Coastal Land Owners Alert!

There are a lot of people moving here and buying coastal property, and they begin to develop without realizing that the rules are different here than on the mainland. Realtors, very often, will only tell them what they are legally required to disclose, so the buyers are unaware that there is a whole lot more they should know.

For example, because the coastline is constantly changing due to volcanic activity and rising sea level, it is a crucial first step to have a shoreline survey done. This will tell you where your official shoreline is, where you cannot develop at all, where you can develop if you apply for a special management area permit and where you can develop with just a regular building permit. Owners of coastal property have a very special responsibility to both the land AND the sea. Please don’t take that responsibility lightly. Violations will cost you much more than just a fine – it will cost you the quality of the environment in which you live and it will cost you the loss of respect of your neighbors.

Development, according to land use definitions, includes even hand-clearing of coastal vegetation within 40 feet of the officially determined shoreline. Learn what plants you have before you go destroying them – some may be endangered and the federal fine is $10,000!!! Malama O Puna offers a free service to property owners who want to learn about the plants on their lot before they make an irrevocable mistake: we will send a knowledgeable person to walk your land with you and point out what you need to know to make an informed decision. We accept honoraria to cover the person’s time and mileage – whatever you feel the service is worth to you. Every property owner who has ever taken us up on this offer has been extremely satisfied. Do yourself a favor and join their ranks. To make an appointment call René at 965-2000.

Landscaping the P?hoa Neighborhood Facility:
Now that the renovation has been completed it is time to do some beautification – not big monkeypods again whose roots can play havoc with foundations and the new septic system, but there are lots of smaller non-invasive trees and shrubs to enhance the area. Parks & Rec will be providing some nice size Manila palms for the project, and Malama O Puna and the Vireya Society are also donating plants. As of this writing we have received plants from Donna and Ron Phillips and Crista and John Barbour. We also have commitments from Pacific Island Nursery, Dick Krupa and White Cloud Nursery for vireya rhododendrons, and yellow ohia from John Callahan. We need some brawn to dig planting holes, so if you would like to volunteer please call 965-2000 for the date. Mahalo nui loa.

Mangrove Eradication at the Wai ‘Opae:
Before the mangroves become too entrenched and convert the very unique coral gardens into a mangrove swamp, we have a window of opportunity to get funding from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to help with eradication. The sticking point has been getting permission from the abutting property owner. A recent site visit organized by MOP vice-president Ann Kobsa with all interested parties (NFWF, DLNR-Aquatic Resources Division, Vacationland residents, Andy Levin representing Mayor Kim, MOP Board members and landowner Stanley Hara) was both enjoyable and productive. Mr. Hara has agreed to the on-land part of the project and offered some good suggestions. With the last major obstacle out of the way, we are preparing to move forward.

Proposed Additions to the State Forest Reserve System:
DLNR-Forestry & Wildlife Division had a public hearing on their proposals to add four new areas to the State Forest Reserve System, and one of them is the Puna rainforest mauka of P?hoa, the Wao Kele O Puna. There were a lot of people there to testify, most of whom have a long history of involvement with the forest, going back to the 1982 contested case hearings on the land-swap and subsequent anti-geothermal struggles. In general, everyone wanted to see the natural and cultural resources of the forest saved. However, there was also a lot of concern about (1) DLNR’s ability to manage the forest properly, considering their track record there and elsewhere, (2) catch-all phraseology, such as “and all other appropriate forestry activities”, (3) guarantees of native Hawaiian and community involvement during all phases of the planning and implementation of the management plan, and (4) who has the ultimate say on permitting and funding. The hearings officer will have a lot of issues to take back to his superiors, and let us hope that they don’t ignore the concerns of the public but take them as a wake-up call for action.

Volunteers needed

Malama O Puna is looking for volunteers for several projects:

1. To cut out newspaper articles and put chronologically in a scrapbook.

2. To help with the planting at the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility once the restoration construction is completed.

3. To water the plants in the street planters on Pahoa Village Rd. once a week.

4. To keep the planter in front of the Pahoa Police Sub-Station weeded (once a month).

5. To buildl picnic tables for the community center parking lot area.

6. Weeding out the mangroves at Wai‘Opae Marine Reserve.

7. Various projects weeding miconia, strawberry guava and other invasives out of Forest Reserves.

Mahalo:

The issue before last we listed some of our projects that need volunteers, and I am pleased to report that two of our neighbors have stepped forward. Charlotte Jackson will be weeding the beds of the Pahoa Police Sub-station once a month, and Henry Horton will be watering the large forest-green planters on the boardwalk on a weekly basis. Mahalo for helping to keep Pahoa looking looking green and spiffy. Aloha Outpost has agreed to let us put some planters out front and commits to keeping them watered: Thanks Lamont! Due to repeated vandalism we have had to move the planters from Luquin’s. Mahalo to Pahoa Village Café for adopting them and to Luquin’s for repeatedly having to clean up after the vandals..

Lots of volunteers have taken part in our Winter Session of the Jr. Life Saving Program: (alphabetically) Townsend Barone, Mark Franklin, Michael Kaauamo, Billy Kenoi, Ann Kobsa, Alexis “Lexi” Lee, René Siracusa, Ida Smith and Albert Wilkinson. Craig Hindle helped with bureaucratic red tape. Councilman Dominic Yagong donated the groceries for the snacks we prepared for the first day. Several mothers of the students took part as well. And the program is funded by the County’s Healing Our Island Community Fund. Mahalos all around to the caring people in our community!

Our Newsletter:

Once a year in January Malama O Puna puts out its annual report, which recaps the programs, progress, events and activities of the previous year. It has some nice color photos and the articles are short but informative. We can’t afford to give copies to everyone, but if you have access to a computer and wish to see it you can email us a request and we will email it to you as an attachment, even if you’re not a member. If, after reading it, you decide to join our team, we will be glad to email or mail you a membership application.

Notice to members: if you have email or have changed your email address and didn’t receive a newsletter, please get in touch with us so we can keep in touch with you.

Resolutions 220 & 221:

Timothy Gardner’s application to remove land from the State Land Use Agricultural District and Change the Zone from Ag 1 to Commercial-Industrial for a self-storage facility along Hwy 130 has failed. Malama O Puna, members of the Puna Community Development Plan working groups, and many others submitted testimony to the County Council against this development. The Planning Department, Planning Commission, State Department of Transportation and Puna Traffic Safety Committee were also against it. Reason, and maybe numbers, prevailed. Setting a precedent for strip malls will create a lot of ugliness, take land out of agriculture, create more traffic problems for all of us (including emergency responders), and destroy the economic viability of P?hoa.

There is no doubt, however, that Puna needs areas zoned for Commercial and Light Industrial, so that we can avoid those Hilo commutes and serve the needs of our community. Our neighbors working on the Puna Community Development Plan are addressing this need by looking into potential areas for this kind of zoning, so eventually we may even have a place that Mr. Gardner will find acceptable to everyone. That will be the win-win.