Printer friendly page
From the Office of Environmental Quality Control “The Environmental Notice” published 5/8/11. Hilo Forest Reserve Fencing Project (FEA)
The Environmental Notice 5/8/11
Status: Finding of No Significant Impact. There is no comment period
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife has identified the need to construct a cattle fence and access road within a proposed State Forest Reserve. This project would prevent cattle encroachment into the proposed Forest Reserve and would reduce consequent adverse impacts. The fence and access roadway corridor bounds a parcel that has been subdivided from its parent parcel and is currently being processed for addition to the Hilo Forest Reserve by DLNR. The access road would allow for fence construction and maintenance, DLNR resource management efforts, and future public access for hunting and other activities.
An archaeological survey and a cultural assessment have determined that no significant historic sites or cultural resources are present; if archaeological resources are encountered during land-altering activities associated with construction, work in the immediate area of the discovery will be halted and the State Historic Preservation Division will be contacted. Potential water quality impacts due to erosion and sedimentation would be minimized through implementation of a soil conservation plan. No federally listed plant or animal species have been identified within the fence and access road corridor. Other impacts are expected to be negligible or beneficial to the environment.
Draft Environmental Assessment: 2011-02-23-HA-DEA-Hilo-Forest-Reserve-Fencing
Final Environmental Assessment: 2011-05-08-HA-FEA-Hilo-Forest-Reserve-Fencing
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was prepared for the Saddle Road (US DOT 1997) that details archaeological, historic, and traditional cultural resources for the area. A total of 16 archaeological sites were identified during survey efforts comprised of 13 newly identified sites and 3 previously known sites. Two of these resources, the Pu’u O’o – Volcano and the Hilo – Pu’u O’o Trails may intersect the fence corridor. These trails were both constructed in the 20th century for transporting sheep and cattle and are eligible for inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places….
While the FEA mentions historic trails it does not say how the integrity of the Pu’u O’o and other trails will be maintained or enhanced. The $300,000 project is being funded with ARRA Federal Grant money (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) and State funds. We didn’t know about this, but I hope the Na Ala Hele Advisory Council is on top of it.
Maps and pictures of the site:
Printer friendly page
Definitions according to dictionary.com:
- Privilege: “the principle or condition of enjoying special rights or immunities.”
- Right: “that which is due to anyone by just claim, legal guarantees, moral principles, etc.”
- Conservation: “the careful utilization of a natural resource in order to prevent depletion.”
- Utilize: “To put to use, especially to find a profitable or practical use for.”
- Trust: “a fiduciary relationship in which one person (the trustee) holds the title to property (the trust estate or trust property) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary).”
What the State Constitution says about public land in ARTICLE XI, CONSERVATION, CONTROL AND DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES, Section 1. “For the benefit of present and future generations, the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii’s natural beauty and all natural resources, including land, water, air, minerals and energy sources, and shall promote the development and utilization of these resources in a manner consistent with their conservation and in furtherance of the self-sufficiency of the State.
All public natural resources are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people.”
You should notice a few things about the wording in the Constitution:
- Present and future generations are on equal standing to enjoy the benefit of ‘public lands.’
- Land, water and air are included as natural resources.
- The State shall promote the utilization of these natural resources.
- That the State only holds public lands in trust for the benefit of the people.
- This section applies to all political subdivisions of the State (eg, the counties).
The State Constitution is the highest ‘Law of the Land’ in Hawaii (ignoring Federal Law). All statutes, rules, regulations and administrative policies are subordinate to and must ultimately conform to the requirements of the Constitution.
Is the public’s use of public land a right or a privilege? Hold the answer in your gut…
ps. Beware of the self-appointed gatekeepers of ‘privilege’.
Printer friendly page
Some pictures of a field trip today to see whats happening up at Hale Pohaku. Click on the picture to see the original quality image.
I went into the bowl from the mauka R17 road figuring correctly that I would not be challenged right of entry from that direction. Thus I was able to get a good view. After leaving by the same route I entered from the lower power station road to see if there where any signs indicating what is going on there. It is a little hard to see in the last picture, but the sign on the saw horse says “No entry”. On the way in I had passed a couple of workers walking towards the highway; upon leaving I stopped to talk to them. I asked ‘what’s with’ the no entry sign. I was told that there was traffic leaving the site and they wanted to avoid difficulty with vehicles going down the road. I then said “then you put up the sign only when vehicles are leaving?”. No answer. I then pointed out that the sign being not very professional would probably be ignored. I was asked who I represented, was I there to check the power station? I said that I was just a private citizen and not from any agency. I was told that they would relay my comment about the sign.
by Wayne
Links to full size images available from thumbnails below the slide show.
[slide]
Printer friendly page
In 2008 (I’m not sure of the exact time because I lost my notes) I atended a meeting at the Hilo DOFAW office about what to do about illegal off-road riding at Puu Kanalaleonui. In attendance were members of the Rock Island Riders and officials from DOWFAW, National Parks, Mauna Kea rangers and DOCARE. Also in attendance was Mr. Ed Stevens that I interpreted to be a representative from the Hawaiian Community.
One of the ideas that came from this meeting was that a sign would be placed at the puu to communicated the sacredness of the site. The wording was to be provided by Mr. Stevens’ group and paid for by DOWFAW (Na Ala Hele?).
The sign says it is posted by Ahahui Ku Mauna. According to Allan Ikawa, former member of the UH Board of Regents, Ahahui Ku Mauna was formed in 2000 by Senator Inouye and his representative Bill Kikuchi. (see http://mk200.com/mkrug/?p=27 )
Hmmm
Printer friendly page
How do the hawaiian community groups feel about recreational use on Mauna Kea? Many have assumed that they are at best ambivalent. Maybe not?
In a May , 2005 letter from the Royal Order of Kamehameha I which clarifies their position on Mauna Kea is the following quote.
We continue to support:
1. No further expansion/development on Mauna Kea.
2. Charging reasonable lease rent. (Our report suggests at least $50 million a year, for various purposes, including education, health care and housing for native Hawaiians. We ask no money for ourselves or our organizations.)
3. Removing the University’s control of Mauna Kea through the formation of an independent management authority with Hawaiian, environmental and recreational groups having real input and voting power. We do not support our people holding advisory positions to the University with no decision-making power.
Hmmm
Here is the entire document cited above: Royal Order of Kamehameha I Letter
Printer friendly page
Is the State planning a future telescope on Puu Makanaka? The circle shape with the three bumps are the boundary of UH’s Science Reserve. Those bumps include three Puus, including Puu Makanaka in their lease. Why are they there? The UH has paved the summit road within the 2.5 mile radius of their lease to control dust. In the map below the red circle represents a 2.5 mile radius around Puu Makanaka. Could the dust from vehicles on R-1 and other roads in the vicinity of Puu Kanakaleonui create a dust problem for an observatory there? How would they access Puu Makanaka? Road from the summit or R-1?
Some may say that the UH has limited Observatory development to the 525 acre “astronomy precinct” which includes the existing summit telescopes and, coincidently, the proposed location for the Thiry Meter Telescope (TMT), but not including the VLBA. ??? Of course the “astronomy precinct” was created only by action of the UH Board of Regents and presumably be changed by the same means.
Hmmm
Printer friendly page
In 2002, at the May 7 meeting of the Mauna Kea Management Board the Director reported on a field trip to do a survey of Wekiu bugs on Puu Makanaka.
“During the last two weeks of April and first week of May, a group of biologists and cultural
specialists from the Bishop Museum, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Area Reserves System
(NAR), and State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD), participated in a survey of wēkiu in the
Science Reserve and Ice Age NAR. One of the objectives of the survey was to begin gathering data
on the spatial distribution of the wēkiu on Mauna Kea, particularly in areas that were not previously
or extensively surveyed in the past including Pu‘u Makanaka and Keonehehe‘e.
Ed Stevens provided a cultural orientation of Mauna Kea to the entire group the evening prior to the
survey teams heading into the field. Holly McEldowney (SHPD) and Guy Kaulukukui (Bishop
Museum) accompanied the teams working in the NAR and Pu‘u Makanaka, respectively. They
provided cultural advice, including how to proceed if the survey crews encountered an archeological
site.”
Puu Makanaka is on the north-east outer edge of the Science Reserve lease near to Puu Kanakaleonui. The wekiu is the same bug that gave them grief at the summit. Why were they bothering? What about the miles of area in between?
Hmmm
Recent Comments