Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-08-26 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013 Game Management Advisory Commission County of Hawaii Minutes Kona Meeting Date: August 26, 2013 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: West Hawaii Civic Center Council Chambers, Bldg A 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Kailua-Kona HI 96740 CALL TO ORDER: At 6:30pm by Chair Anthony “Tony” Sylvester. Quorum established. ROLL CALL: Chair Sylvester asked members to introduce themselves and state their district. Dwayne “Ike” Yoshina, District 2 Anthony Sylvester, District 3 Tom Lodge, District 5 Kalani DeCoito, District 6 Rob White, District 7 Mark Bartell, District 8 Cleon Bailey, District 9 ABSENT & EXCUSED : Willie-Joe Camara, District 1; Paul Bueltmann, District 4 ALSO PRESENT : Bobby Command, Mayor’s Executive Assistant Barbara Kossow, Commission Secretary Lincoln Ashida Corporation Counsel on standby via phone GUESTS: Esther Kia’aina, DLNR Deputy Chair Lisa Hadway, DNLR Glennon Gingo, Friends of NAR Rep. Faye Hanohano Rob Pacheco, BLNR Board Member Teresa Nakama Leonard Torricer Chantal Chong Marni Herkes Leslie Julian Shane Nelsen . 1 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chair Sylvester entertained a Motion to approve the Minutes of July 15, 2013 GMAC. ACTION: Correction to page 3, Chapter 123 not 122 and page 10 from Evaluing to Valuing on page 10. Motion by C. Bailey to approve as corrected, seconded by D. Yoshina, and carried unanimously by voice vote. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: Teresa Nakama shared a message from the Big Island Fisheries Alliance. We fishermen are willing to do whatever is necessary to work with hunters and fishermen and we want to be informed of any fishing related issues that is discussed by this council. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES : 1. DLNR DEPUTY CHAIR ESTHER KIA’AINA ON STRATEGIES TO INCREASE MONIES TO THE WILDLIFE REVOLVING FUND. Chair Kia’aina acknowledges that DLNR has to do a better job at working with our hunting community, not only on Hawaii Island but statewide because a lot of the issues and mandates that we have with regard to conservation activities clearly overlap with the needs and concerns of our hunting community. Wildlife Revolving Fund and under current processes regrettably the fund is only getting $100,000 annually, that was because of a court case and that is now being remedied through DLNR’s consideration of rules which would address that issue. DLNR Board will be considering the rules after the Attorney General’s office is finished with it in about 3 months. There is a commitment by DLNR to ensure that there will be a 30-day notice that we will provide before we go to the DLNR for approval. We anticipate with the new rules that $400,000 annually will be put into the program and after further discussions with staffers from DOFAW and in concert with discussions with the chairman, we acknowledge that $400,000 is still not enough. We are contemplating and we need your kokua, as well as the kokua of the Governor and our lawmakers from Hawaii Island, as well as all the other hunting 2 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013 communities statewide. We believe that it is fair to try to match as per the statute the $1.5 million dollars that the federal government provides to – through Pttman- Robinson. We will be seeking between $1.2 million to $1.5 million in the upcoming fiscal year to help bring the hunting program to a place where it rightfully belongs. The Wildlife Program Manager who’s key role is to not only advocating for our hunting community within DLNR but to help with regard to – whether it be Hawaii Island game management plan as well as a state management plan. So that is ongoing. We are hoping that by the end of September that person will be chosen. Also, the State Game Wildlife Biologist is another key recruitment in progress. Both of these positions are critical. DLNR’s overall approach with regard to overall management includes working with the Fish & Wildlife Service. It will probably take 2 years because of the critical habitat listing that they are undertaking statewide. It requires a large- landscape scale planning. Lisa Hadway is working with in regards to US Fish & Wildlife in finding alternative ways to mitigate the listing of endangered species. Start now to finish and perfect the Hawaii Island Game Plan - must work in concert with what’s going on with Fish & Wildlife Service - which many of you know had previously been drafted and people have felt that it was inadequate and as a result should be the priority for DLNR because it’s gone the farthest. To be successful landscape scale planning island level planning starting with Hawaii Island as well as all the other islands. A unit level planning and that means that each of – game management area will need its own detailed management plan. It would have to include unit boundaries, for example, site specific bag limits, and everything else that is attendant to a general management area. Contact the governor to include $1.2 million to $1.5 million as part of this offset the $400,000. Inform your legislators. Identify partners: the fishermen to come and kokua; native Hawaiian community, etc. 2. BOBBY COMMAND TO UPDATE THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF OUR FORMAL LETTER TO DLNR CHAIR AILA REQUESTING HIS PRESENCE AT ONE OF OUR UPCOMING MEETINGS. rd Chairman Alia will probably be willing to come for the September 23 meeting either in Hilo or Kona. 3. ROB WHITE AND GLENNON GINGO WITH FRIENDS OF NRA MEETING IN NOVEMBER. 3 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013 Chair Tony introduced Glennon Gingo who is in his fourth year as chairman of the Friends of NRA for Hawaii Island which is a non-profit arm of the NRA, a national organization. The Friends of NRA is a grassroots fund-raising program that fosters community involvement. It includes15,000 clubs involved in shooting sports, activities ranging from youth through adult, have auctions and dinners to raise money and those funds are raised specific for our community. All proceeds stay in the community. Last year for Hawaii Island, funds were used for shooting sports education for firearms safety education that was pistol, rifle, shotgun and wearing safety helmets. On the island of Oahu a big focus of theirs is to fund the air rifle teams at the high schools. Maui and Kauai also participate in this program. These fund-raising dinners will draw 300 to 400 people and net between $35,000 to $55,000. All monies stay in the community. The Friends of NRA on this island, our focus is to support the state and the DLNR in a public-private partnership through a non-profit organization called On Target Incorporated and that is to get our Hawaii Island shooting sports facility at Puuanahulu up to speed and ground rolling. We know as of the date we have engineering and design just about complete. TDR Hawaii is the engineering group and they did select a group out of Scottsville, Arizona that did all of the actual design work. DLNR is working diligently on that through their divisions and as Chair Kia’aina mentioned the Pitman Robertson funds. Those funds are also used for education including the development of shooting ranges. Anytime you buy a firearm or ammunition there’s a federal tax, that federal tax is given to the states, the states apply for it and use it in specific categories of endeavors which would be like I mentioned a shooting sports range, hunters take the education and so on. This year at our dinner is to continue that process to raise money. We haven’t used, we still have quite a bit in our pool of funds and when it does come time to get closer in our public-private relationship we will have those funds available in addition to range grants from the NRA to support a Hawaii Island public shooting nd range. The Hawaii Island dinner fund-raiser will be held on November 2 in Kona. 4. CLEON BAILEY UPDATE ON THE CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S CAUCUS/FOUNDATION. 4 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013 On August 14, 2013, Mr. Andy Treharne the western regional manager met with Rep. Cindy Evans at the National Conference of State Legislators. Rep. Evans is very much interested in attending the National Center of Sportsmen’s Caucus and hopes to gain as much information at this November convention before she hits the road across the island promoting the National Center of Sportsmen’s Caucus. Also on August 23 Mr. Treharne spoke briefly with Senator Sam Slom and provided him with an overview of the National Center of Sportsmen’s Conferences program and filled him in on the conversation he had with Representative Evans. Furthermore, Mr. Treharne may ask the Sportsmen’s Conference chair from another state to join in on the call with Senator Slom. Action: C. Bailey moved that the commission accept his report; seconded by M. Bartell, and carried unanimously by voice vote. THE NA ALA HELE INFORMATIONAL MEETING HELD ON JULY 24, 5. 2013. D. Ike Yoshida: It was a short meeting of all of the Na Ala Hele groups statewide. Various county chairs made reports to the statewide group. There seems to be activity for the Na Ala Hele groups on each of the islands from things like motorcycle tracks to access to the historic trails as well as to develop certain state lands for uses such as off-road vehicles and things like that. It was a very interesting program. Jordan Jokiel, DLNR Access Coordinator within DOFAW oversees the Na Ala Hele program - in recognition of the importance to access hunting areas Jordan is actually working statewide along with and on additional items outside of Na Ala Hele too, so there’s kind of 2 programs working there. Chair Sylvester read Jordan Jokiel’s DLNR Wildlife Program Access and Acquisition Coordinator Report to the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission dated August 2013.  Keamoku – Meeing with the PTA Commander Col. Schwedo is scheduled for September 12, 2013 to discuss the next steps for addressing enforcement of management issues for public hunting at Keamoku. It seems unlikely that the military will commit to a dedicated long-term GMA agreement as the military needs to ensure unrestricted access to the training areas. However, DOFAW will continue to work to ensure that some level of access and public hunting is maintained, much like the present informal arrangements today. 5 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013  Hamakua Access - DOFAW is still waiting for a formal opinion from Na Ala Hele Abstractor, on the disposition (public and private ownership) of Kamaee and Opea Roads. Both roads lead to Forest Reserves.  There’s a scheduled meeting with Bobby Command, Hawaii County’s Deputy Planning Director is scheduled for September 11, 2013. The intent of the meeting is to begin identifying ownership and management authority, as well as maintenance issues for key roads leading to forest reserves and public hunting areas on Hawaii Island. Many of these roads end in locked gates and no trespassing signs. Jurisdiction of many of these roads is indiscernible. Collaboration between county and DOFAW is important to ensure an increased public access and hunting opportunities for many areas of the island.  An on-the-ground reconnaissance state parcel adjacent to the Hoea-Kaau section of Hamakua Forest Reserve were conducted in June, 2013. The intention of the recon. was to identify and secure a public access route across the parcel to the forest reserve. A request was subsequently sent to the Land Division to ensure a dedicated public access becomes a condition of this parcel, should it be leased in the future.  Kau Forest Reserve - In June, 2013 Inaba Engineering submitted a revised Final Survey report for portions of Kau Forest Reserve and adjacent parcels. This information is being used to develop a public access agreement to the forest reserve with affected landowners. The Access Program coordinator is working on that agreement now and hopes to negotiate details of the agreement with key landowners in early September. I think that has to do with, there’s a lot of abutting ranch land, it’s a lower section, and they want to try and see if they can move a fence to provide a road along that area so hunters can get in without having to go build another fence or intrude into the forest in any way.  Other Projects - Working with the Attorney General’s Office on finalizing language for a renewal of a 20-year Kipuka Aina Hou license agreement with the Department of Hawaiian Homes. And that’s very important to the hunters, there’s a - Mauna Kea is going out of hunting – that’s one of the only upland game areas that we can go so it’s very important that we secure that agreement.  A meeting with Kamehameha Schools is scheduled for September 11, 2013. Intent of the meeting is to identify potential opportunities for collaboration between the two agencies, including increased access and hunting opportunities on Hawaii Island.  Researched and provided information on access and public hunting for Honuaula Forest Reserve to members of Hawaii Island hunting community. Honuaula is located in North Kona. 6. FAMILY A FIELDS PROGRAM – TOM LODGE. Tom Lodge presented a power-point presentation regarding promoting family hunting activity. This program is in 35 states. The program encourages youth in 6 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013 hunting. The idea is to bring new generations forward. To date a million new kids were recruited. Out of every 100 retired hunters only 62 new ones will take its place. Goal is to introduce legislation that will establish a mentoring program here in Hawaii and also change the hunter education requirements and basically let the parents decide when it’s the right time for their child to be involved or getting introduced to hunting. This program is the vehicle to educate, create interest for your family in the hunting sport. GMAC VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT – CALLING A SPECIAL 7. SESSION. Chair Sylvester: At some point, the commission will need to work on its vision and mission statement. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. HAWAII ADMINISTRATIVE RULE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 124. Chair Sylvester: Hawaii Administrative Rule Changes to Chapter 124. In response to public inquiry the GMAC is tasked to write a letter to the BLNR expressing our concerns of the amendment changes to HAR-124. A draft letter was submitted by commission member Mark Bartell for our review and immediate action. Does the chair hear a motion to review the draft letter and submit letter on an official County letterhead to the BLNR members? Action: D. Ike Yoshida moved to review the draft letter and submit letter on an official County letterhead to BLNR members; seconded by M. Bartell and carried unanimously by voice vote. 2. IMPROVE ANIMAL SALVAGE – OBJECTIVES TO REDUCE WASTE. Chair Sylvester: This is quite involved please get thoughts together for next month’s agenda. Action: C. Bailey motion to defer Improve Animal Salvage to next month’s agenda; seconded by M. Bartell, and carried unanimously by voice vote. 3. HAWAII HUNTING ASSOCIATION (HHA) DRAFT LETTER CONCERNING AMENDMENT CHANGES TO HAR 124. Chair Sylvester: The Hawaii Hunting Association (HHA) has drafted a letter addressing their concerns on the amendment changes to HAR 124. The Hawaii 7 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013 Hunting Association submitted this letter to the Hawaii County Council for their support and would like a favorable recommendation from GMAC in support of the letter and requesting the same from the County Council – which Tom’s working on. Does the Chair hear a motion to review HHA’s letter and give a favorable recommendation with our support to the County Council? Action: D. Ike Yoshina moved to review HHA’s letter and give a favorable recommendation with our support to the County Council; seconded by T. Lodge. Discussion Chair Sylvester: Call for the vote, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 4. GMAC PROPOSES TO FORM A PERMITTED WORKING GROUP TO ASSIGN A VALUE SYSTEM FOR OUR GAME RESOURCES Chair Sylvester: Next item is to form a permitted working group pursuant to HRS Section 92-2.5, the GMAC proposes to form a permitted working group whose members shall investigate and initiate discussions with others for the purpose of assigning a value system for our game resources. Does the Chair hear a motion? Motion: D. Ike Yoshina moved to form a permitted working group whose members shall investigate and initiate discussions with others for the purpose of assigning a value system for our game resources; seconded by M. Bartell. Discussion: It was determined that Rob White, Tom Lodge and Mark Bartell will serve on the value system for our game resources working committee. Action: Chair Sylvester called for vote, motion was carried unanimously by voice vote. 5. HOW TO USE GMAC FUNDS FOR OUTREACH AND MEDIA EXPENDITURES It was determined that GMAC will need to come up with a budget. 6. UPDATE ON GETTING BLNR MEMBER ROB PACHECO TO COME TO OUR MEETING TO HEAR OUR CONCERNS ABOUT AMENDMENT CHANGES TO HAR 124. Rob Pacheco was in attendance. NEW BUSINESS: 8 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – August 26, 2013 1. HUNTING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH DLNR TO FACILITATE LEGISLATION Discussion It is critical that we work in concert with DLNR and keep the lines of communication open. Appreciate DLNR speaking with GMAC. A suggestion was made to work with Deputy Chair Esther Kia’aina on common ground as to legislative support which is so critical in getting things moved forward. VIIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS T. Lodge: There’s a county fair coming up. Big Island Bird Hunting offered GMAC booth space. The problem is the county fair is 2 or 3 days before out next meeting. X. NEXT MEETING: Chair Sylvester: Next meeting is September 23, no location yet. ADJOURNMENT Action: D. Ike Yoshida moved to adjourn; seconded by C. Bailey, and carried unanimously by voice vote. Chair Sylvester adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Kossow Secretary ATTEST: Anthony H. Sylvester 9