Group News: Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kauaʻi
Hawaiʻi Island Group
Miloliʻi
By Rob Culbertson | Reading time: 2.5 minutes
photo by Maki Morinoue
Despite the remote location and (some might say) primitive facilities, the little village of Miloliʻi and its 500 or so long-time ʻohana have made, and are still making, a go of it.
With faces turned to the sea and all its marine bounty, they have jealously guarded their homes and way of life against the intrusions of volcanic magma, commercial hucksters, over-tourism and even the COVID pandemic.
Now these folks at what is often called the last Hawaiian fishing village on Hawaiʻi Island are getting ready to host a gathering intended as the final formal step in a long process to put into place their own customized Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) plan, under the auspices of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. This would be only the second such fully implemented plan in the whole state. Well-wishers are invited to participate and even celebrate the achievement on April 20, 2022.
The easiest way to get there, and understand the plan and the process it took, is to look at their very detailed website here. The virtual meeting takes place at 3pm but in-person attendees will round up at 5:30pm.
“I ka wa mamua, ka wa mahope.” The future can be found in the wisdom of the past. A hui hou!
DLNR notice: [capitals added]
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold two public hearings, one online and one in person, on the proposed adoption of a new chapter under Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) to establish the Milolii Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) to ensure long-term sustainable populations of fish and other marine species and to reaffirm and perpetuate fishing practices that were customarily and traditionally exercised for Native Hawaiian subsistence, culture, or religion along the southwest coast of Hawaii Island. The proposed CBSFA extends from Paakai Point at Kipahoehoe in the north to Kauna in the south, from the shoreline out to the 100-fathom depth contour, and includes the following sub-zones: the Opelu Traditional Management Zone, the Puuhonua Papa, the Pakuikui Rest Area, Puakaia Milolii, the Puuhonua Honomalino, the Puuhonua Kapua, and the Puuhonua Manuka. The proposed rules would establish bag limits, size limits, seasonal closures, and/or gear restrictions for aama crab, kole, opihi, pakuikui, uhu, ula, and uu within the CBSFA; prohibit the take of marine life for aquarium purposes within the entire CBSFA; establish additional restrictions on certain activities and species within the designated subzones; provide an exception allowing vessels in possession of restricted gear or species to traverse through the CBSFA as long as they remain in active transit; identify authorized administrative, criminal, and civil penalties for violations of HAR chapter 13-60.XX; and provide notice of the State’s authority to utilize civil asset forfeiture as an enforcement tool for violations of HAR chapter 13-60.XX.
THE ONLINE PUBLIC HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 AT 3:00 P.M. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS MAY VIEW THE ONLINE PUBLIC HEARING ON YOUTUBE AT THIS LINK:
HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/CHANNEL/UCPGVBR8IMI1HNPKSQESVUZA
TO BE PUT ON THE LIST FOR LIVE VIDEO OR PHONE TESTIMONY PLEASE EMAIL YOUR REQUEST TO: DLNR.AQUATICS@HAWAII.GOV.
Upcoming Outings
Monday, April 18
Keauʻohana Native Rainforest Restoration (S,E,C)
D = 0.5 miles, E = 600’, Moderate activity
Join the non-profit group, Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration, on Monday, April 18th, in its efforts to restore the largest and most intact lowland native forest remaining in the state. Help Jaya Dupuis and her crew in their work controlling invasive plants. During the activity, you will learn about this unique forest habitat with numerous native plant species including the endangered Haʻiwale that is only found in the Puna District. Parking for the forest is located between 16-17 mile marker on Highway 130 on the mauka side of the road. Bring mosquito repellant, gloves, good boots and a willingness to work. Call Diane Ware at 808-967-8642 to register and for more information.
Maui Group
April Outings Schedule
Hike description key: (C) conservation focus, such as discussing how to conserve this land for future generations to enjoy; (E) educational, such as visiting and learning about archeological sites and naming the plants and flowers; (S) service outing (no donation required), (D) round trip hike distance.
Sunday April 3, 2022
Honolua Bay snorkel, and Ohai Loop & Nakalele Blowhole hikes (C/E)
West Maui, 2.5 miles
This will be a full westside Maui morning. We will begin our adventure with a short access trail hike and an hour of snorkeling at Honolua Bay while we listen for whale song. We will then drive to the small parking lot between mile markers 40 & 41 on the makai side of the highway, where we will hike the 1.5 mile Ohai Loop Trail. We will make a final stop at Nakalele Blowhole between mile markers 38 & 39 before returning to Maalaea by 12:00 noon. Please bring snorkel gear, towel, hat, reef-safe sunscreen, water, snacks/lunch, and shoes suitable for short (possibly muddy) hikes. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Maui Ocean Center parking lot near Carl’s Jr. or around 8:15 a.m. at the Honolua Bay dirt parking lot at mile marker 32 on highway 30. There are port-a-potties at the Honolua Bay parking lot. Limit 12. Leader Annie Schultz 734-308-0482.
Leader: Ann Schultz acm_schultz@hotmail.com
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Friday April 8, 2022
Ma’alaea petroglyphs (C/E)
South Maui, 2 miles
Explore one of Maui’s unique archaeological locations. short hike over very uneven ground with plenty of uphill.
Leader: Lucienne de Naie laluzmaui@gmail.com
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Sunday April 10, 2022
Lahaina Pali Trail (C/E)
West Maui, 4 miles
(C/E) D=4 R/T miles. Strenuous, with steep uphill. Enjoy the views and whale watch. Hike from Lahaina end trailhead, up to windmills and back the same way. Sturdy boots, sun screen, and hat are recommended. A hiking stick is useful. Bring lots of water. Meet 8 am at Maui Ocean Center parking by the gas station.
Limit 18. Leader: Rob Weltman (robw@worldspot.com).
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Friday April 15, 2022
Kapalua Resort Coastal Trail hike and farewell to our beautiful Kolea (C/E)
West Maui, 3.5 miles
Meet in the D.T. Fleming Beach Parking Lot, left side, at 9am. We will walk along the coastal path, a combination of asphalt, gravel, and rocky trail. This should be a great opportunity to photograph our beautiful Kolea (Pacific Golden Plover) gathering on the grassy lawns in their elegant breeding plumage in preparation for their 3,000-mile en masse migration to their breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra. After a stop at Kapalua Bay, we will return to Fleming Beach. Although the footing can be rough in places, this is an easy three and a half mile RT hike. There are restrooms at each end of the walk. There is an optional detour to Makaluapuna Point on the way back to see the jagged rock formation known as Dragon’s Teeth and to walk the labyrinth for those interested. Swimming and snorkeling are excellent at both Fleming Beach and Kapalua Bay, so bring appropriate gear if you wish. Snack/lunch on the beach at Kapalua Bay. Bring water and reef-safe sun protection. Leader Annie Schultz 734-308-0482.
Leader: Ann Schultz acm_schultz@hotmail.com
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Saturday April 23, 2022
King’s Highway (Hoapili Trail) to Kanaio Beach (C/E)
La Perouse, 6 miles
Kings Highway from La Perouse Bay to shady beach south of major lava flow with interesting archeological artifacts. Bring lunch, water, hat and sunscreen. Also bring a bathing suit (also water shoes for the rocky entry) if you want to get into the water at Kanaio Beach. Most of the hike is on lava and fully exposed to the sun. Meet at La Perouse parking lot at 8 am. Leader: Kit Carlan (kit.carlan@gmail.com)
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Sunday April 24, 2022
Waihe’e Ridge Hike (C/E)
Waihe‘e, 5.5 miles
This is a moderate to strenuous hike as it is uphill all the way to the top, a 1500 ft elevation, 2.5 hours. This trail is very slippery if there has been any moisture at all so a hiking stick is important on this one. There are beautiful forest and spectacular views. Meet at 8 am at the upper parking lot: turn mauka at Mendes Ranch (mile marker 6.9 on Kahekili Highway) and drive .9 miles. Leader: Rob Weltman (robw@worldspot.com)
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Saturday April 30, 2022
Hamakua Malama service outing (C/E/S)
Ha‘ikū, 2 miles
It’s spring!! Help prepare the scenic coastal lands of Ha‘ikū’s, Hāmākua Coastline to restore native plant species. Tools, snacks, trash bags etc will be provided.
Co-sponsored by Mālama Hāmākua Maui.
Leader: Lucienne de Naie laluzmaui@gmail.com
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Important information to ensure safe hiking experiences:
Be prepared for outings: Bring lunch, at least 1-2 liters of water, rain gear, sunscreen and appropriate footwear. Hiking boots are recommended for longer hikes. At this time, masks are required while car-pooling but not otherwise during an outing.
A donation of $5 ($3 for Sierra Club members) is requested for all hikers over age 14 unless otherwise stated in a hike description.
Kauaʻi Group
Saving Wailua Beach: Let's follow the science
By Julio Magalhães | Reading time: 3 minutes
Sabrina Bodon / 'The Garden Island' newspaper
Wailua Beach's major retreat has been disturbingly evident to all of us as we pass by. Restoring this beach effectively and in an environmentally friendly way is important. A successful restoration could provide a model for how to protect our beaches in the face of changing ocean conditions due to sea level rise and extreme weather events resulting from climate disruption.
A front page story in the The Garden Island on Sunday, March 13 entitled "Erosion-mitigation project for Wailua Beach gets CIP funding" by Scott Yunker reports the State Department of Transportation has authorized capital improvement funds for a shoreline mitigation project which will involve a patented technology named SandSaver in front of an un-grouted rock revetment.
Careful study of the SandSaver website and a search of the independent scientific literature reveal multiple reasons for concern and caution about SandSaver.
The Granger Plastics Company presents information on SandSaver and its predecessor, SandGrabber, at the website sandsaver.com. The core concept of both is the trapping of sand behind a low wall of concrete that has holes facing the direction of incoming waves. For SandGrabber, the low wall is built with cinder blocks. SandSaver consists of a molded plastic shell with tapered holes. After placement on the beach and orientation of the holes toward the surf, the molded plastic shell is filled with concrete and leaves the holes open to the incoming water flow.
The first experimental deployments of SandGrabber occurred in the late 1970s, including one at Kualoa Point, Oahu in 1978. SandSaver was deployed experimentally on Lake Michigan in 2011. There is no indication that this technology has been adopted widely beyond several deployments which are listed as "pilots" and "experimental".
Even after so many years of experimentation, the website provides no references to independent detailed scientific studies of the effectiveness and long-term impacts on beaches and adjacent coastlines. Their website does include a few very-limited studies by paid consultants which are unconvincing.
The most-extensive consultant report studied the Lake Michigan deployment, but the study fails to assess the statistical significance of an observed modest increase in beach sand, studied unrepresentative conditions, and did not study impacts outside the study area. We have also searched the recent scientific literature on beach restoration and coastal erosion, for example in the scientific journal Ocean and Coastal Management. No references or reports on SandSaver were found.
Even a basic consideration of the physics of a wave hitting a low concrete wall with holes on a beach in the surf zone raises scientific concerns. Since the direction in which the tapered holes point is a preferred direction, this technology must be quite sensitive to the direction of the incoming waves. As any surfer on Kauaʻi knows, the direction of the waves changes quite a bit during the year. How will these large changes in the incoming wave directions affect the impact on the beach and surrounding coastline? Also, how will impacts change throughout the year as sea-level changes due to tides, storms, and rising sea level resulting from climate disruption?
Our research shows SandSaver is an unproven technology with unstudied long-term impacts and performance. We believe the restoration of Wailua Beach needs to be guided by science. Therefore, the first step should be a coastal geology and hydrology study of the Wailua Bay area to understand the flows of sand and the causes of the depletion of sand at Wailua Beach. Such a study would lay the foundation for development of a coastal-management plan which maximizes use of the ecosystem and other modalities for saving Wailua Beach.