HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm 26-026 - LOS 26-08 Carl, Carolann
From:Carolann Carl
To:PONC
Subject:Written Testimony In Support of preserving the Hklia Cave (Hokulia lava-tube system
Date:Tuesday, March 3, 2026 10:38:51 AM
Aloha PONC Commissioners,
My name is Carol Ann Carl, and I respectfully submit this testimony in strong support of
preservation actions that protect the Hklia Cave (Hokulia lava-tube system).
Preserving this site is about safeguarding a shared inheritance that benefits community
members, future generations, and the scientific understanding that informs responsible
stewardship across Hawaii Island.
For residents, preservation of Hklia Cave affirms the protection of place-based identity and
continuity. Lava tubes hold ecological memory and physical evidence of past
environments that ground present-day stewardship decisions. When such sites are damaged or
lost, the loss is permanent. Protection signals that this space is essential to the island’s long-
term well-being.
Maintaining their integrity of the caves allows future generations to experience and learn from
these environments in ways that cannot be replicated once altered. This way we are not only
shaping the future, we are remembering it into existence.
Because subterranean systems often lack obvious surface visibility, their significance can be
underestimated in parcel-based evaluations. I respectfully urge the Commission, particularly
as it considers amendments to its rules and prioritization processes, to ensure that caves and
lava
tubes are clearly recognized as qualifying resources deserving proactive protection.
Protecting Hklia Cave aligns directly with the Commission’s purpose to preserve lands of
natural, historic, and community value for present and future generations. I respectfully
request
that this testimony be included in the official record and that strong consideration be given to
preservation measures that safeguard this site for the benefit of the broader community.
Respectfully,
Carol Ann Carl
Storyteller
Keweriwer
email:
As the canoe carved of the tree, you are both voyaging and rooted