was hoping we'd get somewhere, he's not biased with the ungulate. He
asked what we got over here, but I had an interesting conversation with him. We
discussed Mauna Kea mandate, we discussed the Palia, I sent him the copy of the latest
University of Hawaii, they said they wanted to do another study, I said there was no need
to, because the biologistic has already done one, correlating game animals' verses
wildfires and the ungulates and wild turkey and fire loads down????. You know we just
saved you $2,000,000.00 you don't have to do that.Talk to them, have their cake and eat
too, and just being indosified (sp?). I haven't heard anything back, I just sent another
letter, I put a bunch of GMAC people on the letterhead thinking that,asking for a response
by Tuesday, I actually called Jill's office yesterday, trying to get a proposal as to where she
stands with Mauna Kea management and gave up, just like that. The DLNR are not
returning my phone calls,just like the politician not bothering with returning phone calls.
I don't know where we are at with that. I gave them all the information, they have all the
scientific facts, and everything else that the mandate is. Not doing anything...??
Eradication -July 1st and 2 d, the grass, we got a wet year, so the grass is flourishing, but
once the rain stops, we know how the cycle goes, and that kind of stuff. And I think today,
yesterday was the last day for the sheep lottery. They were going to trap some sheep for
safety reasons. They won't allow them to have water, so they get on the road to drink
water, and they get hit, so they were going to do sixteen (16) people, so I'll get an update
when I find out, other than that, that's it.
LT: Just to confirm, that's a live taking? That's not dead...
BL: You have to have an enclosed stock trailer, and be able to take 20 sheep, to do with as
you want.
LT: All right
RD: Chair Robert Duerr District 1, question for Brian, how about the waters, what is the status
on water?
BL: The waters, I've seen they are looking good, but we got a lot of water this year, not like
last year, when we had drought conditions. The birds like to spend a lot of time in the
waters, clogging them up with dirt and everything. Not one tank we've repaired this year.
LT: Mahalo very much. And moving on to District 9
JA: Justin District 9—The only update I got, I'm meeting on the 24t", Councilman Hustace, up
in his office to discuss the shooting range and the ungulate issue up here in District 9,
pretty much all over the Island. The issue with them getting on the roads and obviously
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creating traffic issues and see if he's got any updates and if they come up with any solution
based on the fact the ungulate task force gave recommendation to the Council, they did
nothing with it, I'm assuming that they still will do nothing with it. So, I'll sit down with
him and see where they are on those two (2) issues. Besides that, that's all I've got.
LT: Thank you for that.
JA: More to follow on that.
LT: So, that's the one, he wasn't getting back to you, these last two months?Yeah?
JA: Say it again?
LT: Was that the district rep, that wasn't returning your calls the last two (2) months?
JA: Correct, correct, he and I were playing phone tag with his aids, but we're good to go, I've
got a date and we're good to go.
LT: Thank you very much, all right.
SW: Chair we're going to move on this, and you can ask for testifiers
LT: Okay thank you for the commissioners', District report. Moving on to the next agenda
item, agenda item number 5,which is New Business. 5a. Review and discussion, Planning
Department final recommended final draft general plan 2045 and its recommendation
related to the preservation of subsistence, hunting, fishing and traditional and cultural
gathering rights. Okay..
SW: Do you want to call testifiers Mr. Chair? I'll just say note for the records there is no public
testifiers present for this item. Mr.???inaudible
?? There is online.
SW: ...' and so I'll go to Barbara
RD: Chuck Flaherty... Point of Order... There is a testifier...
SW: I'm sorry Mr. Duerr, we do have a process
BK: Hi, yes, so we do have Chuck. Hi Chuck!
CF: Hello Barbara...
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BK: Go ahead...Chair...
CF: Thank you
LT: At this moment we're gonna have public testimony from Mr. Chuck Flaherty. We'll give
you 3 minutes...
SW: You announce 3 minutes, but since we haven't had that many testifiers, you change it to
5 minutes now, and it's just going to apply to everyone else.
LT: At this point, I am changing the public testimony from 3 minutes to 5 minutes. We do not
have too many people inside here testifying, so I think it is okay, you don't need to talk
fast, you can have people express their understanding. So, any public testimony...Mr.
Chuck Flaherty. Thank you.
CF: Thank you, Mr. Chair, I appreciate your indulgence, I also want you to know that I will be
available for the rest of the meeting, if you all have any questions of me during your
discussions, if you have any questions about the documentation that I have submitted to
you. I do want to point out to you that I recently submitted to you communication 326
that was before the County Council Planning Land Use and Development committee,that
gives the schedule, the proposed initial schedule, for the County Council review of the
draft General Plan, starting on July 15. Again, that is a draft plan, they were suggesting
some changes,they haven't come up with it yet. But the first section that will be covered,
bio-cultural, collative bio-cultural stewardship and I think that is that's probably the most
relevant section to the Game Management Commission. So, I might shoot for that
particular, date as far as any testimony from the commission or as individuals, not as
commission members, but as individuals separately. As I said back in March, the
presentation to you all, I hope that you all have time to review it. It pretty much lays out
the regulatory environment, in which you are working,the primary section I hope you will
look at today it starts on page 5, under, no page 6, proposed solutions. Under the
proposed solutions...let's see, I have here for instance, the GMAC could recommend a
policy amendment that reads, "support and empower the GMAC to conserve and protect
the natural and cultural resources, and furtherance of self-sufficiency and long-term
subsistence, sustainability of aquatic life and wildlife in the County." So, the way the
General Plan is designed, you have objectives, and under those you have policies, and
under the policies, you have actions. Which are the actual ways, the action is how the
plan gets implemented. So the policy I just read, you would have it, underneath of it, for
instance, you can have some actions, to insure, things like, I admit...spoken to Bob, and
one of the things he had mentioned, was mapping of game management areas, so you
could have action, support the creation of an inventory of mapping of game management
areas complete with access and restriction information. Another one could be placed is
administration of game management-Game Management Advisory Commission, under
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the office of Sustainability Climate Equity and Resilience as well. At the bottom of page 6
and moving forward, you'll see that there's draft language that...
LT: Two minutes...
CF: Go ahead
LT: No..ummm... Just...Two minutes warning, sorry...
CF: No worries...So under the, on page 6, if you look, starting, there's a number of policies
and then actions that are listed, that's all language that was pulled from the draft general
plan that was first published in 2019, on the Na Ala Hele advisory council had done a
similar review of the General Plan, and found that the policies and actions in that
particular draft plan, were superior to what's in the current draft plan. So, they made
recommended amendments pulling from that language and the Leeward Planning
Commission also adopted that and made those as recommendations to the County
Council. So, I encourage you all to review that, and look at those, and see if there's any
of those that you think that are relevant. In addition to that, to the General Plan would
assist the GMAC in furthering its' purpose as designed in the Charter. Again, I'll be, I'll
answer any questions that you have at any time. I'll be staying on and watching the
meeting at the very least. Thank you very much.
LT: Thank you very much Sir, appreciate your testimony. And thank you for the report, I read
through all of them last week and the two...the one from last month. That's what kind of
got the brainstorming going on to have this discussion. Thank you. All right..
SW: Barbara, do we have any more testifiers. I'm sorry we can't hear you, Barbara...
BK: No, we don't
SW: Thank you
LT: All right, okay and that was the last of our public testimony, moving forward...
SW: Can you get a motion...to start a discussion
TWC: Let's get a motion to umm that GMAC move and adopt a position, stating
recommendations, relation to the final recommended daft general plan 2045, regarding
its recommendations related to the preservation of subsistence, hunting, fishing and
traditional and cultural gathering rights.
BL: Brian District 4 second
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LT: Okay we have a motion on the floor, and we have a second, and right now we're, opening
up for General Plan discussion. Anyone want to start a discussion on the General Plan?
RD: Robert Duerr District 1, having sat in, into a number of meetings in the General Plan, a
little background on how Mr. Flaherty got involved here, is essentially a number of people
testified and there were no questions asked, Mr. Flaherty made a presentation which
dealt with Na Ala Hele, an essentially public access, the ability for the public to use trails,
and he had a very professional manner. Subsequently, come to find out Mr. Flaherty is an
accountant and has done large projects for numerous agencies. Including government
and others. The second time, watching these meetings, it came apparent that it was a big
task that was going the wrong direction. There were many people saying, "Hey, what
about us? Hey, what about us?"So as a District 1 commissioner, I put in testimony, Saying,
"Hey, I notice there's not a lot, there's no mention of Game Management, and there
seems to be a problem." I think if were looking at Game Management, you know, why
Game Management is important? Is for the very reason why the Mayor has asked this
commission to help with an ungulate problem and at the very least it throws it back on
us, that as Game Management Commission, that we've been battling since the start of
this commission, and before the start of this commission, to have the State and other
agencies, the Feds, have a game management plan in place. So, for example, Tho the
State have Game Management areas, there's no game management plans for those
areas. This document becomes, as Mr. Flaherty has pointed out, this document becomes
a legal document. How this document will be used is primarily, it's not going to be used,
by hunters, fishers, gathers, or native practitioners. This document, this General Plan is a
land use plan, and this land use, is mostly used for by developers and by large landowners
and large government agencies, who have property that have restrictions. This General
Plan is under the State General Plan, State General Plan rules, and the Hawaii County Plan
underneath. One problem that we have, by not addressing this, and not being a
stakeholder and not being at the table here, is that the developers come in, into place,
and Pepeekeo is a classic example. Continental developers came in after, after Mauna
Kea Sugar went out of business and purchased over one thousand (1,000) acres. The
County negotiated with that developer, that in the ability to develop that property, there
would be access provided. This access would be deeded and would be legal. However,
as time moved on, the power...
SW: Mr. Duerr, could we go back to the General Plan, like you're recommendation regarding
where specifically you would like to make some changes? rather than the history lesson?
RD: Could you, could you...excuse...Point of Order...I'd like to continue, right, what ends up
happening here, is that, these money, for example, these money interest at Pepeekeo,
they then stop access for fishers, and stop the ability for local family to go to the shore,
in an arbitrary move and the County, the County in that, in that situation, when
Continental sold to a new developer, and the new developer put a gate up, all of a sudden
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local like ourselves, are confronted with a gate. We're not taking the gate down. When
we go to the County, and we say, hey, listen, there's a deeded access here, can you help
us? There's no action plan, there's no, coming forward here, and getting, being
stakeholder, understanding our needs of what we need, and what we need to
communicate, tho it may not be effective, we may get run over, the fact that there is no
General Plan in this,there's no Game Management mentioned in this General Plan, leaves
us susceptible to any agencies, person coming and saying, I'm fencing, and I'm
irradicating. I'm fencing and you're not coming in, in perpetuity. This is... What we are
having here, when what we are seeing, is the, we're seeing, the land access taken out,
not for today and tomorrow, but forever. So, this is something why this is important, and
I feel that Game Management should be a part of this. The other thing is the mapping,
like Mr. Flaherty was saying, and maybe we can bring Mr. Flaherty into elaborate a little
bit on the three (3) points of the General Plan. One (1) the Proposal, and the item and
the action item. And without the Action Item, it's meaningless, there's no teeth. So how
do we, one, what do we need in this plan, and two (2) how do we get teeth in this plan?
TWC: Tayson Wong Chong from, District 2. I'd like to comment to second to what Robert is
saying, as a member of Makahanaloa Fishing Association as well, then, as I mentioned in
a motion as we getting with the cultural practices, fishers and hunter gathers right, I
understand what he is saying, with the whole, the access, you know, soon go out the port
a little bit, as a Makahanaloa Fishing Association member, what he states about access is
true. The reason why we need GMAC, and it would be great to have, you know, what
we'd like to say professional outside help, to be included in this General Plan is because
of the fact, yes, been a member for what, (13) thirteen years, been reaching out to,
example, to the County due to the easement access and to the gate, still nothing has
change in that (13) thirteen years. And I believe also, if nothing is done as far as Game
Management goes, land will be taken, access will be denied in the future. Like, with this
General Plan being read, and what Duerrwas saying, if you don't involve the words, Game
Management, in a plan like this, in the long run yeah, I believe, I staying in right through
my whole life, and even tho I'm one of the young guys commissioners here, when you're
not giving the right legal words in a document such as this, it will get taken away. We
don't want it to be not accessible for our future generation including ourselves. As long
as we are here today, we wanna to enjoy stuff like this, so I believe that, you know, not
only the County, but GMAC as well for the State. Ummm...off the record, as a member of
the community, I attended the State GMAC meeting a few weeks ago and they were on
board to do the same as well, to help draft a plan on the State side. So, I just wanted to
make that comment to add on to that.... inaudible.
BL: Brian Ley, District 4. We had people in the meetings here before, where we talked about,
we have these same areas, and there were supposed to be deeded easement to these
things, and supposedly access were permitted and we have gone back to the County, and
you know, land owners bought the property now, with the lots easement to the areas,
we have been getting animals areas, but we have no access. We have lost the access.
17
Like we have seen repeatedly, especially in the State, you know if they change one word,
and all of a sudden, the DLNR says, we can't put any more water up there, you're going
to have to bang all the animals on the road, because we won't allow water. Just one little
word...and/or.
And it changes everything, you know these legal documents, and things like that. We
really need to step up, and really protect our future, not just today, but our future. We
need to be able to hunt and fish. We don't want to end up like the mainland, where they
open the river, and everyone fishing elbow to elbow, for five (5) hours and that's all they
are going to allow you to hunt or fish. That's it.
SW: Do you just want to go to Justin?
LT: Sure, yeah, we are in open discussion right now, there is no...Justin, whenever you're
ready to fire ....
JA: I don't have anything; I'm just listening to you guys going back and forth. LOL
LT: LOL, thank you, I don't know if you guys got a chance to read the General Plan, I have a
hard time reading the digital copy, so I got a physical one right here. If you guys want to
look at it,just let me know, I can let you take it. But I, for myself, I didn't know about the
General Plan until it was on the agenda last month, I'm still learning, as the Chair what we
can do, having meetings with Kimo and his team for the task force. And for myself, a lot
of our problems come from not having a plan, not even the General Plan, just what can
we do? We cannot answer, like what can we do with the pigs in residential. Like we
actually have no idea, of what we can do. We cannot, you know, and so getting into the
General Plan for the next (25) twenty-five years is important for the Game Commission
because this is, to me why we were created to help manage the game animals on this
Island. And just for that, I don't know if you guys read the plan, but I would just like to,
to read the legal part?
SW: I'm sorry Chair?
LT: Remember last time, I was like...should we read the legal part of the plan out loud?
SW: You can if you want...
5. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Review and Discussion, Planning Department's"Final Recommended Draft General Plan
2045" and its recommendations relating to the preservation of subsistence hunting,
fishing and traditional and cultural gathering rights.
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LT: Just for people to know right? I don't know if you guys read this. The first couple of pages,
but I just wanted to read the authority limits of the General Plan. It's just a sentence:
"The 2045 General Plan often relies on further implementation actions, such a zoning and
budget ordinances and to move Hawaii Island into the directions of our goals. Further, it
contains no authority to change previously existing subdivision or zoning." So okay,these
are just general things where I read, oh wow! This is important to know, because if we
come up with an idea to implement, you cannot change the old thing, you can only
implement new thing. Ummm, yeah. But going to that, a couple of recommendations
that I did look over, things like in the letter, part number 4.67 in the plan, "Carrying
Capacity", of our maps. These are the kind of idea, where I'm motivated, because I do
want to know the"Carrying Capacity", of all of our hunting properties are, our agricultural
properties, and any properties that we can get the stats on, for our, "Carrying Capacity"
of Game Management animals.
SW: Chair, can you re-state where that site is just so....
LT: On top of the Ummmm....
SW: So, people can open it up?
LT: It's the email with the recommendations...
SW: No, no....I mean, you cited, you said where it was in the plan...
LT: oh...4.67
SW: 4.67
LT: If you guys have the plan.
SW: 4.67 integrated system...
JA: The public can access to the plan.
SW: Yes,
LT: Yea h
SW: So...
JA: It's on the website,
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SW: It's on the website, so, GMAC reposted a link to the plan on their website, so that
members of the public could follow along today.
LT: Ah, and then, things like, "Carrying Capacity", of animals, in our properties, other things
like inventory of native plants, this not only have to do with the animals, that we are in
charge of, but it also has to do with the food, and the other native plants, that we disrupt.
Because game animals have their disruption ideas. I think it is important for us to get
also, the inventory of native plants, so that way we can see if the pigs are damaging these
plants. Last weekend, last month we went up to the North area of Kulani, where they
said that their rodent control of cats, rats, are ummm, they only catch, how much pigs,
how much did they say they catch a month? (100's) hundreds, they say this is the most
successful they ever been at protecting the bird and that came from Nick Augustus, who
is the head of NARS. Yeah, we took a field trip with him last month.
JA: Did you say 178?
LT: Yeah, and so, we'll be doing a presentation next month on that. But, ahh,just going over
the native plants inventory. Things like inventory of our trails, we don't really have an
inventory of all our trails that we could go hiking, hunting and gathering on. They are not
on any map all of the trails, not the official trails. And then, another one is, along with
the trails, is public access, so, maybe public access so actually naming the trails, right? So,
we have public access including areas, which are, our gathering, hiking, and hunting trails.
These are some of the things that I wanted to look over, and kind of brainstorm and see
how we can implement these ideas, inside the General Plan, under Game Management.
RD: Chair Robert Duerr District 1, Mr. Flaherty mentioned the basically mapping, having Game
Management plan, and then also looking, having an action item, these items being under
the office of sustainability, which is headed by former senator Laura Acasio who has
testified, and good friend of hunters and fishers. And has been before this commission
in the past. So, as Mr. Flaherty is saying is all find and good unless there is some
accountability and would the office of sustainability be interested in this? Would there
be an outreach to Laura Acasio? I do know she is very interested in sustainable hunting
and fishing and how meaningful it is to providing food for families. Now Mr. Flaherty has
also mentioned the upcoming, upcoming calendar, byJuly 15,that they're looking to start
the process on biological security, is that what it was? Mr. Flaherty...
SW: That should be section 2, collaborative biological cultural stewardship.
LT: Yep
SW: That starts on page 37 of the plan...
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RD: So biological stewardship is coming before the meeting date for the final recommended
draft of 2045. Introduction collaborative starts Tuesday July 15, and then it goes,Tuesday
July 29, 1 think at the very least, we need to let the county council committee, the county
council policy planning committee land use, and economic development. To understand
we have some issues. We may not have the full handle of what the answers are, by the
time... We certainly have an interest as stakeholders we have an interest... To that point
former chair Abraham Antonio, he testified at the last public hearing, letting them know
that this commission GMAC and hunters and fishers, and gathers did have an interest and
input into this plan.
CF: Mr. Chair, this is Chuck Flaherty, may I make a point here?
LT: Can he make a point?
SW: That's up to you.
LT: Oh Yeah
CF: Okay, Yeah, the video has been disabled by the host, but I'm here. So, I would encourage
you all to look at the presentation I've provided to the commission. Starting on the
bottom of page 6 policies. Look at policies 104 through 421, because they directly, for
instances, 404 is the County of Hawaii shall establish public access to and along the
shoreline,to significant historic sites, public transit along the top of the cliffs, streams and
other natural mauka forest, mauka trails facilities, to access sites for gathering, hunting
and other recreational purposes, in accords with Hawaii County Code Chapter 34, Chapter
34, just so you all know, directly relates to public access. In addition, it also talks if you
look at 13 Seeks Public private partnership to manage and maintain public access to the
shoreline, public trails, hunting areas,scenic places and vistas and significant historic sites,
buildings sites and objects of public interest. That goes to the situation with Peppeekeo,
that commission Duerr has referred to if that particular partnership had been encouraged
perhaps that outcome would not have been realized. So, putting that actually, putting
that sort of language into the General Plan and those as policies and looking at page 8 at
the top there is an action 4.56 which a very important one that I'm hoping the County
Council will adopt, which is to establish County of Hawaii public access and trail program
with sufficient staff and resources. The staff will be required to consult and consider
recommendation in this program and all permit reviews. This, if this program were to be
implemented, you all probable would be working directly, for the charter reason for your
existence, the program, and again this language that's contain the presentation that I
gave to the commission, is from the draft General Plan 2019 that for some reason was
not carried forth into the General Plan 2045. The County Council is already looking into
the language, because the Na Ala Hele advisory commission council had asked that the
Leeward Planning Commission adopt this language and the Leeward Planning commission
did is recommending this language so I'm strongly encouraging you all since it is already
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being considered by the Council to look at this and see if this is something you could all
agree with and perhaps save yourself some time. Thank you.
LT: Sir, I take a look at that one, it looks like a lot of money, but I'm going to push for it. Just
looking at the date, of July, we can't make an official letter, right...
SW: Not enough time, but you can still submit your testimony at any time to the council,
because it is just one...they are blocking up their consideration, but they are not going to
adopt the entire thing by that time.
LT: Yea h,
CF: I'm sorry, May I make a correction to that. July...the first two meetings that are schedule
on there are for biocultural resources. The council is anticipating considering the entire
section during the month of July and if you look at communication 326, they would then
be forwarding that to the planning commission for their consideration. So... It would be
very important that the commission or commission members as individuals bring this to
the attention of the Council on July 15. You may not have time to put together a formal
letter, but just as you know I would be perfectly willing to work with any commissioner, I
know you can't have more than two. But I would be happy to work with a commissioner
in drafting some sort of testimony. But, I want you all to understand that July, the two
meetings, the first meeting they're going be, taking public testimony, getting the ideas,
looking at it. And then the second meeting basically them getting into the meat of the
matter. Cause these are special meetings that will be held all day and then after they
adopt whatever recommendation they are going to make. That, then it will be submitted
to the planning commission for that particular section. So that's why they are taking it
section at a time, so that the planning commission is getting it, not all at once, but by
section as well. So that is so you all understand the logistics of the process.
LT: Yes sir, fair enough. Okay, so we look like we don't have time to draft up something
official from this commission...
SW: Deputy Counsel Syliva Wan...You still have time to draft something official from the
commission you just won't have for that particular set of dates for that particular section.
That does not mean you cannot still address section in your general recommendation
from GMAC. So that this entire commission can still go forward with your
recommendation.
LT: Okay...
SW: Umm, I'll be it, Mr. Flaherty particular advice, I'm just saying from as far as a legal
perspective you could still do that, there's nothing preventing you from do. If...Of course,
if he is talking about things, as individuals, you as members, individuals outside of the
22
commission you can do whatever you like in your polIicaI life.Just note that, if it is coming
from the commission itself, it's got to follow the process, and the entire commission has
to decide what your voice is.
LT: Okay, Yeah,
SW: Okay
RD: Chair, Point of Order, one way we could, this is a complicated legal document, its
compressive, however, to get, one way we can move this forward, so that, we have
testimony on time, is to call a special meeting. And so, essentially we're looking for some
form of what we can agree upon and what our action item is to move forward. And can
we move this forward to have an action item so can we have something in place. That
we can have actually as a commission present to the county council for their review and
we pass it forward to planning. Do we take, can we ruff, can we ruff a sense what our key
points are here....
LT: Should we look at present dates, meeting dates. And kind of back track of what day we
would like to present as a hui? Cause the first one, today, is like individual, I probably
going go as an individual. Do what we can here, July 15, ..
RD: One thing that we do have before us, one thing that has been shared with the public is
Mr. Flaherty presentation. What we can do is make a motion for acceptance, acceptance
is public document and ummm
SW: It has been submitted as testimony...
RD: Correct, however one thing we can do, is take this document if we say this document
something, that we can use this as a working document, I make a motion that we accept
this as a working document, and ...
SW: You need to agendize that...
RD: Excuse me...
SW: You need to agendize that...
LT: Okay, yeah, I mean, we got a couple of months to till ending. So, whatever we got to do
to get, and you know I feel comfortable with that, like you said,this is not his words,these
from the 2019 plan, that they took out, it's not like we are making stuff up, we're just
putting stuff back in.
23
RD: Do we...you know how important...Robert Duerr District 1...how important is it for us to
give testimony as a commission on this General Plan in front of the County Council?
LT: Uhhh...see I don't know because, we already interact with them so much that ..having an
official presentation by us...ummm
CF: Mr. Chair, Mr.Chair Chuck Flaherty here if I may, its it would be far more influential I guest
I would say, for you to submitted as the commission, then as individual because it would
show, it would give a public show that the commission is unified in it's decision and in it's
testimony to the County Council.
LT: Thank you. Okay... Long term work on it... short term within next month because we're
falling under this first call chapter, which is biosecurity, cultural solution, so I think...As
individual we know we'll testify, then we work on commission presentation.
RD: Duerr District 1, you know, we have seen this before, essentially this has been a zero-sum
game, with differ and deflect. We've had Mr. Flaherty on the agenda since March, with
the attempt to be able move forward with resolve from this commission,we've stymieing,
and we have been road blocked. And that is a differ and deflect, hunters, fisherman and
gathers have seen this in the past from other attorneys. Attorneys who sit at the tables
against, hunters, fisherman, gathers and native cultural practitioners, play a zero-sum
game. And that zero sum game is the first thing is you have no ability to be at the table,
you're not a stake holder. And so, this is something totally unacceptable. How do we
move fo rwa rd...how do we move forward; one, I'd like to make a motion...I'd like to make
a motion...Let's first find out how important it is....
SW: You already in a motion you have a motion on the floor...
LT: inaudible.... that motion...okay yeah...going from there...
KW: If I may,
LT: Yes ma'am
KW: Mr. Chair, Deputy corporation counsel, Kayra Wong, I think one option might be like Mr.
Duerr was saying to perhaps hold a special meeting at that special meeting, so essentially
at the special meeting will happen between today's meeting and your regularly next
scheduled meeting in July. And I hear you guys want to meet that July 15 deadline in
order have something to submit. So, it might be beneficial if we can maybe take a pole
of the members right now to see what dates would work. And the sole purpose of the
special meeting would be to come, like do a work session. This is what we want to put in
the documents to submit to the council. So that helps, because we'll be able to meet
24
before that July 15 deadline you can come with a document already drafted, that
members can comment on at that meeting, adopt at that meeting, submit it to council
right after that meeting. Assuming there is little revision to add. I think that's probably
the quickest way and you will accomplish it.
?: Would be to yield.....
KW: So, you don't have to formally have to accept the information that Mr. Flaherty has
provided to you guys. It is to you, you can take from what you need, you don't have to
take from it what you don't need. But essentially, he's provided information that may be
helpful for the commission to come up with how you guys want to draft your testimony,
or your documents to the county council. So, you don't need a motion to formally accept
it has been submitted, you can use it however you want to or not at all. Essentially what
I'm saying is a special meeting, all these special can happen at this special meeting sole
purpose, like develop a document to submit to council, quicker rather waiting for another
meeting.
LT: We have, close out the motion...
SW: So now the motion on the floor was to adopt a recommendation, so it was more generic.
LT: Yeah Okay...
SW: So, you could. Right now, the motion on the floor is for GMAC to adopt a position and
stated recommendation related to the final recommend draft, General Plan 2045,
regarding its recommendations relation to preservation of subsistence of hunting, fishing
and traditional cultural gathering rights. That's presently what's on the floor. You should
vote in relation to that, and you can make a next motion as far as, where you want to
pursue that. Because it doesn't actually make a recommendation, it just says you want to
do a recommendation, and your next motion is going to be your action plan, your next
action point. So, you can adopt as Keyra stated to do a special meeting.
RD: Point of Order Chair, perhaps we can make an amendment to that motion, which
essentially will be that we will do this... we will do this...we will do this at the special
meeting, we will work..
LT: Yeah....
RD: we will work this effort out in our special meeting, to have this, to have this to be able to
be presented to the county council
LT: I agree, I wasn't ready to give all my recommendations today. Cause...
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SW: Well no, this is a general one...it just say that you will take a recommendation...
LT: Yeah okay, yes, we will, and the recommendation can come out the special meeting.
Before I move on to the days we can meet, do we have to close out this...
SW: You need to close out this particular motion. As already stated, it has not been amended
yet. So, you can close it out, and do a second one, because basically Mr. Duerr is
proposing a second motion.
LT: Yeah Okay, Discussion on this one is had...anyone has any question on this one motion
right here, we are currently under? So, we can close this out. Then we're going to jump
to you. We can take that special meeting after we figure out what dates are available.
RD: Okay
LT: Roll Call Vote:
Robert Duerr, District 1, Aye
Taysen Wong Chong, District 2, Aye
Leomana Turalde, District 3, Aye
Brian Ley, District 4, Aye
District 5—vacant
District 6—vacant
District 7—awaiting final Council approve
Cortney Okumura, District 8— Excused
Justin Ackerman, District 9— Aye (Zoom
LT: All Aye's Have it..Thank you guys for closing that out, and now..
SW: You want to make your motion Mr. Duerr
RD: I'd like to make a motion that we have a special meeting to ahhh
SW: to formulate your recommendation
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RD: To formulate a recommendation letter to county council from GMAC
LT: Leomana from District 3, I'd like to second that motion and now we are in discussion.
SW: Now you can discuss it.
LT: Anybody open in two weeks?
TWC: Can we look to do like two weeks from now?
LT: Yeah can...Tuesday
SW: One second, can I get from Barbara
BK: That's July 1, two weeks from now, hold on..July...yes, Tuesday July 1,
SW: I'll just let you know, I will be away, however someone else will be in my place...yeah,
I don't return until the 9tn
LT: It's too late
SW: Yeah, that's fine, I'm just letting you know, someone else will be in my place. Barbara, is
there any way you can look for a meeting availability, rooms, we still need a space...
BK: Okay,just give me a few minutes...
LT: Gotta get Rob up there, because of the pic....How can we vote to change the picture of
the Game Commission, because it's from ten years ago on top of the County Website
SW: You can probably talk to Micah about that.
LT: Yeah okay...I'd like to get a pic of us...up there verses, you know...Donnie is still in that Pic.
Okay yeah... two weeks, that's good yeah yeah...
SW: Is everyone else available for that date?
RD: Chair we should also have a new Commissioner, Abel Aquino.
LT: Tomorrow
SW: I think he has gone to committee today, he might get one more to get approve officially
27
LT: So that what I thought, so Micah message me last month about him...if we're done early,
I'll show up...shoots. We're looking at the dates, we can adopt that as working paper, we
can take stuff off of that...
SW: Just in case...It looks like Barbara is giving us a thumbs up, we may have a meeting room.
If you guys are okay with that, you guys can proceed.
LT: What time 9
BK: It looks like a go, Tuesday July 1, 9-to 11-and I'll forward that email.
.....in audible....Chuck Flaherty
LT: Public meeting yeah
BL: We might invite Laura Acasio, she likely be a person that with action items, it's not her
agency
CF: I will be available for that meeting
RD: Make a motion that he is a speaker at the meeting
SW: Okay, pause you guys...Mr. Flaherty is a member of the public, he is not a drafter of this
plan,yes, he has some input for this commission and that's completely fine. But his realm
of providing input to this commission is that of testimony, so you're more than welcome,
invite and accept and consider,testimony,that is being provided by Mr. Flaherty, but that
is what it is. The presenter that happens before GMAC has to have some responsibility
regarding the item that's being presented.
LT: And the thing we can change around is the testimony time, if we want to hear more we
got to provide everybody more time and that is something we can do.
SW: And you can definitely and if he is in the gallery and in the audience.
RD: Point of order. Chair, I want to ask Corp counsel the difference be a testifier and
presenter?
SW: I latterly just explain:
RD: Okay
SW: A presenter if you are presenting before the commission, otherwise has a responsibility,
kuleana. Relating to the item that is being provided. That being presenting on, if you are
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talking about the General Plan, what you want is a member or a representative of the
planning department, they are the department... Otherwise, What Mr. Flaherty is coming
from a different organization, he is providing an opinion right, he is providing his educated
opinion on a particular matter, the educated opinion are testimony.
KW: If I may interject...
SW: Yes, please
KW: I think we have a conference offline.
SW: Sure...
KW: Related to the feasibility of Mr. Flaherty giving a presentation. Because I think about
many, many entities individuals, coming before counsel and giving presentation on topics
that they are well verse in and it sounds like today I think, Mr. Flaherty has that type of
background, that might be helpful to the commission to create.... To facilitate the
position, they want to communicate to counsel, so we can put that in the backburner.
And I will talk to you, Chair, to figure out the feasibility of that.
RD: Thank you for that info. Is there anything else?
LT: No .. I think that was it... We made a motion ... We have a meeting date which is July 1,
our meeting is 9 to 11. Same place...
SW: You need to vote
LT: Roll Call Vote:
Robert Duerr, District 1, Aye
Taysen Wong Chong, District 2, Aye
Leomana Turalde, District 3, Aye
Brian Ley, District 4, Aye
District 5—vacant
District 6—vacant
District 7—awaiting final Council approve
Cortney Okumura, District 8— Excused
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Justin Ackerman, District 9— Aye (Zoom
LT: All pass, we set up a special meeting Tuesday July 1, from 9 am to 11 am to cover the
General Plan and this meeting is specific to our recommendation to the General Plan
amendments that we are submitting on the 15t"and 19t". Okay,just to cover the 15t"and
the 19t", do we make, can we make a motion
SW: No, you can do the motion at that meeting...
LT: Okay...yea h
SW: On the July meeting...
LT: We need to make a motion now to attend the county council...
SW: No, it would be at that meeting
LT: Okay thank you everyone so, now that we got that squared away right on. Thank you
very much. That was... This is our first special meeting that we will be doing so it's a new
for all of us, especially for .....Umm
??? Public invited?
LT: Yes, Yes sir always. public is always invited to public special meetings
RD: Chair.. Duerr District 1- I was noticing there is no item on the agenda for Other Business
SW: You still gotta go
b. Assignment, GMAC First Quarter Report to Mayor Kimo Alameda and County Council.
LT: Okay let me move forward to 5B Assignment GMAC 1st quarter report prepared to Mayor
Kimo Alameda and County Council. Do we have anyone that would like to volunteer... If
not I'll do it. Can I have you as a second just for backup
BL: Sure, Brian District 4 1 second that motion that Leomana write up the first quarter report
to Kimo and Robert Duerr is the Second...
LT: Does this need a motion (????) in audible
SW: No...you can assign that
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LT: Okay, thank very much. Moving on to agenda Item #6 Announcement
6A
6. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
a. Next Meeting:July 15, 2025, at 9:00 am at 25 Aupuni St., Puna Conference Room #1501,
Hilo, Hawaii.
SW: So, our next meeting, official meeting is going to be July 15, although you did just motion
and approve that you're going to have a special meeting on July 1, 2025
LT: Okay announcement our next meeting will be on July 1, same place same time right here.
Everyone got that. Any other topics, items of interest?
RD: Robert Duerr District 1- I'm wondering if we jump ahead the Corp Counsel memorandum
on administrative process...
SW: That's not my memo
RD: ... in audible....The memorandum that we received today...Which especially we can try to
have participation ahead of time... Can we look to have it put on the agenda for the July
meeting,the Palila issue and take a look at the report and maybe have a presenter to kind
of take a look at that.
LT: Ok yep
RD: The other item that I'd like to suggest for agenda item for July is the DAR proposal for the
Agricultural center reopen and a letter of support from GMAC. Will that pretty much
cover us for the meeting?
LT: Yep...
SW: Just to clarify that it's July 15, right,
LT: Yes,
SW: Not the special meeting
LT: July 15 and July 19t" Are we thinking of sending someone to the July 15t" meeting We
don't have quorum...
SW: Well, no... What I'm saying again is that it is something to discuss at the special meeting.
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LT: Thank you. Just want you to know for next month I have the Palila report. I already talked
to Corp Council last month about that. I talked to ?????, to be our official presenter on
that, because he leads Hawaii on our birds. That should take up majority of the time
that, because it is a big issue for all of us..... The two items.
BL: Okay great then I have reports from, I asked the State for historical data, which I have
received, I'll go back to them, maybe we can have a full package to take a look at the full
package, Dick Hofflinger (sp?) also has he has some reports outlining it so we can at the
meeting really pull together the full history and status of the Palila.
LT: Yeah, and for the DAR, you wanted yeah... in audible... and put that down....in audible
LT: Okay All right everyone thanks you very much for this meeting closing out Agenda item
#6 Moving on Agenda item 7 If there is no more discussion on any of today agenda item,
this meeting is adjourned right now at 10:38 am on Tuesday, at Puna conference room
at the Hawaii County Building. Thank you very much...
7. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 10:38 am.
Respectfully submitted by,
Barbara Kossow
Secretary
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