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Home My WebLink AboutCommunication No. 2019-12- North Kohala Rail Trail PresentationAll , to Z, 7 s 5 a a � r -ilk r � Purpose Determine if the very first railroad of Hawaii can be converted into a trail for public use and enjoyment. The report provides a snapshot into the past, and works to identify and guide a process by which the community can come to agreement to how they want to preserve the past, perpetuate lessons and stories, and be able to traverse the landscape unimpeded. P1� �,Yr-.n •ui..r. t.r.... The document provides • The historical background to better understand the importance of the past, as well as the future. • show major changes in land tenure and economic uses, • population dynamics and changes, and • how it relates to the concepts of public access and rights to traverse lands • A deeper understanding of the history of the railroad itself. • An understanding of the legal framework of the Railroad ROW, and • Recommendations for next steps. The North Kohala Hawaiian Railroad I�aip Pohl Havai[ A.A. NAR �.-lWxhola Point ' Heui s� Cnion FuakeR V "!a. iaLNl>'pnS1K d] Haln Sta[bn[ RanchN1 I Mill[wicR S -r�'--- baa 'kona�a c.xn a3awa 11i M.YniFic�a ]oid a Y] :�iuli�1 .. {nr.tN gpdp$1� � (NA{L 57 All Yduh- A f !!O Hn lar>� f Kehena r/!____/"'� NORTH, (i v ice:QHALM°G F, tiT ❑ 15 T -.;R ! C T KOH�I—�1 W [mdeaJ Di5_�l�T, mann KaWaihae a _� SCALE IN ni-E5 l i5 0 _� DSolokai � \leui Lanai 4REa S Nahadam %/N WIN W" f' � I I-Iatvgji C From North Kohala Community Development Plan, 2008 a x ` x ,yW[aohuic P, w . , a � Y OYE XY[a �W xr M a A ..w..a:a r er r. [S.• .•. on .mn[ The North Kohala Hawaiian Railroad • The first railroad for the Hawaiian Kingdom, • Operated as a passenger, freight, sugar cane, and mail carrier for the Hawaiian Kingdom & later, • Operated exclusively for the sugar plantations. Railroad Uses • Published figures for 1884 indicate that the railroad carried 20,000 tons of freight and 6,000 passengers that year. • The Hawaiian railroad had no physical connection to any of the plantations it served and had no spur tracks to mills in its original alignment. • The Government Contract provides a summary of the commitments, with some key components that underlie the full intent of the railroad. • Freight and movement of goods, including sugar, was an important part of the railroad's purpose. A . O f Transitions • 1899 — Four sugar companies bought the railway • 1912 — Castle and Cooke controlled the railway and -s.Y got the final mill, Hawi Mill to join with 45%:.�;�= ownership and John Hind as president. Railroad improvements were made, and with the completion of the Kohala Ditch, yields improved. • The completion of the Kohala ditch and the influx of automobiles shifted the use of the railroad. Passenger numbers declined. • 1937-1939 - The railroad became part of the plantations and spurs were added to the mills. • 1940 — Due to WWII concerns, Mahukona Harbor was shut down, the railroad followed. Rail -Road -Trail The Highways Act of 1892 determined that the ownership of all public highways and the land, real estate and property of the same, shall be in the Hawaiian Government in fee simple. The definition of a public highway includes all existing trails at the time "or hereafter opened, laid out or built by the Government, or by private parties, and dedicated or abandoned to the public as a highway, are hereby declared to be public highways." Furthermore, "All public highways once established shall continue until abandoned by due process of law". The railroad, under Section 8, is defined as a road under the Highways Act of 1892. Trails and the Highways Act of 1892 The Highways Act of 1892 is included in Chapter 264-1(b), Hawaii Revised Statues (HRS), further defining the intent of the Highways Act, as follows: All trails, and other non -vehicular rights-of- way (ROW) in the State declared to be public ROW by the Highways Act of 1892, or opened, laid out, or built by the government or otherwise created or vested as non -vehicular public ROW at any time hereafter, or in the future, are declared to be public trails. A public trail is under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Land and Natural Resources — unless it was created by or dedicated to a particular county, in which case it shall be under the jurisdiction of that county. All State trails once established shall continue until lawfully disposed of pursuant to Chapter 171, HRS. Further Investigation The report considers whether or not the North Kohala Hawaiian Railroad alignment is: • Considered a road, under the definitions provided in the Highways Act of 1892 (Yes) • Was built by, or commissioned by, the Hawaiian Government (Yes) • If the ROW has been lawfully disposed of pursuant to Chapter 171, HRS. • If there are portions of the ROW that have been lawfully disposed of, what are the recommended next steps? Can coastal access law and existing protected alignment supplement areas where this may happen? Report Chapters • Hawaiian Land Tenure prior to 1778 This includes an overview of Hawaiian law, the changes over time, and the establishment of private lands • King Kamehameha I — Importance of Place • Influence and Change — Impacts from Religion and Disease • The First Hawaiian Railroad Bond Historic Building • This includes the development of the railroad, changes of ownership and purpose, use, and closure. • Federal, State and Local Planning • This includes the Ala Kahakai National Historical Trail, State DLNR Na Ala Hele, and Hawaii County plans Hawaii County and the CDP The trails listed in this plan mirror the CPD, which includes trails and roads that are/were traditional or have been in existence for many years. The only exceptions are newly created easements identified by the County as public access as permit requirements in subdivisions or developments. The alignment is described in the document: "The old railroad alignment traverses through numerous areas that contain important cultural sites and landscapes, and could offer protection and care, by community who have ties to the land or can be stewards of these important sites." Connection to the CDP This plan addresses the community's strong desire to implement the recommendations on trails and access within the CDP. Because of this, we include • "Cultural sites and landscapes — Important cultural sites and landscapes, including the entire Kohala coastline and the mauka kula lands, should be protected." • "Coastal (makai) resources — Kohala's pristine coastline and abundance of marine life should be protected from development and be accessible to residents." • The overall plan looks at pedestrian access along the coastline, with mauka-makai access integrated into the overall pan. Access to the coastline and marine resources is a keycomponent of this Ian. p p • "Open space —The district's large open spaces should be preserved." • There has been significant progress on the protection of large open spaces along the coastline and in key areas. This plan supports the continued protection of these special places for public access, stewardship, and use. 0 "Vulnerability to Natural Hazards — Emergency preparedness should be a priority." • 1 01 'STo Ift do A& 0 1 : Next Steps • This is a draft document — we welcome any additional information, edits, ideas, and opportunities to improve the report. • Our outreach to the community will begin to be able to address any concerns and ways to make the project a success for the community • Will be used to work with State DLNR Na Ala Hele to determine feasibility of a public trail • Understand opportunities to locally manage the trail, and ways to address concerns in the establishment of the public trail. CONTACT INFORMATION For a copy of the report: Contact Meredith Speicher • Phone: 808-428-7044 • Email: Meredith Speicher@nps.gov To become involved in public outreach and Exploration: • Attend the meetings of the North Kohala Community Access Group which meets the first Wednesday of every month at 4:30 in the former Judiciary Building. • Contact Meredith Speicher and provide the best way to contact you. We will be providing email updates, social media and other techniques as we move forwa rd.