Nā Ala HeleHawai‘i Island Advisory Council Minutes
Approved: August 26th 2020
Revised: August 26th 2020
MEETING DATE: June 24th 2020
PLACE: Remote Telephone Conference Call
Voting Members Present:

Riley Smith - Chairman, Terrence Noda – Vice
Chairman, David Rietow – Secretary, Deborah
Chang, Jeffrey Yamauchi, Christopher Seymour,
Michael Varney

Voting Members Absent Excused:

Kawehi Ryder, Roger Kanealii Jr (Maha)

Voting Members Absent Unexcused:(none)

Invited Guest:(none)

Public:Beth Robinson, Brian Ley, Dwayne Yoshina, John
Howerton, Nani Pogline, Nate Riedel, Stanley
Mendes, Steven Hurt, Tom Lodge, Toni Whittington,
Lino Kamakau of DOCARE

Ex-Officio:

Jackson of Na Ala Hele, Keni Wallace of Na Ala Hele,
Rick Gmirkin of Ala Kahakai National Historic Trails

Ex-Officio Absent:(none)

I. Call to Order 6:07PM
II. House rules and background by Jackson.
III. REVIEW and APPROVE MINUTES; Terrence, Jeff.
A.
Discussion by Terrence. Page 3, item E. Missing comment from Steve Hurt that hewas consulted for this trail. Review of the meeting minutes by David suggest thatTerrence is referring to public testimony (III-B).
IV. PUBLIC TESTIMONY (Three minutes maximum)
A.
Riley went through the written testimony (Dwayne Yoshina, Tom Lodge, Steven Hurt,
Nate Riedel, and Terrence Noda).

Division of Forestry and Wildlife • Department of Land and Natural Resources • 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 224 • Honolulu, Hawai‘I 96813

B.

Oral testimony
a. Tony Wittington – Representing North Kohala Access Group, regarding the Pololū
Valley area.
i. NKAG would like the opportunity to review the lookout proposals before sending
it to the Land Board. Jackson agreed.
ii. North Kohala Community Development Plan, ordinance 151 of the County ofHawaii. The CDP recommendation to include the vehicle trail that runs Mauka toMakai alongside the 5-acre proposed parking area and the Kohala ditch trail aspublic trails.
iii. Of the 5-acre parcel proposed in the land swap for parking at the Pololū lookout
only about 2 acres are usable due to the terrain.
b. Steven Hurt – Representing the general public, regarding recommendation to add
existing Palila Forest Discovery Trail within the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area as aNā Ala Hele Program Trail for hikers. Steve read from his submitted written
testimony dated June 21, 2020.
c. Nani Pogline – Game Management Advisory Commission Chair, regarding theRecommendation to add existing Palila Forest Discovery Trail within the Ka`oheGame Management Area as a Nā Ala Hele Program Trail for hikers. Nani expressed
concern that in the EA the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission
was not consulted even though the trail is in the Ka`ohe Game Management Area.
It is unclear how the labeling of program trail could affect hunting in this area.
Concerns are that such designation could give hiking more importance than hunting
particularly when issues arise. We hope that in the planning that hunting be given apriority as we are the original stake holders in the area. We request that safetyissues be addressed, safety practice and liability be imposed on hikers as they are
imposed on hunters. If there is a hunting mishap, hunters should not be held liable
and hunting be put in jeopardy. If the labeling as a program trail will allow for theimposition of a safety zone in further dwindling of public hunting area, we ask forfair compensation. Furthermore, if the program trail labeling allows for morefunding the scale will continue to unjustly tip in favor of hiking. Access road
improvements already as-is end at the Palila Discovery Trail and access for huntersbeyond are left unimproved and difficult to traverse. We ask that equal attention
be dedicated to the preservation of hunting opportunities in the Ka`ohe GameManagement Area.
d. Dwayne Yoshina – Regarding Recommendation to add existing Palila Forest
Discovery Trail within the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area as a Nā Ala Hele
Program Trail for hikers. Dwayne echoed the sentiments and opinions in testimony
by Steven and Nani.
e. Tom Lodge – Regarding Recommendation to add existing Palila Forest Discovery
Trail within the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area as a Nā Ala Hele Program Trail forhikers. Blaze Orange is important. Concerns over parking in the area, mowing, andreceptacles to keep it clean.

f.

Stanley Mendes – Regarding Recommendation to add existing Palila ForestDiscovery Trail within the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area as a Nā Ala HeleProgram Trail for hikers. Stan brought up the point that it is the hunters that payfor the management and upkeep of the area through the hunting license fee.
Hikers are benefiting at the expense of hunters. He also said there are no more
Palila.
g. Brian Ley – Regarding Recommendation to add existing Palila Forest Discovery Trailwithin the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area as a Nā Ala Hele Program Trail for
hikers. Concerns about uncontrolled weeds and fire hazard. What is the plan todeal with additional people who may be smoking? Hunters have brought up thisconcern for years. Since the reduction of Mouflon sheep, the invasive weeds areout of control.
V. Riley asked for a motion to amend the meeting agenda to bring forward item IV-E(Recommendation to add existing Palila Forest Discovery Trail within the Ka‘ohe GameManagement Area as a Nā Ala Hele Program Trail for hikers). Terrence moved and Debbie
seconded the motion. There was no opposition from the council.
VI. Recommendation to add existing Palila Forest Discovery Trail within the Ka‘ohe GameManagement Area as a Nā Ala Hele Program Trail for hikers.
A.
Discussion
a. Jackson briefed everyone on the trail and the reasoning for the proposal andtouched on concerns.
i. The objective is to move the management of the existing trail from DOFAW’sForestry Program to DOFAW’s Na Ala Hele Program (for trail management).
ii. The trail is in a Game Management Area (GMA) that does not reside within aForest Reserve.
iii. There are no GMA rules that have ever been drafted. We can talk about this but
it’s not something NAH can draft.
iv. The only rules that would apply would be The Game Bird Hunting and The
Mammal Hunting rules as they apply to the respective activity. Hiking is not oneof those activities so those rules do not apply to hiking.
v. The benefit of being a NAH Program Trail is that it will be actively managed,bringing better control over those using the trail.
vi. The EA was approved in 2016. The EA was not done by NAH. Jackson went on tobetter define sections of the EA that were brought up by public testimony both
written and oral.
vii. Hunting money is not used to maintain R1. That is NAH money. Road repair andmaintenance is typically done just prior to bird hunting season.
viii. Liability applies if there is lack of signage and warnings. NAH maintains these in
the field and on our website.
ix. Blaze orange garment requirement is not a part of NAH rules. It is best
addressed under GMA rules (which don’t exist). That said, NAH can advise it as abest practice.

x. The trail will not be a safety zone. Many of our Program Trails are already inGMAs. None of our trails within GMAs are safety zones.
xi. The cost of the trail is not anticipated to be a detriment to our budget. It is analready existing trail and will continue to be maintained by the existing Mauna
Kea Forest Restoration Program due to their ongoing planting activity in thearea.
xii. There is quite a bit of Palila on that trail.
b. Motion by Terrence to deny agenda item IV-E, Recommendation to add existing
Palila Forest Discovery Trail within the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area as a Nā Ala
Hele Program Trail for hikers. Riley seconded that motion.
i. Discussion by council members
01.
Terrence summarized his written testimony.
02.
David asked for clarification from Jackson on his statement that GMA
do not have any rules. Jackson clarified that the area of land does nothave set rules whereas the activity of hunting has rules.
03.
Debbie – no questions
04.
Mike – no questions05.
Jeff – no questions
06.
Chris – no questions
07.
Terrence – The proposal is not consistent with the rules of the otheractivities in the area.
08.
Jackson responded to council members questions.
ii. Vote - 3 YES and 4 NO. There was not a majority in favor of the motion. Motion
denied.
c. Debbie motioned that we defer the decision on whether to recommend the existing
Palila Discovery Trail for inclusion in the NAH Program Trails until we receive
answers to these and other questions. Also, that if any of the council members
have questions, please email questions to Jackson and cc Riley, within 2 weeks. Jeff
seconded the motion. The following questions should be addressed by Jackson at
our next meeting.
i. The blaze orange garment concern is loud and clear. It would be helpful to know
how and if we could amend NAH rules to incorporate blaze orange requirementon trails that are in hunting areas.
ii. Is there currently and how much commercial activity is conducted on R1, R10,
and the Palila Discovery Trail? Jackson said that in February there were 3
commercial tours of 7-10 people. Commercial tours using R1 are allowed to use
the Palila Discovery Trail.
iii. Can we prohibit commercial activity in the Palila Discovery Trail? Jackson said
the council can recommend anything it wants.
iv. Debbie questioned the validity of the data showing on average 3 sign-ins a day.
She often sees more cars in the parking area than people signed in and on atleast one occasion the sign in book was completely full. We need more accurate
data. Jackson agreed that not everyone signs in and as Terrence pointed out it’snot in NAH’s rules to require sign in. It’s there in case of a brush fire, so theyknow who is in the area.
v. At the Palila Discovery Trail there is no signage warning people that they are inan active hunting area. We need consistent signage. Jackson said that may betrue but there is nothing he can do about that until the trail is incorporated into
the NAH Program Trails.
vi. Why is just one trail is listed when there are so many side trails? Who is making
these side trails? Jackson said he agrees that it is confusing, but again there isnothing he can do about it until the trail is incorporated into the NAH Program
Trails. If it were a Program Trail, he could block those side trails.
vii. Discussion by council members. No discussion.
viii. Vote – 7 YES, 0 NO. Motioned carried. Jackson to follow up with responses atnext meeting.
VII. Riley proposed that we defer all agenda items under section IV until the next meeting dueto time. There was no objection by council members. Jackson wanted to update thecouncil on Pololū. Surety Kohala Corp is donating 5 acres for lookout parking. It’s true thatof that only 2 acres are usable for parking. They are also offering the valley floor. Inexchange 10 parcels would be moved up to the valley rim which they would be able to sell.
A portion of the CIP funds is designated for Kohala community meetings to review theplans. We acknowledge the North Kohala CDP recommends the Mauka to Makai road, andthe ditch trail as public access. Surety is currently reviewing the Letter of Intent that DLNR
drafted. Once we get their comments it will go to the Board for their letter of approval.
That letter is important because that is needed by the County to proceed with Consolidationand Subdivision. Surety says that needs to happen by the end of the year to fall within theirbusiness model.
VIII. NEW BUSINESSA.
Conducting future meetings by Video Conference.
a. Riley explained that we don’t have the funding for video conferencing.
b. Jackson said that may change in July.
c. Jeff asked about Zoom. Riley had some concerns because his company does notallow Zoom on his computer. He would be able to call in but not video.
B.
Set next meeting agenda. Council is to email Jackson and Cc Riley on any agenda
items. Jackson and Riley will work on the agenda.
C.
Set next meeting date. August 26th at 6:00PM. If the meeting is in person then it will
be in Hilo for social distancing. Otherwise it will be teleconferenced.
D.
ADJOURNMENT. Terrence motioned to adjourn and Jeff Second. Meeting wasadjourned at 8:23PM.

ADA
BIISC
CIP
DHHL
DLNR
DOCARE
DOFAW
DOT
GPS
GMA
HDOT
KCRA
KRDC
KSBE
NAH
NAHA
NARS
OGR
PONC
ROD
ROHVA
SHPD

Americans with Disability Act.
Big Island Invasive Species Committee
Capital Improvement Program
Department of Hawai’ian Home Lands
Department of Land and Natural Resources
Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement
Department of Forestry and Wildlife
Department of Transportation
Global Positioning Satellite
Game Management Area
Hawaii Department of Transportation
Kohala Coast Resort Association
Keauhou Resort Development Corp
Kamehameha School Bishop Estate
Na Ala HeleNa Ala Hele Advisory (committee)
Natural Area Reserve System
Old Government Road
Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Commission
Rapid Ohia Death
Recreational Off Highway Vehicle Association.
State of Hawai’i Historic Preservation Division

Na Ala Hele
Hawai’i Island Advisory CouncilI.

Public Testimony:a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

f.

II.

Those providing testimony at our meetings are guests of our Council. They are not Council members.
They are invited to provide testimony. However, they do not have the right to question us,participate in our meeting, nor dialogue as we discuss our agenda.
Shall be limited to 3 minutes, for each person.
Written copies of testimony should be provided and included in the Minutes of meeting.
Oral testimony must be provided in person.
Testimony for a person that is not present can be turned into the Secretary for inclusion within theMinutes. It cannot be read at the meetings, as we will not have the opportunity to question theauthor. Electronic submittal of testimony will be allowed if provided to DOFAW 12 calendar days
prior to meeting date. Otherwise, hard copies may be distributed at meeting.
If testimony is being provided on behalf of an organization, it is required that the Board of Directorsof the organization or a majority of the members of the organization must have voted in favor of thetestimony. If this has not occurred, then it must be considered as solely the opinion of the personproviding the testimony.

Agendized presentations to the Council:a.
b.

r5/22/13

Time allowed for presentations is 10 minutes.
It is likely that the Council will ask questions after the presentation is made. This Q&A period may
continue for 10 – 15 minutes, at the discretion of the Chair of the Council.