2014-06-09 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Game Management Advisory Commission June 9, 2014 Council Chambers in Hilo Present: Tom Lodge (TL), Willie Joe Camara (WC), Tony Sylvester (TS), Ike Yoshina (IY), Paul Bueltmann (PB), Mark Bartell (MB), Kalani DeCoito (KD), Corp Counsel Bill Brilhante (WB), staff member Bobby Command (BC); recording secretary Barbara Kossow. No one in the audience signed in although there were about five people in attendance, including videographer Kerry Marks, council staff and guests Richard Hoefflinger and Glennon Gingo. Richard Hoefflinger (RH), president, gave an update on the On Target range at Waikoloa and will make copies of his presentation available to the commission. On Target represents those who would like a shooting range in West Hawaii. The range will be for skeet, trap and sporting clays shooting. He talked about recent noise tests; the lack of open -range standards anywhere; Hoefflinger said this will be a facility that will be "somewhat self-supporting." MB asked if the resorts don't want the range near the Waikoloa Resort. RH said the opposition was initially based on sound, but those concerns have been proven false and they still dont want the range. He said opponents, including the resort association, are now conducting a misinformation campaign. Opponents now say they don't want bullets raining down on them. Glennon Gingo, On Target vice president, said shooting ranges are all about safety. The perspective of the resorts is flawed. He said there is a need for the facility, which will also be a great economic driver. TS spoke about outdoor heritage month. He said he preferred to celebrate it in June to align with state efforts but it is probably too late at this point. He said we are not holding an event this year. TS said he had a draft from Rep. Cindy Evans for a proclamation. TS said he would like to have a resolution signed by all four mayors. Mayor has offered up to $10,000 to fund a County outdoors event. TS nominated to be chairman, with WC and MB part of the investigative committee. WC second. Unanimously passed. It was announced that Stan Roehrig is the new Hawaii County member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, replacing Rob Pacheco. TL introduced a letter from Hilo resident Jean Fujiyoshi about the pig problem. TL says this is because of too many fences in our forest. TL said the solution is actually a game management plan. GMAC is behind HB 104, which is a Constitutional amendment to reinstitute game animals as a protected resource. Game is a sustainability resource, management resource and income resource. Hawaii forests are reputed to have millions of value but were being ask to provide millions to protect it. Tony asked what she is asking us to do. BC asked who owns the animals. Tony said the people. BC said it's up to the people, and what is up there is what the people want. WC asked for a statement to get DLNR to do something. TL said we need to have a