HFIA Comments on the Hamakua CDP June 15, 2016

Home

��Zndust� HAWAII FOREST INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (HFIA) P. O. Box 66 'O'okala, HI 96774 Phone: 808-933-9411 Cd Email: hfia@hawaiiforest.org Website: www.hawaiiforest.org June 15, 2016 Hamakua Community Development Plan Steering Committee Re: Comments on Draft Hamakua Development Plan Aloha Steering Committee members, We would like to thank each one of you for the time and effort that you have dedicated to this process. We fully realize that this effort involves tradeoffs; it is not easy to balance the needs of the community with those of private individuals and entities that form part of it. Comment 1: We are particularly encouraged by the policy intent to: (pg. 92, section 6.2.2) "Encourage and support the expansion of agriculture, including forestry and the macadamia nut industry. (GP 14.2.4.7.2) Support the development of a native hardwood industry. (GP 2.4.3.2 (c)); see also (GP 2.4.4.2 (e))." Our Association supports all types of healthy productive forests and related forest industry, both native and non-native. We would like to suggest the following, more broad statement, by removing the word "native": "Encourage and support the expansion of agriculture, including forestry and the macadamia nut industry. (GP 14.2.4.7.2) Support the development of a hardwood industry. (GP 2.4.3.2 (c)); see also (GP 2.4.4.2 (e))." Comment 2: In another section, our association is concerned about the language in another section, which would appear to contradict the first. "Community Action 6: Educate residents on scenic viewshed importance and alternatives to tall, vegetative wind -breaks that impact viewsheds." We appreciate the desires to keep the Hamakua coast attractive for residents and visitors alike. However, we encourage you to consider that trees and other tall stature vegetation are indeed part of the viewshed in Hamakua, and far from detracting from it, add to the scenic qualities of this windward, moist and verdant coast. Trees, windbreaks and forests impart well known environmental benefits, such as soil stabilization, protection from high winds, and carbon sequestration. In Hawaii, trees have been planted for specific purposes, as fruit