This Friday, November 13, the Land Board will consider a proposal that would upend the public trust in thousands of acres of watershed-adjacent public lands, by foreclosing their potential to support native forest restoration, endangered species recovery, increased water and food security, increased climate resilience, and the perpetuation of cultural practices - all for the convenience of two private ranches.
Agenda item D-6 proposes to transfer 7,500 acres of public trust and public land trust "pasture" lands, located next to the famed Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB). This comes at the request of two cattle ranches who export the vast majority of their livestock to the continent.
These lands are adjacent to sensitive watershed areas vulnerable to ranching impacts; contain remnant old growth koa forests; are vital to helping restore and expand native forests for the benefit of endangered species, cultural practices, water security, and climate resilience; and provide access for cultural practices, subsistence hunting, and other activities. These lands also include some of the few places in Hawaiʻi still cold enough to deter mosquitos and provide a safe space for native forest birds from mosquito-borne diseases, making their reforestation value particularly significant.
Transferring these lands to DAB, which has neither the capacity nor demonstrated desire to support anything beyond its agricultural mission, would almost certainly foreclose these public trust resource values and associated public interests for decades if not generations to come. That such a land transfer would be solely to benefit two private ranches exacerbates the egregiousness of this proposal.
Please consider submitting testimony in opposition to agenda item D-6; sample testimony is provided below.
TAKE ACTION NOW! TESTIMONY INSTRUCTIONS
Written Testimony
E-mail: blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov
Subject: "Testimony in OPPOSITION to agenda item D-6"
See below for sample written testimony.
Verbal Testimony:
Virtual: Log in to Friday's 9 a.m. Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82237574903. OPTIONAL (not necessary to testify): e-mail blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov and provide (1) your name or a pseudonym name, if you wish to remain anonymous; (2) email address; and (3) the agenda item you wish to testify on (D-6).
In person: Add your name to the sign-in sheet at the Kalanimoku Building, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 132.
SAMPLE TESTIMONY
Sample Testimony for Agenda Item D-6 ("Pasture" land transfer to DAB):
To: blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov
Subject: Testimony in OPPOSITION to agenda item D-6
Aloha Chair Kanakaʻole and Land Board members,
My name is ___ and I respectfully urge you to DENY the staff recommendation in agenda item D-6.
The proposed transfer of 7,500 acres of watershed-adjacent public trust and public land trust lands to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) would have significant and long-lasting impacts on the public trust resources and values of these lands, for decades if not generations to come.
DAB simply does not have the staff, expertise, experience, or institutional mission to protect the public's and Native Hawaiians' interests in these public trust and public land trust lands. These include the public interest in protecting watersheds critical for aquifer recharge, flood mitigation, and mauka-to-makai ecosystem health; protecting and restoring native forests that can prevent native species extinctions, boost our future water security and climate resilience, and perpetuate Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices; ensuring access to cultural sites and resources as well as subsistence hunting areas; and facilitating community-based stewardship and restoration initiatives.
Approving this land transfer to DAB will all but ensure that these vital public interests and opportunities will be neglected or foreclosed for decades, and potentially indefinitely - simply for the convenience of two private ranches that export the majority of the cattle they raise on public trust lands.
This would be a complete abdication the public trust, which you have all taken an oath to uphold. Please do not let this happen.
I also would like to note that there is no Ka Paʻakai analysis included in the submittal, and that your approval of this land transfer without such an analysis would also be a violation of your obligation to protect and enforce Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights, under Art. XII Sec. 7 of the Hawaiʻi Constitution and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court precedent.
Please do not approve the proposed land transfer before you today.
Mahalo nui for the opportunity to testify.
[your name]