Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022

The coastlines of Waikapuna "are an intricate network of native flora and fauna, to be protected and cherished by our  community," says the non-profit stewardship group Ala Kahakai Trail Association. Public input on the  Waikapuna Resource Management Plan for this area along the Kaʻū Coast is welcomed.Photo from ATA

WAIKAPUNA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN materials are online for folks who want to help determine the future stewardship for the 2,317 acres in the ahupua'a of Kahilipalinui and Kalihipali'iki. The planning resources include meeting notes, a slideshow and recording of an online gathering that was held Jan. 26 to explain the process of developing a Resource Management Plan and to receive public input.
    The lands include a section of the Kaʻū Coast toward South Point from Honu'apo. The land was recently preserved with county, state and private donations through a purchase that puts it under the ownership of Ala Kahakai Trail Association with a conservation easement owned by Hawai'i County that protects it from development. The process of acquiring the land was stewarded by The Trust for Public Land.
    Gabriel Sham, representing Townscape, a small community and environmental planning firm, hired to steward the Management Plan, noted some of the history of Waikapuna. She said that "Waikapuna has been subject to the threat of development, especially after the closure of the plantation. There were proposed plans for. spaceport in this area in the late 1980s. Several years later, there were proposed plans for a commuter airport facility. The most recent proposed development consisted of a subdivision development with 22 lots."

How open and closed should the access be to Waikapuna? This is one of the many subjects being studied in the process of creating its Resource Management Plan. Photo form ATA

    She also noted that "There were previous discussions with the State, County, and National Park Service to see if they would be interested in taking ownership of these lands, bat at that time, these entities did not feel the had the capacity to oversee and manage these lands. In 2016, Alakai Trail Association was approached and asked if they would accept this kuleana of ownership."
    Elements to be addressed by the management plan include: the wahi pana and cultural landscape: marine and coastal resources; native and endangered bird species habitat; native and endangered plan species; ranching; and managed community access.
    The Townscape representative said areas of concern shared by stakeholders include: Community access; fire risk; damage to cultural and. historic sites; marine debris and trash; invasive plant and animal species; climate change and safety.
    The online presentation documents many comments, questions and concerns from the community including: "There is a lot of talk and worry about if this place is for subsistence gathering...why is there a locked gate? But I think that the gate is good because it protects it. South Point is an example of a place that has been desecrated. Controlled access would keep the integrity and beauty of the place."

Waikapuna covers two ahupua'a and is subject of a community driven creation of a Resource Managaement Plan. Map from Townscape

    Another of the many suggestions is to involve "Kupuna of these places who can educate people of the sacredness of these gathering area." Another comment: "I have been going to Waikapuna over the last 50 years. Born and raised in Na'alehu. It's a small place, as far as the beac is concerned, so I favor limited access because it's easy to overrun this place. Overnight camping: no more than three vehicles at a time There's no more room."
    Another commenter recommended preference for local people to access during the week. "My understanding is only weekends are allowed for camping. People who live in Na'alehu, Waiohinu Pahala deserve some special preference Especially those who are subsistence gatherers. Not sure how to do that."
    Another said, "A lot of these people at these meetings are not talkers. I'm most worried about the young      men who are listening and hearing that they cannot go hunt or fish. When you take away hunting and fishing from our young people; that's how they save money and feed their families and share with other families."
    Watch a YouTube recording of the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xhcq-tS3N0
    Find links for commenting and read many more of the comments from the participants at www.records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/114396/Waikapuna%20-%20Community%20Meeting%20Notes%20-%20Townscape%20Draft%20(2022-01-26).pdf.
    See a slideshow with maps and other planning tools at http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/114397/Waikapuna%20RMP_Community%20Mtg%201_Townscape%20Slideshow%20(2022-01-26).pdf