ADEPT-12 RESOLUTION 23-146, REQUESTING THE CONSERVATION PLANNING COMMITTEE TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES (ADEPT-12)
Honorable Gabe Johnson, Chair
Agriculture, Diversification, Environment,
and Public Transportation (ADEPT) Committee
Maui County Council
200 S. High Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
RE: RESOLUTION 23-146
Aloha Chair Johnson and ADEPT Members,
The Ma’alaea Village Association (MVA) supports the proposed amendments to the Recommendations on the Acquisition of Land for Conservation Purposes to be forwarded to the Conservation Planning Committee. Proposed amendments include:
1) Adding ‘management’ of land for conservation purposes
2) Adding ‘portions of lands’ to Exhibit “A”
3) Adding ‘establishing a public private partnership’ to recommendations for action
4) Adding the 256.903 acres at Honoapiilani Highway, Wailuku otherwise known as Ma’alaea Mauka/Pohakea.
As you may know, concerted efforts have been expended by the Maui community to preserve the 257-acre parcel known as Ma’alaea Mauka/Pohakea. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) was in negotiation with the previous landowner and $6.2 million was in the Council’s budget last year for the purchase. An award of $1 million was already received from the state Legacy Lands Commission toward purchase of the property to create a forest reserve to combine the parcel with the surrounding 5,000 acre Pohakea Watershed. The new owner has not been willing to enter into contract with TPL for the purchase.
Efforts are underway at present time to come up with a fair compromise with the new owner that will address the major concerns of sedimentation into Ma’alaea Bay. It is our understanding that in addition to addressing the sedimentation issues, the new owner may be willing to preserve at least a part of the property in open space.
Including the parcel in the recommendations being forwarded to the Conservation Planning Committee will support any possible agreements that can be cemented between the landowner and the community.
For background, I include MVA testimony to the LLC which explains the importance of this parcel.
Mahalo for your consideration and support.
Ma’alaea Village Association (MVA)
Lyndon Ibele, President
I support the acquisition of additional land for conservation purposes subject to (1) the creation and implementation of management plans and (2) the allocation of budget for conservation land already owned by the County. For example, the County owns approximately 320 acres of Open Space on the North Shore. The County acquired the initial 270 acres in 2016. After almost 7 years there is no management plan. There are no gates and no signs. As a result the area is used for dumping, vehicle dismantling and hunting. There are frequent fires which are a threat to the community. In addition, the cultural and environmental resources are being damaged by off road operation of motor vehicles. The land includes access to the overlook above the Peahi surf break which attracts large crowds. The road to the overlook is not safe and the condition of the land reflects poorly on Maui. I recommend creating an Open Space Department or at least a division within the Parks Department that can review and approve the parcels prior to purchase and take responsibility for management. Where appropriate the County should work with community groups like Malama Hamakua Maui and support them with the resources they need. Open Space is wonderful but caring for it requires determination and money.
I am in total support of the 23-acre parcel (LEDCOR SF-S) be perpetuated as a Cultural preserve and open space. There are many Archaeological sites on this property. As a Cultural Practitioner, Iwi Kupuna Protector and one who is very sensitive to our Kupuna. This area needs to preserve what little is left of our history. There are too many luxury developments that have come about through greed and profit which benefit developers alone. Our culture and our story is being lost. Too many of our Kanaka Maoli are being displaced from their ancestral Homelands. The lack of connectivity of our
History, Cultural sites and traditions from ʻAhihi Kinau all the way up the shores to Maʻalaea are being negated. Soon what we know as the Aloha Spirit will be gone!!! Because the People will be gone!!!
Alohamai, Please support this project for more and more green space, concentrating on indigenous and endemic plants. We Kanaka Maoli have see more “luxury“ developments on Maui than any other kinds of development. Allowing this to happen over and over again makes one wonder what is the developers incentive.? And overall ease of permits that always them to destroy our ancestral sites, endemic plants, habitats, and landscapes. This kind of continued development has created an unbalance and crisis in Maui’s housing market and our educational sector. We need to remember 100% of Hawai’I was taken away from the Kanaka Maoli People, and that 100 plus years have passed without addressing this Fact.!! Careless developers get to destroy our ancestral burials without any consequences for the families and land they belong too. This travesty has been allowed by the government and the developers. They’ve left a scars upon the lands bypassing respective economic growth and the draining all of Maui’s natural resources. Do your due diligence for the proper growth of Maui. The population of this island have to work many jobs to secure a rental, because buying a property in Maui has become increasingly difficult. This unwanted luxury destination has created a enormous shortage of affordable housing, and homelessness needs to be prevented. Thank you for your time and attention on this important matter.
I agree that the 23-acre “SF-S” parcel next to Wailea Dog Park, should be protected as open space & called “Paeahu Park.”
I also agree to creating a 20-acre Cultural Preserve on Ledcor Lot 130 (the 46 acres of undeveloped land across from Maui Meadows). Knowing that there are plans to build hundreds more of luxury SECONDARY homes is disappointing & saddening.
Too many Kama’aina have already left & are continuing to leave Hawai’i because of outrageous pricing. Establishments are lacking workers for a reason! They MOVED! Or they don’t want to cater to tourists anymore. Think about the future. What will it look like? A bunch of rich people visiting their secondary homes few times a year & empty establishments because no workers? Who’s even supposed to cater to these wealthy outsiders IF MAJORITY OF LOCALS LEAVE?! How is this sustainable?! Flying people to island who are willing to accept low pay - that’s inhumane & degrading & unfair.
What are your BIG PICTURE plans for our island?! Is catering to outside money seriously your biggest agenda?!
We should focus on sustainable solutions, nourishing our local communities & protecting more of what we already have instead of building more buildings!
June 21, 2023
Honorable Gabe Johnson, Chair
Agriculture, Diversification, Environment,
and Public Transportation (ADEPT) Committee
Maui County Council
200 S. High Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
RE: RESOLUTION 23-146
Aloha Chair Johnson and ADEPT Members,
The Ma’alaea Village Association (MVA) supports the proposed amendments to the Recommendations on the Acquisition of Land for Conservation Purposes to be forwarded to the Conservation Planning Committee. Proposed amendments include:
1) Adding ‘management’ of land for conservation purposes
2) Adding ‘portions of lands’ to Exhibit “A”
3) Adding ‘establishing a public private partnership’ to recommendations for action
4) Adding the 256.903 acres at Honoapiilani Highway, Wailuku otherwise known as Ma’alaea Mauka/Pohakea.
As you may know, concerted efforts have been expended by the Maui community to preserve the 257-acre parcel known as Ma’alaea Mauka/Pohakea. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) was in negotiation with the previous landowner and $6.2 million was in the Council’s budget last year for the purchase. An award of $1 million was already received from the state Legacy Lands Commission toward purchase of the property to create a forest reserve to combine the parcel with the surrounding 5,000 acre Pohakea Watershed. The new owner has not been willing to enter into contract with TPL for the purchase.
Efforts are underway at present time to come up with a fair compromise with the new owner that will address the major concerns of sedimentation into Ma’alaea Bay. It is our understanding that in addition to addressing the sedimentation issues, the new owner may be willing to preserve at least a part of the property in open space.
Including the parcel in the recommendations being forwarded to the Conservation Planning Committee will support any possible agreements that can be cemented between the landowner and the community.
For background, I include MVA testimony to the LLC which explains the importance of this parcel.
Mahalo for your consideration and support.
Ma’alaea Village Association (MVA)
Lyndon Ibele, President
I'm sorry to say human kind is stuck in "GREED MODE!" AMERICA THINK OF YOUR OFFSPRING NOT YOUR FINANCES!
I support the acquisition of additional land for conservation purposes subject to (1) the creation and implementation of management plans and (2) the allocation of budget for conservation land already owned by the County. For example, the County owns approximately 320 acres of Open Space on the North Shore. The County acquired the initial 270 acres in 2016. After almost 7 years there is no management plan. There are no gates and no signs. As a result the area is used for dumping, vehicle dismantling and hunting. There are frequent fires which are a threat to the community. In addition, the cultural and environmental resources are being damaged by off road operation of motor vehicles. The land includes access to the overlook above the Peahi surf break which attracts large crowds. The road to the overlook is not safe and the condition of the land reflects poorly on Maui. I recommend creating an Open Space Department or at least a division within the Parks Department that can review and approve the parcels prior to purchase and take responsibility for management. Where appropriate the County should work with community groups like Malama Hamakua Maui and support them with the resources they need. Open Space is wonderful but caring for it requires determination and money.
I am in total support of the 23-acre parcel (LEDCOR SF-S) be perpetuated as a Cultural preserve and open space. There are many Archaeological sites on this property. As a Cultural Practitioner, Iwi Kupuna Protector and one who is very sensitive to our Kupuna. This area needs to preserve what little is left of our history. There are too many luxury developments that have come about through greed and profit which benefit developers alone. Our culture and our story is being lost. Too many of our Kanaka Maoli are being displaced from their ancestral Homelands. The lack of connectivity of our
History, Cultural sites and traditions from ʻAhihi Kinau all the way up the shores to Maʻalaea are being negated. Soon what we know as the Aloha Spirit will be gone!!! Because the People will be gone!!!
Alohamai, Please support this project for more and more green space, concentrating on indigenous and endemic plants. We Kanaka Maoli have see more “luxury“ developments on Maui than any other kinds of development. Allowing this to happen over and over again makes one wonder what is the developers incentive.? And overall ease of permits that always them to destroy our ancestral sites, endemic plants, habitats, and landscapes. This kind of continued development has created an unbalance and crisis in Maui’s housing market and our educational sector. We need to remember 100% of Hawai’I was taken away from the Kanaka Maoli People, and that 100 plus years have passed without addressing this Fact.!! Careless developers get to destroy our ancestral burials without any consequences for the families and land they belong too. This travesty has been allowed by the government and the developers. They’ve left a scars upon the lands bypassing respective economic growth and the draining all of Maui’s natural resources. Do your due diligence for the proper growth of Maui. The population of this island have to work many jobs to secure a rental, because buying a property in Maui has become increasingly difficult. This unwanted luxury destination has created a enormous shortage of affordable housing, and homelessness needs to be prevented. Thank you for your time and attention on this important matter.
I agree that the 23-acre “SF-S” parcel next to Wailea Dog Park, should be protected as open space & called “Paeahu Park.”
I also agree to creating a 20-acre Cultural Preserve on Ledcor Lot 130 (the 46 acres of undeveloped land across from Maui Meadows). Knowing that there are plans to build hundreds more of luxury SECONDARY homes is disappointing & saddening.
Too many Kama’aina have already left & are continuing to leave Hawai’i because of outrageous pricing. Establishments are lacking workers for a reason! They MOVED! Or they don’t want to cater to tourists anymore. Think about the future. What will it look like? A bunch of rich people visiting their secondary homes few times a year & empty establishments because no workers? Who’s even supposed to cater to these wealthy outsiders IF MAJORITY OF LOCALS LEAVE?! How is this sustainable?! Flying people to island who are willing to accept low pay - that’s inhumane & degrading & unfair.
What are your BIG PICTURE plans for our island?! Is catering to outside money seriously your biggest agenda?!
We should focus on sustainable solutions, nourishing our local communities & protecting more of what we already have instead of building more buildings!